Humidity is conducive to lush foliar progress. Water on the soil stage to keep up even moisture, and mist the foliage often through the rising season.
You’ll discover the pot dries out extra slowly throughout winter dormancy, and misting shouldn’t be crucial throughout non-growth intervals.
Be careful for high-nitrogen fertilizer as your plant could develop like loopy. Select a well-balanced liquid houseplant meals as an alternative, and apply it month-to-month from spring by way of fall.
Coronary heart Leaf Philodendron
Strive coaching a climbing species round a wealthy, earthy moss pole. Direct any seen aerial roots down towards the soil, or snip them off. They’re for adhering to bushes within the species’ native jungle habitat.
Coronary heart leaf philodendron is out there from Quick Rising Timber. Be aware that philodendrons are toxic to people and pets.
Discover all you want to know to develop your personal philodendron right here.
19. Pothos
Additionally referred to as satan’s ivy, pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is understood for being simple to develop and for producing exceptionally lengthy vines.
There are quite a few sorts of pothos, however a characteristic all of them share is the heart-shaped leaves on trailing vines.
Think about them wrapped round a complete room, softening the sides of stately oak bookshelves or smooth lighted curio cupboards.
The foliage could also be inexperienced or inexperienced variegated with white or yellow. In low-light circumstances, variegation could also be much less pronounced and leaves could shade to all inexperienced.
Like a philodendron, this climber is a fast-grower that’s simple to handle, thriving equally nicely in soil or water. It, too, has aerial roots for climbing jungle bushes.
These are additionally helpful for coaching vines to develop upwards on moss poles, as an alternative of hanging downwards.
Golden Pothos
Pothos grows finest in organically wealthy, well-draining potting medium, and desires water when the highest two inches of soil are dry.
Golden pothos with variegated inexperienced and yellow leaves in six-inch nursery pots can be found from Quick Rising Timber.
Pothos is poisonous to pets, and call with sap could trigger pores and skin reactions in delicate folks.
Learn extra about rising pothos right here.
20. Snake Plant
Thick, sword-like, upright leaves that attain one to 4 toes tall characterize the slow-growing snake plant, aka mother-in-law’s tongue.
It’s a very forgiving plant, as a result of it’s used to a hardscrabble life in its native jungle habitat, the place the soil is poor and house is scarce.
Previously generally known as Sansevieria trifasciata, this plant was not too long ago reclassified as Dracaena trifasciata. You might even see both botanical title on plant tags.
Low-maintenance and simple to develop, it has a excessive tolerance for very shiny in addition to very dim gentle, being root sure in a small pot, and dry potting medium.
The very best medium to develop it in is a cactus and succulent product that’s formulated for distinctive drainage.
Enable the soil to dry out fully between waterings, and sometimes wipe the leaves down with a comfortable fabric to rid them of mud.
Throughout winter dormancy they don’t want greater than a splash of water each few weeks. Take care to not overwater as that is prone to trigger rotting.
Fertilizer shouldn’t be required, however when you select to make use of it, dilute a liquid houseplant meals to half energy and apply it within the spring or summer season.
Cultivars vary in coloration from gentle to darkish inexperienced, white mottled, or gold edged. They do finest within the 65 to 85°F vary. Temperatures which can be too chilly could trigger brown scarring.
‘Zeylanica’ Snake Plant
Darkish inexperienced with paler, silvery-green stripes, potted ‘Zeylanica’ snake crops can be found from Quick Rising Timber in six-inch and three-gallon pots.
Snake crops are poisonous to pets.
Study all about rising snake crops in our information.
21. Spider Plant
The simple-care, fast-growing tropical spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) has inexperienced, variegated inexperienced and white, or inexperienced and yellow leaves that develop in a clumping kind, arching gracefully like spray from a water fountain.
It appears most tasty in a dangling pot.
