Low Light House Plants

House plants greatly improve air quality inside a home. They take in gases, give off oxygen, and add much needed humidity in the winter. We've got low sunlight in the house, especially with the new energy saver windows which are tinted. I've really been limited to which plants will survive in these conditions.

Here are a few hardy plants which have done well for me in low light conditions:

Cast Iron plant, a popular plant in Victorian times(and the 1970's) - hard to find in stores, but seen on ebay recently. These are tough plants which do great in low light. We've had them in the past, and are planning to buy some for our current home.

Mother-in-Law's Tongue or Snake Plant. I really like these sculptural looking plants - look great in decorative bowls. These really tolerate low light, especially in corners.



Pothos Very tolerant.



Chinese Evergreen, sort of good in low light. I've had a bit of trouble with this one. Mine does better in filtered light. I have it in a western facing window which is covered by sheers. The link mentions a north facing window as ideal. It did really well in the bathroom(humidity) until winter, and then wasn't getting enough light(I guess).

Peace Lily - new plant in our home, so far, so good.

Dwarf Umbrella Tree - a bit fussy, but surviving in low filtered light(eastern exposure). Doesn't like corners. I had to place this in front of a wide set of windows so that all sides get light.

Some of the above plants are not suppose to be sprayed or misted with water(leaf spots), but I do it anyway with no ill effects. This is a good way to keep the dust off them.

Plants are an inexpensive way to decorate. They fill in spaces beautifully and function as living sculpture. I find inexpensive pots at the Dollar Tree and decorative pots at thrift stores. Inexpensive plants can be found online at places such as plant swaps, Freecycle, Craigslist, or ebay.

Do you have any favorites for low light conditions?