Whether you’re in a north-facing apartment or your home just has more than its fair share of dark corners, you can still fill your home with exotic houseplants! There is a surprising number of houseplants that will live happily in lower-light rooms. Several of these can even manage to survive in offices with only artificial light. 

How Much Light is Enough?

While there are some true low-light plants, no houseplant will grow in a completely dark, windowless room. So, if you have a windowless bathroom and still want to keep a plant in it, you’ll need to give it an adequate light source for about 12 hours per day. You can use an LED grow light to keep these plants happy; many current models are very affordable and use very little energy. 

Here are 5 of our favorite low-light tropical plants. 

ZZ Plant, which is the common nickname of Zamia zamifolia, is a vibrant green, true low-light tropical favorite. It grows super slowly and prefers indirect light. It’ll be just fine with artificial light from a lamp, or with indirect light from a north-facing window. Direct sun can burn the leaves of a ZZ plant. ZZ plant also has incredibly low water requirements. It hoards water in its large tuber roots, so it can go an incredibly long time without water. Overwatering is more dangerous than underwatering, as standing water can quickly bring on root rot. Make sure your ZZ plant has a pot with good drainage and that the soil is dry before you water it again. 

Sanseveria, or snake plant, is another low-light tolerant easy-care tropical houseplant. Sanseveria come in a variety of interesting shapes and sizes. They’re also a slow-grower and thrive in low or artificial light. Similar to the ZZ plant, they don’t need water very often. They seem to thrive on neglect, and you should check that the soil is dry before watering again. You can genuinely get away with leaving both sanseveria and ZZ plants without watering for a couple of weeks in a row. 

Stromanthe Triostar is an excellent option for a bright corner that does not get direct sun. Direct sunlight can leave this stromanthe’s colorful foliage with a wicked sunburn. Stromanthe loves humidity, so if your home is on the dry side, you’ll need to mist it daily or run a humidifier nearby. This stromanthe features variegated leaves in shades of vibrant red, pale pink, and rich green. However, if its location is too dark, it will start to lose some of its vibrancy. It doesn’t like drafts, so keep it away from doors and heat vents. 

Macho Fern is a shade lover that can get quite large. It features large dark green fronds that can reach up to 4′ long, so make sure you have room for this giant! It is a slow grower and prefers mostly shade. It can handle a little bit of morning or late evening sun, but mid-day sunshine will scorch it. Ferns do need their soil to be kept evenly moist, so check on it regularly, and water once the top of the soil is dry. 

Monstera Deliciosa, or Swiss Cheese Plant, is another large and dramatic low-light option. Monstera is a favorite with millennials, and its likeness is showing up graphically on everything from phone cases to pajamas. It does grow quite slowly in a low-light space, so it won’t take over your house immediately. In a low-light situation, the splits in the leaves will be less prominent, but they’ll still show up. Monstera will need supports as they get larger, you can prop yours up by adding a trellis or a support pole.

Since all of these houseplants are slow growers, they don’t need much in terms of fertilizer. They’ll benefit from a dose of general all-purpose fertilizer once per year in the spring. Several of these low-light plants feature large flashy leaves. To help your tropical absorb light efficiently, wipe their leaves off with a damp cloth a couple of times per year. Dust buildup makes it harder for them to photosynthesize, so to remain healthy in a low-light location, clean leaves are essential. 

Ready to add some low-light houseplants to your home? Check out our plant buying guide for more low-light tropicals.