“Most houseplants are happiest in a bright spot, and plenty of them enjoy some direct sun too. But what I've discovered is that even a darker room—one with few windows or a north-facing one—can still…”
Olive Tree
Olea europaea
Most houseplants are happiest in a bright spot, and plenty of them enjoy some direct sun too. But what I've discovered is that even a darker room—one with few windows or a north-facing one—can still be a lovely home for potted plants. Here are some of my favorites for low-light areas. The rule of thumb? If you can stand in their spot and read a newspaper without a lamp, there's enough light for them.
Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris): So delicate looking, but honestly fairly easy to please as long as you keep the soil evenly moist. Let it dry out and those leaves will crisp up on you—I've been there! It loves humid air, but will put up with drier conditions if you keep things on the cool side (below 70˚F). It can handle temps as low as 50˚F.
Cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior): I'll be honest, it's not the flashiest plant out there, but it will survive low light and general neglect like a champ. It likes regular watering but gets by on less. Give those leaves a dusting every now and then. 'Variegata' has gorgeous green-and-cream striped leaves, though it needs a bit more light to really show off those markings.
Snake plant (Sanseveria trifasciata): Those yellow leaf markings really pop in bright light or full sun, but trust me, it'll soldier on even in poor light. It prefers regular watering, but if you forget—it happens!—it'll go dormant and survive the drought just fine.
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema commutatum): Handles dim light beautifully, though the leaf markings will be bolder if you give it a brighter spot. Watch out for direct sun—it'll burn those lovely leaves. It prefers humid air, which I find is easy to provide by grouping it with other plants or setting it on a tray of damp gravel.
Image credits: Southern maidenhair fern byLen Worthington/CC BY-SA 2.0/Deed; Cast-iron plant byJungle Rebel/CC BY-SA 2.0/Deed
