Adding plants to the house is my favorite way to bring a little lift to any room. Having plants around makes everything feel lighter, brighter, and more alive. House plants add color and texture to a room, purify the air, and add a hint of style.
Most people think you can only have house plants in bright spaces that receive plenty of nutrients from the sun. Thankfully, that isn’t always the case. A handful of tropical, broad-leaf plants are primed for low-light through basic biology: large leaves that soak up as much light as possible. Some also have a waxy outer layer that helps to retain moisture and makes them double-duty crowd pleasers and low-maintenance indoor plants as well.
If you need to brighten up a dark corner or add a little life to your basement, one of these low-light plants will do the trick. Here are five plants that thrive without rays, and how to care for them.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
These pretty house plants have lush, dark green leaves and delicate white flowers, but
in addition to being beautiful, they also do an exceptional job of cleaning the air and
keeping it healthy for us. Peace lilies do well in dark or bright areas, so feel free to place
these all over your home if you’d like!
These plants is to be kept moist and humid, so regularly water it and mist the leaves as
well to keep your peace lily happy and blooming. If you aren’t watering it enough, you
will know because the leaves will droop. Don’t worry, if you see this happening just give
it a good drink and watch it perk back up in no time.
Related Article: The 5 Best House Plants for Small Spaces
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plants love low light and do not require much attention other than occasional watering when the soil feels dry, its long spindly leaves and small white flowers that will cascade down the edge of their container, making them a great choice for an indoor hanging basket.
Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura)
Marantha leuconeura is a good choice for a low-light indoor plant with bright foliage to add a pop of color to a drab area of the house. Its leaves have variegation in rich green, purple, yellow, and red.
This house plant needs to be kept out of direct sunlight in order for the variegated pattern on the leaves to remain vibrant. Plant it in well-draining soil and mist its leaves regularly. The leaves will point upwards at night like hands in prayer, which is why it’s known by its common name, “prayer plant.”
Related Article: The Top 5 House Plants for Your Bathroom
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
Moth orchid blooms to bring a little color to a dark corner of your home They like low light and will bloom away happily if planted in asoil-less orchid mix, watered regularly, and given a simple humidity tray.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Snake plants are perfect for a small windowless bathroom, stairway, or bedroom corner.
Sansevieria is a type of succulent, which means it retains water in its leaves and can be easy to overwater. Pay attention and only water when the soil feels completely dry to the touch, every three weeks or so.
Add some plants to that corner–you’ll be amazed at how welcoming it looks and how much better you feel as a result.
Check out Indoor Gardening to suit your preference on how to brighten up your home.