Plants that Grow without Sunlight | 30 Best Plants to Grow Indoors

30 Plants that Grow Without Sunlight | Best Plants to Grow Indoors
There are Plants that Grow Without Sunlight and need indirect exposure. Some even thrive in artificial light and Grow Best Indoors!
The obvious thing that everyone knows is the fact that plants need some light to grow. They can’t grow or develop properly without the proper amount of light. Luckily there are Plants that Grow Without Sunlight, and can thrive in low-light indoor conditions. When you are looking for such plants, choose ones that are known for their ability to grow in indirect light.
They are ideal shade-loving plants, naturally growing in the indirect sun. These plants adapt well to the smaller amount of light and thrive normally. To make your search easier, we’ve listed the Best Plants to Grow Indoors.
6. Calathea
One of the most beautiful foliage plants you should grow in your home. It grows well in light shade, but the plant is demanding; it has a specific minimum temperature requirement of 55 F (13 C) that should be maintained.
It prefers regular watering (but watering should be reduced in low light conditions and temperature).
7. Prayer Plant
Botanical Name: Maranta leuconeura
These are tropical plants and are a bit difficult to grow in cooler climates.
It grows well in moderate light without direct access to the sun.If the plant is kept in too much light, the leaves begin to curl and wither.
10. Chinese Evergreen
Chinese Evergreen plants are one of the best plants to grow indoors that don’t require constant, direct sunlight. If you are someone who’s new to growing houseplants, this is the plant you should start with.
11. Cast Iron Plant
The cast iron plant is very forgiving by nature, a great plant if you are always busy and forget about maintenance. It remains very much content staying indoors without the sun.
Just wipe its leaves clean with a damp cloth once a week or so, and provide it with bright indirect light.
12. Orchids
shutterstock/FotoHelin
Botanical Name: Orchidaceae
One of the key points in growing orchids the right way is never to expose them to direct sunlight. Coming in an astonishing array of colors, varieties, and mesmerizing fragrances, orchids are your best bet when it comes to Plants that Grow without Sunlight!
14. Peperomia
What makes these plants perfect for your tabletop is the fact they are some of the best plants that grow without sunlight. Whether it’s Baby Rubber Plant or Watermelon Peperomia–they all have moderate growing requirements.
Place them near a window occasionally that allows them to absorb indirect light throughout the day.
15. Dumb Cane
Botanical Name: Dieffenbachia
If you can keep this plant away from your pets and children, it can be a welcoming addition to your home. Because its sap is moderately toxic and contains calcium oxalate crystals, so be careful about the placement.
It does really well in filtered light, making it a perfect houseplant for low-light areas!
16. Spider Plant
Imagine the graceful variegated foliage of a spider plant dangling down with unique spiderettes in hanging baskets. Isn’t it enough to entice you to grow it? Also, it likes indirect light and is one of the best air-purifying plants.
Direct sunlight often causes the burning of leaves.
17. Peace Lily
Botanical Name: Spathiphyllum
If you’re looking for a houseplant with health benefits, acquire a peace lily. Also, it is forgiving and requires low care. Incredibly easy to grow, peace lily flourishes in shady locations.
18. Aloe Vera
Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis miller
Looking for edible Plants that Grow Without Water? The most popular and number one houseplant in many countries, according to Google Trends, and rightly so because you can also eat the aloe skin and gel. This medicinal plant can grow in direct sunlight, but it tolerates low light too. Learn everything about growing aloe vera here.
23. Air Plants
Air Plants are unique and fascinating indoor plants that don’t require soil to grow. They can thrive in a wide range of lighting conditions, from low to bright indirect light, and can be a conversation starter in any room.
Want versatility? These Plants that Grow in water Without Sunlight can be styled in vases, terrariums, pots, and anything peculiar you can think of.
24. Parlor Palm
Botanical Name: Chamaedorea elegans
Parlor Palm has delicate fronds that grow from a central stem, making it a beautiful addition to any indoor space.
