10 Top Indoor Plants That Thrive Without Direct Sunlight (Part 1)

4 min read

It’s great to let the sun shine in everyday, but some (or all!) of the rooms in our home might not have ample sunlight which many indoor plants need to thrive.

Whilst we can most definitely remedy a lack of sunlight with artificial lamps, plants need direct sunlight due to their chlorophyll content i.e. how they make energy.

So where do we strike the balance?

The simple solution? Decorate your home with plants that don’t need sunlight or can thrive in very low light conditions.

BEST INDOOR PLANTS THAT DON’T NEED SUNLIGHT
A lack of sunlight shouldn’t stop you from having luscious, beautiful greenery in your home. These indoor plants need very little sunlight and are perfect for beginners or those with dark rooms.

Best Houseplants that Don’t Need Sunlight

Pro Tip: The darker the leaves, the more direct sunlight the plant will need. Choose a plant with a lighter leaf variety for darker rooms to prevent

1. CAST IRON PLANT (Aspidistra elatior)

Cast iron plants, as the name suggests, is a hardy plant.

They can thrive in a wide variety of conditions, including low light environments. In fact, keeping cast iron plants in direct sunlight can scorch and burn their leaves.

They are extremely slow to grow, but require very little maintenance to keep them alive.

This makes them a perfect choice for busy or forgetful plant owners. Its rich green leaves are perfect for adding a natural touch of greenery to any room in the home.

Plus, they’re considered a pet safe houseplant according to the ASPCA.

2. DRAGON TREE (Dracaena)

The Dragon Tree, also known as Dracaena Marginata, is a very popular houseplant, and for good reason too.

It’s extremely durable, comes in many different sizes and varieties and is perfect for low light areas such as office spaces or living room corners.

The larger varieties such as the one shown in the picture above tend to have more of a tree-look and work well as floor decor, whilst the smaller varieties could easily fit on a shelf or tabletop.

Almost impossible to kill, and needing very little water, the dragon tree can thrive in most light conditions, including medium to low light environments. Direct sunlight, however, could scorch or damage the leaves.

3. SNAKE PLANT (Sansevieria trifasciata)

The Snake Plant, also known as the Mother in Law’s Tongue, due to its sharp, pointy leaves not only looks great in any room, but is great for forgetful plant owners.

Their visibly striped green and white leaves add a pop of color to any area of the home, especially the bedroom.

This plant has been shown in numerous studies such as this one by NASA to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen at night, perfect for a dimly lit bedroom.

Visibly tall plants, they look great as floor or tabletop decor.

The great news? Snake plants are one of the hardiest plants going, they can survive weeks of neglect.

Snake plants can tolerate a wide variety of light conditions, although they prefer, low indirect sunlight.

They only need watering around once a month, or when their soil is dry, as they are prone to rotting easily otherwise.

4. ‘ZZ’ PLANT (Zamioculcasi)

The ZZ Plant is perhaps one of the hardiest plants around. Considered one of the hardest plants to kill, its lush foliage and bright green color can live up any room in the home.

The ZZ plant thrives best in bright, indirect light, but can also tolerate low light conditions or even areas where there are no natural light sources.

The ZZ plant is also drought resistant and very forgiving when it comes to ‘regular maintenance’; with this plant it’s better to forget watering it than watering it twice, making it a perfect addition to any forgetful owner’s home.

Water only when the potting soil is almost completely dry.

5. MONSTERA (Monstera deliciosa)

The monstera is often mistaken for the split leaf philodendron.

Adding a vibrant pop of green to any home, the Monstera plant needs very little to no sunlight and can thrive in pretty much any light condition you throw at it.

Plus, according to this case study, it’s a natural air purifier, removing formaldehyde and other toxins from the air.

Its leaves grow big and wide, making it a viable option for wide open spaces.

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