Low
Light
Houseplants
Arrowhead Plant
Syngonium podophyllum
Size: Medium sized plant. Varieties range from 2′ to ~4′
Light: Grows in low to medium light. Varieties with leaf variegation should be grown in med to high light to keep color saturated.
Water: Allow top 50% of soil to dry out before watering. Leaves droop when it needs water.
Humidity: Prefers high humidity but will tolerate basic household humidity.
Does not normally flower indoors
Babies Tears
Soleirolia helxine
Size: Small sized plant. Low growing, ground cover habit, up to 6″.
Light: Will grow in low light but prefers bright, indirect light. Keep out of direct sun.
Water: Keep slightly moist at all times, does not tolerate drying out or soggy soil.
Humidity: Thrives in high humidity.
Likes the environment of a terrarium, but can crowd out other plants.
Bird’s Nest Fern
Asplenium nidus
Size: Medium sized plant. Typically growing to 2′ in an indoor container.
Light: Grows in low to medium light. Prefers to have filtered indirect light.
Water: Keep soil moist but not soggy. Water the potting mix, not the rosette of the fern.
Humidity: Prefers moderate humidity. Brown leaf tips are a sign that the air is too dry.
It is normal for older, outer fronds to turn brown and die. Cut them off at the base to keep plant looking fresh.
Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema varieties
Size: Medium sized plant. Up to 2-3′.
Light: Grows well in a low light environment.
Water: Try to keep lightly moist, foliage can yellow if allowed to wilt between watering. Stems rot easily if soil is too wet.
Humidity: Average indoor humidity levels. Does not respond well to misting.
Very easy care plant. Good for an office setting.
Calathea
Calathea
Size: Medium sized plant. Up to 2′ tall.
Light: Grows in low to medium light. Burns in direct sun.
Water: Keep evenly moist. Prefers distilled water, tends to be sensitive to fluoride and other chemicals in treated water.
Humidity: Prefers high humidity. Mist frequently. Will benefit from having a shallow tray of wet pebbles nearby.
Brown leaf tips indicate low humidity, fluoride in water, or too much fertilizer.
Heart Leaf Philodendron
Philodendron scandens
Size: Medium to large, can climb or trail to 4′ or more.
Light: Grows in low light, but will grow quicker in medium to bright, indirect light. Does not like direct sun.
Water: Keep soil lightly moist white actively growing. Allow top 50% of soil to dry out between watering in winter. Will yellow with over-watering.
Humidity: Tolerates dry air, but prefers more humidity. Mist occasionally.
Very adaptable plant. Pinch back to a leaf node to keep bushy and full.
Kentia Palm
Howea forsteriana
Size: Large. Grows slowly up to 8′ indoors.
Light: Tolerant of low light, but will get more vibrant in bright, indirect light.
Water: Keep evenly moist during growing season, drier in the winter.
Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity. Mist foliage regularly.
Good as a floor specimen.
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum wallisii
Size: Medium, up to 3′ tall.
Light: Tolerates low light well, but may not bloom.
Water: Keep evenly moist. Soggy soil can easily cause root rot.
Humidity: Keep relative humidity. Shriveled, dry leaves are typically a sign of the air being to dry.
Place in indirect, bright light and divide older plant to encourage blooms.
Pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Size: Medium to large. Trailing/climbing stems can grow to 8′ or more.
Light: Tolerates low light, but will have more foliage and better variegation with bright, indirect light.
Water: Allow top inch of soil to dry out before waterings. Does not tolerate soggy soil. Foliage yellowing and falling off is a sign of over-watering.
Humidity: Average room humidity or higher. Brown leaf tips indicate too low humidity.
Very east to grow. Trim stems back at leaf nodes to keep a bushy, full habit.
Rubber Tree
Ficus elastica
Size: Large, up to 10′ indoors.
Light: Can tolerate low light, but perform better in bright, indirect light.
Water: Allow top 25% of soil to dry out before watering. Keep soil drier in low light conditions.
Humidity: Average indoor humidity.
Fairly easy care, but does not like to be moved.
Snake Plant
Sansevieria trifasciata
Size: Medium, typically around 2′ tall indoors.
Light: Tolerates low light but prefers bright light to full sun.
Water: Lightly moist during growing season. Water just enough to keep the soil from drying up completely in winter.
Humidity: Average room humidity. Tolerates dry air, but keep away from vents and drafts.
Carefree plant, great for beginners.
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Size: Medium, slow growing to 3′ indoors.
Light: Tolerates low light, but happiest in bright, indirect light. Keep out of afternoon, direct sun.
Water: Allow top 2″ of soil to dry out before watering. Rots easily with soggy soil. Yellow stems are a sign of too much water.
Humidity: Average room humidity. Tolerates low humidity.
Rarely has pest problems.