Cultural necessities embrace well-draining potting soil, a room temperature of 65 to 75°F, and water when the highest inch of soil dries out. Present a pot with sufficient drainage and keep away from oversaturation that may result in rotting.
It’s not essential to fertilize, as an excessive amount of can burn tender leaf ideas. For those who select to feed, use light worm compost tea. Chilly drafts are one other explanation for browning ideas, so make sure you keep away from them.
Select inexperienced cultivars for low-light placements. Variegated sorts do finest in average to shiny oblique gentle, and can shade to inexperienced in dim settings.
A novel characteristic is the wire-like stems of about two toes in size that descend from the foliage to sprout child “plantlets,” aka “spiderettes.”
These usually tend to seem in brighter gentle circumstances, and are simply snipped to root and develop in pots of their very own.
Spider Plant
Vegetation that match snugly of their pots usually tend to produce plantlets, so don’t repot giant crops till you see roots poking from the drainage holes, indicating that they’re turning into root sure and wish extra space.
Spider crops in six-inch pots can be found from Quick Rising Timber.
Spider crops are unhazardous to pets.
Learn our information for one of the best tricks to get began with rising spider crops at house.
22. Swedish Ivy
The intense, shiny inexperienced leaves of Swedish ivy (Plectranthus verticillatus) have crenate, or round-toothed margins. Trailing to lengths of two to a few toes, this quick grower is well-suited to hanging baskets.
It prefers organically-rich, evenly moist potting medium that drains nicely, and likes to suit snugly in its pot.
Present a temperate setting between 65 and 75°F through the day, and 60°F or above at night time. It’s used to excessive humidity in its native tropical habitat, however tolerates typical indoor ranges nicely.
Swedish ivy could grow to be leggy in low gentle. Whether it is getting scraggly, pinch off the rising tip simply above a leaf node on the size of your alternative to advertise branching progress.
Water when the highest inch of soil is dry. Feed month-to-month with a well-balanced liquid or granular plant meals diluted to half energy.
Swedish Ivy
Swedish ivy is out there from the Sprig & Stone Retailer through Amazon in a 2.25-inch pot. It’s unhazardous to pets.
Discover ways to develop and take care of Swedish ivy right here.
23. Swiss Cheese Plant
Also called monstera or split-leaf philodendron, the tropical Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) has big leaves which will measure 18 inches or extra in size, with “fenestrations” or openings that seem as deep leaf edge serration and holes.
The leaves begin out entire, and in low gentle, could stay entire. And whereas unlikely indoors, a mature plant could bear white, lily-like flowers adopted by fruit.
This climber places out aerial roots that readily cling to a moss pole. An overabundance of those above-soil roots could imply it’s time to repot. You may curb aggressive progress by snipping these roots off for a extra compact specimen.
Select a temperate 60 to 80°F location and stop publicity to temperatures beneath 50°F. If doable, keep ambient humidity at or above 40 %. You may elevate the moisture stage by grouping crops, or misting the foliage often.
Periodically wipe the leaves with a comfortable fabric to rid them of mud that draws pests.
Swiss Cheese Plant
Monstera crops can be found from Quick Rising Timber in quite a lot of sizes and ornamental planter choices.
Study to develop your personal Swiss cheese plant right here.
24. Wandering Dude
Striped inexperienced and silver ovate leaves with purple undersides are a key characteristic of the fast-growing wandering dude (Tradescantia zebrina).
It’s also referred to as inch plant as a result of the leaves are spaced one inch aside from one another, in addition to spiderwort.
The very best room temperature for this trailing magnificence is between 70 and 80°F, and by no means decrease than 50°F.
It prefers shiny oblique gentle, the place its variegated colours are the showiest, however tolerates decrease gentle placements as nicely.
Domesticate in organically-rich, moisture-retentive, well-draining potting medium. Water when the highest one to 2 inches really feel dry, and keep away from each letting it dry out fully, and oversaturation.
