All houses do not have adequate lighting for houseplants. You can add additional lighting, depending on window light or choose plants that like less lighting. When you are choosing indoor plants many are marked for low lighting or ask the sales clerk for help.
Low-light plants are defined as those that can survive in 25 to 75 foot candles or lighting that is 3 to 4 ½ feet from a bright window. This could also be described as just enough light to read by comfortably or where artificial lighting added during the day would give a more brightening cheerful effect. The bulb watt size would be 45 watts to 75 watts and no closer that 2 foot away.
Plants that like low lighting to medium low lighting and are easy to care for.
Aspidistra is also called the iron plant. It is known for being a tough and very adaptable houseplant. It has long blades of slender dark green or variegated dark green and white leaves. They shoot straight out from the soil in clumps. It grows well in very low light and average. It only needs occasional watering. It is also a plant that does well in high traffic areas.
Aglonema (Chinese Evergreen) is among a few plants that prefer only moderate light and adapt well to low light. It has large dark green oval leathery leaves that taper. The plant develops a caney base, which means several stalk like stems are group in one area of the pot.
Dracaena varieties (also know as Happy or Fortune Plants) are slender leafed and usually white variegated. The Dracaena family plants are caney plants. They have decorative rosettes of strap like foliage. There are several varieties that all grow well in low light and by mixing several varieties you can add interest and a tropical feel to a room.
Ferns: Holly fern adapts to low light. The Boston fern (a fishbone type of fern) will remain in low light for many months but will need a time in brighter light to rejuvenate it. I move the plant to a bright room or add fluorescent light in the room for a few weeks.
Neanthe Bella or Parlor Palm is more suited to low light situations than most palms. It will do well but I also will give this palm additional light for a few weeks once in a while. The Kentia palm (Howeia forsteriana) also does well in low light areas but prefers a quieter area with less traffic.
Peace Lilies are one of the few low light interior plants that produce flowers several times per year. With a good fertilizer program you will have color most of the year. You can find peace lilies that are small tabletop sizes to larger floor plants that will fill a corner nicely.
Snake Plant – is also known as Mother-In-Law’s Tongue (Sanseveria trifasciata Laurentii). It will stand low to very bright light. The plant has waxy, erect strap like leaves with cream-colored edgings and a gray-green center. Sometimes you will see a different leaf color in these plants. This is a plant that doesn’t need a lot of care or extra maintenance.
Once a year I take my entire plant collection outdoors on a cloudy day and spray down well with warm water. I take this time to check their roots, re pot if necessary and check the plant for overall health. Besides adding comfort and an inviting feel to a room plants help with air quality
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