Are you looking to decorate a room with hanging plants but don’t get enough sunlight? Perhaps you live in an apartment surrounded by buildings blocking the sun or living in a south-facing house. If you’re looking for plants that can survive with little sunshine, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are nine great choices of plants that can survive in low light conditions:
- Philodendron
- Pathos
- Swiss Cheese Plant
- Hoya
- ZZ Plant
- Spider Plant
- Peperomia Plant
- String of Pearls
- String of Hearts
Now, remember that plants are living things too and so require some sunlight to nurture themselves. Low light does not mean you can put these in your basement and expect them to grow. They still need some sun to survive, but these choices require less sun than the average plant.
1. Philodendron Hederaceum’ Brasil’
This plant will turn your room into a jungle with its fast-growing vines that climbs onto anything that it can hang onto. Philodendrons are one of the easiest to grow because they only require indirect sunlight and are tolerant of dark interiors. The ‘brasil’ variety has a mix of light and dark green variegated leaves, adding an exciting pattern against any wall.
These plants are easy to care for because they tell you what’s needed.
If they’re thirsty and needing water, their leaves will wilt and start shriveling. If this happens, simply drench the soil with water. Ensure that the pot has drainage holes to drain out the excess water.
The Philodendron can also be grown in water permanently.
Simply find a clear jar or container and fill it with tap water. You only need to refill it with fresh water once a week because tap water contains oxygen needed for healthy roots. Growing the Philodendron this way without the soil will make the plant less likely to contract pests and diseases, thus possible to help reduce the allergens in your home. Keep the leaves free of bugs by wiping it with a damp cloth to maintain their shine.
2. Pathos (Epipremnum Aureumis)
The Pathos looks similar to the Philodendron as they are both vining plants. The most significant difference is that the pothos has more prominent, thicker, darker leaves and tend to be less variegated. The watering and lighting requirements for both plants are quite similar.
The Pathos is an excellent option for low-light homes because it does well in a wide variety of lighting conditions. However, too much light will make the Pathos’ foliage turn yellow. Excessive direct light will burn and cause permanent damage to the leaves.
You can hang these plants in hanging baskets or set them on a high shelf where the vines can cascade down. The vines can grow between 20 to 40 feet (6 to 12 metres), so keep them looking tidy by trimming them back to a more manageable length. Remove any dead or dying leaves to ensure that it’s feeding nutrients to only the healthy leaves. As for watering, only do so when the soil is dry to touch.
3. Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera Adansonii)
As you may have guessed, this plant got its name from its pierced leaves that resemble the shape of Swiss cheese. This plant is native to Central and South America and is a typical houseplant because it loves to climb and is great for hanging. It overgrows quickly and can reach extensive lengths in a matter of months.
The Swiss cheese plant will grow under indirect light or partial shade. These will undoubtedly burn if exposed to prolonged sunlight. Put this plant under a hanging basket near a window. Remember to light prune it occasionally to help produce more vines and a thicker plant.
During winter, it’s recommended that you place it outside under indirect sunlight for it to continue its growth. If that’s not possible, consider getting a grow light.
4. Hoya
I was initially hesitant to include the Hoya into the list of low-light hanging plants because it doesn’t bloom under dark conditions, and not many plants do. However, this made it into the list because it’s a great hanging plant, and if hung near a window, it will do just fine.
The Hoya is sometimes referred to as the ‘wax plant’ because of its thick and waxy leaves. The plant is often sold in hanging baskets.
In terms of watering, you only need to do so when the soil dries out. The plant can miss a few days of drought as it will use excess water stored in its waxy leaves. You can supplement its growth by using general-purpose houseplant fertilizer.
5. ZZ plant (Zambioculcas zamiifolia)
This plant is called the ZZ plant because you can put it to sleep in your bedroom. Do this by hanging it in your wardrobe, close the doors and come back after a holiday, and it’ll look the same way you left it.
No, I’m kidding. The ZZ plant is a tropical plant native to eastern Africa. The plant can take months of low light and still look beautiful with its attractive glossy foliage. The individual leaves are up to three inches long. The plant is tolerant to a range of conditions. However, the large leaves are susceptible to scorching, so make sure that it’s out of direct sunlight.
The best places to put the ZZ plant are hanging in the bathroom or office with small doses of sunlight. Potting them into a basket allows them to stretch their long stems without being interfered with by walls.
The recommended watering is every 2-3 weeks. It’s best to wait for the soil to dry out before watering again thoroughly. If placed near a bright light, then you’ll need to water it more often. For the soil, use a well-draining potting mix. Mix in ingredients such as perlite or lava rocks to increase soil aeration as needed.
6. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
The Spider Plant is a great option to place them in hanging baskets due to the dangling leaves. Most people hang these around the house because they’re incredibly adaptable and suffer few problems other than brown tips. They produce thin, arched foliage in green or variegated varieties of light green.
These plants are great for beginners because they can tolerate lots of neglect. You need to make sure to provide them with well-drained soil and indirect sunlight, and they will flourish. These do not appreciate direct sunlight as it will burn their leaves, causing brown spots.
The browning of leaves is not a big deal as they’re often a result of fluoride found in water which causes a salt build-up in the soil. The solution to this is to periodically flush out the excess salts by draining with water and repeat.
7. Peperomia Scandens Variegata
This plant grows long and glossy vines, perfect for hanging anywhere around the house. It’s a popular houseplant because of its hardiness and ease of care. The leaves are shaped like a heart and have a nice bicolor effect with their creamy edges.
The Peperomia Variegata loves bright indirect light. That’s not to say you cannot hang it at the bedroom corner. However, the plant is after a living thing and will need sunlight to survive. Luckily, this plant does well indoors and in partially shaded areas, ideal for those living in apartments. This plant would be a great idea to hand across the window sill!
8. String of Pearls (Senecio Rowleyanus)
This plant grows a thin string of beads that look like droplets falling from hanging baskets. This cascading succulent with its fleshy green pearls will add a bit of quirkiness to any home.
The string of pearls is a succulent, which means that it requires little care. It’s drought-tolerant and will survive long periods without water. Once water sources are depleted from the external environment, it will consume the water stored in its beads.
The trailing stems can grow up to about three feet long, and you’ll need to do some essential pruning to maintain its appearance. Simply trim off any dead stems that have lost their beads, as this will stimulate new growth for a fuller and compact plant.
Just a caution that this plant is toxic to dogs and cats.
9. String of Hearts (Ceropegia Woodii)
Similar to the String of Pearls, the String of Hearts is another low-maintenance plant that’s better suited in a hanging basket. It’s originally from South Africa, and it’s often referred to as the Rosary Vine. This plant features gorgeous, petite, purplish silver leaves in the shape of hearts.
These can be grown in all types of homes and are perfect as hanging plants. They do not take up a lot of room and fit in narrow spaces. Their semi-succulent nature means keeping these guys happy requires minimal effort. Why not put these up the top of a kitchen cupboard or hanging just outside your balcony!