As a tropical, wandering dude loves humidity. If your property is very dry, underneath 30 % humidity, you possibly can improve the ambient moisture round crops by grouping them collectively, or utilizing a humidifier.
Misting with a spritz-bottle is an possibility, however beware – persistently dim and damp circumstances could lead to fungal progress.
Fertilize month-to-month throughout spring and summer season with worm compost tea to cut back the danger of over-feeding and burning foliage, whereas boosting soil vitamins.
In case your plant will get too leggy, pinch it again simply above a leaf node to encourage lateral progress. Within the spring, you possibly can reduce as much as one-third of the foliage for a rejuvenating prune, if desired.
Wandering Dude
Tradescantia zebrina is out there from Store Succulents through Amazon in a four-inch pot. It’s poisonous to pets and should trigger a pores and skin response in delicate folks.
Learn our information now to be taught extra about rising your personal wandering dude.
25. ZZ Plant
Tropical ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is hard as nails, with pairs of leathery, elliptical inexperienced leaves and thick stems. It averages two to a few toes tall indoors, however is able to hovering to 5 toes.
In a position to retailer water and maintain itself by way of a drought, your ZZ shouldn’t be going to give up on you when you often neglect to present it a drink. Shiny oblique daylight is one of the best, however ZZ performs admirably in low-light and beneath fluorescent bulbs.
You’ll want a temperate location within the vary of 60 to 75°F, and at all times above 45°F. Keep away from drafts and improve the humidity if your property is very dry.
Use a well-draining pot and keep away from oversaturation. Let the soil dry out fully earlier than watering once more. The fleshy rhizomes are constructed to retailer water, and might simply rot if they’re too moist.
Low-light crops develop slowly. Prune as desired, simply above a pair of leaves, for a extra compact kind.
ZZ Plant
Vegetation in six-inch, 10-inch, and three-gallon containers can be found from Quick Rising Timber.
The ZZ plant is poisonous to pets.
Study to develop your personal ZZ plant now.
No Solar, No Drawback
With 25 enticing choices from which to decide on, you might be nicely in your technique to establishing a low-light association of greenery that can carry your indoor decor to life.
And also you’re certain to take pleasure in reaping the additional benefit of tending to crops as a soothing stress-buster on the finish of a busy day.
When choosing crops, do not forget that inexperienced varieties yield one of the best outcomes underneath low-light circumstances. You may attempt extra colourful cultivars, however they could fail to provide a showy show in dim rooms.
Flowering, a uncommon prevalence for a few of the choices described above, is unlikely in low gentle as nicely.
For those who dwell in a temperate zone, you possibly can transfer your low-light houseplants outside for the summer season. It is a nice rejuvenator that restores their vibrant colours and boosts their total well being.
Listed below are 5 tricks to overview earlier than I go away you to start out purchasing for thrilling new crops which can be going to brighten up even the dimmest areas of your property:
Use pots that drain nicely to stop extra moisture buildup, a number one explanation for pest and illness infestation.
Water sparingly in winter, when crops are usually at relaxation.
All the time water earlier than fertilizing to keep away from burning foliage and roots. And when you see a white, salt-like mineral buildup on the soil floor, foliage, and pot, flush the pot with water, empty and rinse drip pans, change to distilled water, and don’t moist the leaves.
Avoiding wetting the foliage of low-light crops not solely helps to cut back mineral buildup, it reduces the danger of fungal an infection as nicely.
Preserve the leaves of your new favorites clear and glossy by wiping them gently with a comfortable fabric each few months.
Share images of your lush indoor decor with us within the feedback part beneath, and be happy to share any questions or recommendations you’ll have.
And when you loved this text, you could wish to learn the next guides to rising houseplants subsequent:
© Ask the Consultants, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for extra particulars. Initially printed March 2, 2022. Final up to date September 28, 2025. Product images through Quick Rising Timber, House Depot, Nature Hills Nursery, Plant Farm Retailer, and Walmart. Uncredited images: Shutterstock.