It can thrive in low light and requires minimal maintenance, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
25. Bird’s Nest Fern
Botanical Name: Asplenium nidus
Bird’s Nest Fern has crinkled leaves that resemble a bird’s nest and can grow up to 2 feet wide, making it a perfect statement plant for any indoor space. It can grow well in low light and high humidity conditions.
28. Umbrella Tree
Schefflera is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for indoor plant with large, umbrella-shaped leaves. It can grow well in low to bright indirect light, making it perfect for a variety of indoor environments.
29. Arrowhead Plant
Botanical Name: Syngonium podophyllum
Arrowhead Plant is a popular indoor plant with arrow-shaped leaves that are variegated in shades of green, white, and pink. It can thrive in low-light environments and can be an excellent addition to any indoor space.
What I researched about calathea, I will tell you. These plants should be watered with distilled water or rain water or water that does not have minerals, or the leaves will curl and burn. To maintain humidity the leaves should be sprayed with same type of water. The soil best for them is the one prepared for African violets. They don’t like direct sunlight and fertilize them very lightly.
The Zamioculcas Zamifolia (ZZ Plant) is perfect for your office, it really requires no natural life to grow.
I had one that grew quite large…it was in a corner of my apartment that had no natural light at all, just a small lamp it could have received light from.
Hi Jackie
The Peace Lily also does really well in a room with no windows. Many offices have them in vases with water, no soil, plus you can put a Beta fish in the vase with the plant. If you include a fish, you will have to clean it weekly and feed it every couple of days. They look very pretty. In my home I have 5 Peace Lilies, 3 are potted in soil and 2 are in vases (no fish), both ways they do very well, my potted ones are on a windowsill that gets morning sun and the vases are on top of my tv, about 10 away from the window. I have never seen a potted one in a room with no windows, so I can’t say if they would be ok. Good luck
Sounds beautiful. Just a word from my experience, it’s funny now but sure wasn’t then. My favorite lil niece picked me some wild flowers, so me being so proud of them placed them in a vase on top of the TV so everyone else could see the love she shared with me. When I went outside to do something the two lil angles got to wrestling and yup that vase got knocked over into the TV. At least they shut it off. I came in to an awful smell of a killed television, and two sweet little girls sitting with hands in laps smiling at me. Well they never did own up to it untill they were grown up, even when we got that new TV. So unless you need or want a new TV I highly recommend that you might want to move any plants OFF AND AWAY FROM SAID TVS. Good luck …
Jackie, I had a Lily in my office, no windows, fluorescent light on about 30 hours a week, and, I would forget to water until wilted. It was a great plant that survived and flourished, without much care, even bloomed. I also had a Philodendron in a hanging pot, also neglected and strived beautifully.
Hi Jackie
I have a prayer plant which is growing well. Had to move it from my coffee table as it has grown too tall & blocks the view of my TV I moved it to my dining room table, where, as with being on my coffee table, gets indirect sunlight ( perhaps a bit less light then being on my coffee table). There is a ceiling fan directly above where the plant is now sitting on my dining room table. The ceiling runs on low speed in the summer months. Will the air movement from the ceiling fan harm my prayer plant in anyway?
I have the Bromelaids. I have never bought them before. I left them out all summer, and repotted them a few days ago. New garden soil used. They looked pretty sad. I moved them to the basement, watered them, cleaned each leaf, Next day went to put in some laundry, and OMG, they sprouted overnight! Even my husband raved about them. New plants have already sprouted! I will be buying more, next year.
I have managed to plant the other plants successfully but the Maidenhair Fern appears a bit more sensitive and does not grow thick and bushy like in your photo. Is it because i have overwatered and how do I take care of the plant.
