15 lightless houseplants: ideal for dark rooms

15 plants for lightless interiors

Article for :All parent plants

Key points to remember

Looking for lightless houseplants that can survive in a dark apartment or windowless room? Plants with decorative foliage, ferns, palms and flowering plants, here are 15 varieties ideal for greening your interior, even without sunlight.

Article summary

Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a south-facing house in which to grow Pilea or Dracaena. Your home has the brightness of a hobbit's cave, but you dream of plant-based decoration? Is the size of your collection such that you've been reduced to planting obscure rooms? Here are fifteen houseplants that don't need light to shine.

#1 Calathea: a houseplant without direct light

Calathea prefer humidity to sun -Photo by Desing Strive

Who could believe that such decorative foliage thrives on little light? Green on top, purple on the reverse, Calathea leaves are adorned with patterns that look as if they've been sketched by a painter.

Unlike Monstera variegata protects itself from direct light by growing in the shade of other trees. In your home, it will be satisfied with a spot in the shade or half-shade.

As well as being easy to grow, Ficus pumila and its heart-shaped leaves lend themselves to all your decorative desires. You can grow it as a hanging plant or climb it along a support. Fast-growing, it can also be used to create a plant wall. Finally, if the air in your home is dry, don't hesitate to plant it in a terrarium to give it the hygrometry it needs.

Frequently asked questions about plants and light-free interiors

Can a plant be installed in a windowless room?

A priori, no. Plants need light to live, including varieties for which exposure to shade is sufficient. However, it is possible to grow a plant in a windowless room (bathroom or hallway, for example). You'll need to install a horticultural lamp or grow light and leave it on for several hours a day. On the other hand, a simple light bulb or LED, like the ones we use for lighting, won't be able to replace sunlight.

Can plants grow with artificial light alone?

Yes, plants can live under artificial light, provided they use suitable bulbs (horticultural LEDs, neon lights). This ensures the minimum photosynthesis required, particularly in windowless or poorly-exposed rooms.

What plants are recommended for dark or dimly lit interiors?

For dark or low-light interiors, choose plants that require shady exposure, such as :

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) ;
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia);
Calathea ;
Moonflower (Spathiphyllum wallisii).

Should a plant placed in a dark room be watered more often?

No, in fact the opposite is true. Plants placed in the shade consume less water, as they grow more slowly. The substrate also takes longer to dry out. It's better to water less often, but on a regular basis, and always check the humidity of the soil beforehand.

By Servane Nemetz
the 09-09-2022 à 07h51

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