The information is very useful. I have a peace lily plant have kept in open in sunlight not at all growing since 4-5 months. Even leaves are becoming small n no flowers it was good earlier. What to do? The temperature here is around 30
f
Direct sunlight is too strong for peace lilies. Place them away from windows so they only get indirect light, and don’t overwater. If it is not already too far gone, your peace lily will start growing again and will soon look great. Good luck. :)
No problem as long as you remember to check water levels more frequently. I set all of my plants on the picture window ledge right in front of a vent every winter. I have a peace lily, 2 christmas cacti and several others that have done very well over the last 10 years.
If i were to leave a Parlor Palm in a corner where it’ll never get light, It wont be complete darkness but the only light it’d get is from rooms will it survive and also would it not wither or look malmaintained?
Jade plants are succulents and need some direct or indirect light. They cannot grow without light and as you have experienced they will wither and die. Best place for them, indoors, is near a sunny (east,west, south) facing window that gets at least 6 hours of direct/indirect light per day. They require some warmth also so they don’t do well in cold rooms.
As succulents they do NOT need a lot of water. I have several on my balcony that go the entire summer(temps in 80’s-90’s)) without water. They store water in their trunks and leaves, but when leaves start to crinkle it’s best to give them a good drench and be sure water runs out the bottom of the pots. Don’t let stand in water. I give them a little bit of liquid fertilizer once only in the summer. Also the best potting mix is cactus mix which allows the roots to aerate quickly. When healthy and happy they will bloom heavily in the fall with lovely tiny pink or white flowers that will also make bees happy. Where I live we get a bit of frost in the winter so I either cover them or bring them in. They will freeze and die if left outside in temps that drop into the low 30s or below.
Hope this info helps.
Hi, I bought Bromeliad plant 1 month ago and kept it inside in living room. But now the colour of plant from top is changing slowly from orange to green again. Why is it happening. Pls reply me as soon as possible. Thanks
Hello Vibhuti
Bromeliads die after giving a flower. They grow pups which will continue to grow. Once the pup is about 1/3 of the size of the mother plant you can remove them. I get 2 to 4 pups from each bromeliad. They do flower for a long time but then move on. Good luck
I have many Jade plants outside. They are very easy to grow. Very little water is needed. I have them in shade and in direct sun. They are all doing great. Some of mine are 4 ft tall. I think a little shade seems to be better . Love this site. Doris
my fave plant is the china doll, that seems to do really well inside dim light or skylight. i have one sitting under a lamp and its a fairly dark room, still thriving. they seem to adapt to whatever light they have. just keep watered. love the maidenhair fern thats my second fave plant.
To anyone with pets, PLEASE double check whether the plant you are interested in is toxic to cats and dogs. At first glance at this list I immediately noticed several that will not only make your pet sick but can be fatal. The peace lily in particular is extremely dangerous to cats, inducing non-reversible kidney damage that will cause your cat’s kidneys to shut down within days. Dracenea, philodendron, and golden pothos are all toxic as well, and for some reason very enticing to cats. I unfortunately have found in general that many of the most common, low-light houseplants are in fact toxic, and while many of them only tend to cause mild stomach upset or mouth pain (and symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, and pawing at the mouth), some of them can lead to neurologic signs, cardiac disturbances, red blood cell destruction/anemia, liver disease, and kidney damage.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to check to see if a plant or flower is toxic BEFORE you bring it into your home. An excellent reference is the ASPCA Poison Control website, which allows you to search for both toxic and nontoxic plants, alphabetically by common name and scientific name, and features photos of most plants to aid identification. Never assume a plant is not toxic because it is sold in big box stores or garden centers, and do not assume your pet won’t try to eat it–they will. Also keep in mind that sometimes the dried leaves of a plant are even more toxic, with higher concentrations of the toxic substance. Always try to pick up the fallen leaves of your houseplants regularly to prevent a curious cat or dog from trying to munch on them.
It is almost impossible to remember whether a plant is or is not toxic with the vast number of species and varieties out there today. I don’t even recommend trying to; rather, check each one out every time you want to buy a new plant. I am a veterinarian, and even I forget which is which and much prefer to check out the ASPCA site to avoid inadvertently bringing home something that could harm my pets. Of course, please don’t ever forget–NO peace lilies or Easter lilies around your cats! They will kill, and sadly, do kill, too many cats simply because their owner didn’t know.
Thank you so much!! I almost lost my cat due to eating a house plant almost fifty years ago and have tried to be very careful ever since. Despite my vigilance, however, my current cat got sick about a month ago because she jumped up on my kitchen counter when my back was turned and ate some of the herbs I was chopping.
I had gotten several plants and all indoors, purple passion two of the Ivy’s you posted and one palm. But, suddenly l have gnats everywhere!! I hate bugs! I was always having a gnat flying around my head. I moved all of them outside to my covered patio. I miss my plants but l really hate bugs.
Put about an inch or two of play sand ( you can buy it at lumber stores or home improvement stores) on top of your soil. It will suffocate the gnats, and it won’t hurt your plants at all. Just water as usual through the layer of sand.
Hi. I have a peace lily which doesn’t get any direct sunlight and it’s not doing very well. The leaves seem to be dying off one by one. I give it a good watering once a week because the last one that I kept the soil “moderately moist” died. Do you have any suggestions? I just started trying to grow plants inside and out last spring and my luck has been about 50/50:)
Thanks so much,
Michele
Hi, I’m trying to find plant that can live in very specific conditions. We have hollway, which is very dark. It’s
facing north and have eaves in front in doors and have only one glas door till exit. Temperture is in winter low, and in summer is ok, not to hot.
I belive we need outdoor plant witch love deep shade. Do you have any idea whitch one? I would appreciate.
The ZZ plant would do very well for your situation. It adores shade and grows well with a weekly watering. It grows upwards and has beautiful green leaves. My housing situation is in SE Michigan, so very similar to yours. Another bonus they are easily to propagate so knew plant can turn to many, and are often found at your local big box store.
Hi, Found this l list and my son and I went shopping yesterday. We came home with the maiden hair fern and a ficus fiddle head which the man in the greenhouse said will be a good grower in indirect northeastern light. How about fertilizing? Any thoughts?
When no one’s there, our little high desert Church has hardly any light, only a bit that comes through some gray mylar shades. Late Spring until Nov., tall East & West windows scoop up heat, shades or no shades. An oven. November through April it can freeze and can also be pretty dry, but sheltered from the wind. Flowers are gone overnight, year-round. Hoping for large plants that could stand permanently in a couple of prominent locations, and smaller plants to move around elsewhere. We promise to keep to whatever watering/feeding schedule is required.
I have had a peace Lily since the year 2000. This plant loves to be ignored. It has flowered a handful of times but it’s dark green, beautiful leaves flourish. I’ve transplanted it two or three times during the 18 years. I forget to water it all the time but she loves the abuse because when I finally give her a drink she comes back better than ever. My cleaning lady washes her leaves periodically. I will occasionally sit her out in the rain during the summer so she can get out and live a little.
Maranta Leuconeura is definitely a light lover. Okay, at least my one was. I placed it near a west facing window which received bright light all day long, really. But it was way too fussy, where it lost half of its leaves a month after I bought it. I even kept it decently watered, but to no avail. The leaves still yellowed and curled. Eventually, the plant was only left with two leaves. It looked very unattractive in my room. So I placed it in a sheltered area in my backyard, which receives bright light, and whaddaya know, new leaves are sprouting almost every week. What I learnt? This plant prefers the outdoors with bright, but indirect sunlight.
Under the bright lights the plants appear to be embedded in crumpled soggy blankets. The use of growing mediums other than soil is not unique to aeroponics; planting seeds in cotton has been a popular idea for many a school science project. In recent years a related technology called hydroponics, that uses water as a medium to grow plants, has caught on. But Oshima is quick to distinguish aeroponics from hydroponics emphasizing that their technology is superior. And the key to the technology, is what happens under the microfleece membrane. If peeled it would reveal bare roots enveloped by nutrient-rich mist.