10 houseplants that need little light

Many houseplants also manage with less light, as they often grow in the undergrowth of forests in their natural location and are used to scanty light. One can already see from the nature of the leaves of such green plants, which are more suitable for corners with little light: the leaves are usually relatively thin and large.

Overall, these houseplants are also easier to care for and less demanding than their sun-worshiping conspecifics and therefore offer excellent conditions for greening shady interiors. In order to make it easier for you to find a suitable green plant, we have put together ten houseplants for you that also use less light.

1. Zamioculcas

The Zamioculcas or Zamie prefers a partially shaded location and room temperature. The lucky feather is evergreen, very robust and is not often infested with pests. The only mistakes you can make when caring for Zamioculcas are too much water and too low temperatures. If you want the plant to grow quickly, put it in a bright, warm place and water regularly.

Zamioculcas (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Photo: Flower Office Holland

2. Bow hemp

With its upright and stiff leaves, the bow hemp is very robust and grows even in rooms with less light. However, he needs room temperatures between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius. The earth should be dry rather than too moist. This makes maintenance relatively easy. In winter, the houseplant likes it a bit cooler with temperatures between 13 and 16 degrees.

Bow Hemp (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Photo: Floradania

3. Kentia palm

The Kentia palm is one of the most popular houseplants and is considered the most robust type of palm. Since it doesn't like direct sunlight, it should be in a partially shaded location. Since it has only a moderate water requirement, it should not be watered too much. The soil should be dry before the next watering. Decalcified water or rainwater is best suited.

Kentia palm trees (Howea forsteriana)

Photo: Flower Office Holland

4. Cobbler palm

The cobbler palm is a robust and easy-care houseplant. Since her home is the forests of Japan and China, she can manage with little light and grows easily even in darker corners. It rarely needs water, is rather insensitive to dust and can also cope with low humidity in rooms or drafts.

Cobbler Palm (Aspidistra elatior)

Photo: iStock / seven75

5. Single sheet

The single leaf can not cope with direct sunlight and is particularly happy in partial shade during the flowering phase. In winter it shouldn't be colder than 13 degrees Celsius in the room, otherwise the plant would be damaged. The one-leaf feels most comfortable at temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius. When caring for this houseplant, it is important to ensure that the substrate is always kept moist and watered more economically in winter than in warm weather.

Single leaf (Spathiphyllum floribundum)

Photo: Flower Office Holland

6. ivy

The ivy is probably one of the best-known climbing plants and there are hundreds of different variations. The most striking difference is that between green-leaved and variegated varieties. In contrast to the greens, the colored ones like to stand in the sun. In winter, the ivy is satisfied with 10 degrees Celsius and from March to September it can handle about 20 degrees. The lighter the place where the ivy grows, the more water is poured.

Ivy forms a real connection with the underground and can therefore hold onto the surface independently.

Photo: Kientzler

7. Begonia

The most striking thing about a begonia is the wonderful foliage. With more than 1, 400 species, the begonia is one of the most species-rich plant species. The plant feels most comfortable in shady to partially shaded places. Since the begonia originally comes from the subtropics, it prefers an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.

Tiger begonia (Begonia boweri)

Photo: Floradania

8. Ivy tree

The ivy plant is known for its relative unpretentiousness and is divided into variegated and green-leaved varieties. The colored ones need more light than the green ones, otherwise they can turn green and do not grow as fast as you green relatives. The ivy plant prefers a bright to half-shady site and must under no circumstances be exposed to the harsh midday sun.

Ivy tree (× Fatshedera lizei)

Photo: iStock / yykkaa

9. Room aralia

The room aralia prefers partial shade, but also tolerates a bright location. Full sun should be avoided. Give the plant a winter break at around ten degrees Celsius and water the aralia only occasionally. In summer, however, it should be ensured that the plant is always moist.

Common aralia (Fatsia japonica)

Photo: Floradania

10. Maidenhair fern

The maidenhair fern prefers a partially shady location and temperatures around 22 degrees Celsius. It feels comfortable with a humidity of around 60 percent and can therefore also stand well in the bathroom. The female hair fern should be poured with lime-poor water. Never spray the fern, otherwise the leaves will turn brown.

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum raddianum)

Photo: Flower Office Holland

Hack for the smart home: plant lamps for dark corners

If you have plants that do not get along well with little light, but are in a corner where there is hardly any daylight, a technical solution might be an option: plant lamps.

The purpose of plant lamps is to artificially replace the lack of sunlight that the houseplant needs for its growth and photosynthesis. Not every light source is suitable for this task - plant lamps have to meet certain criteria. The light colors are important here: Plants need a special color spectrum. Here, blue and red light should be in the right ratio to each other.

Blue light affects the growth of plants because chlorophyll can convert them directly. Red light also encourages growth, but it can lead to long, sparsely leafed shoots if it shines too strongly. Plant lamps with the color rendering levels 1A, 1B or the color temperature 5, 000 Kelvin are similar to daylight and have a suitable light spectrum. The proportion of blue should be higher in the growth phase and the proportion of red in the flowering phase (it is crucial for flower formation).

Various lamps can be used as plant lamps.

Photo: iStock / AnikaSalsera

Various lamps can be used as plant lamps: LED lamps, energy-saving lamps or fluorescent tubes can be used. Blue light predominates in fluorescent tubes, which is important for plants in the growth phase. Fluorescent tubes with the names "daylight", "cold white" or "neutral white" meanwhile have a high proportion of red, which is particularly important for the flowering phase. Conventional incandescent lamps have a low light output and are not suitable as plant lamps.

Conclusion: Plant lamps can help plants in dark living areas to better lighting conditions. However, because of the power consumption, you should rely on energy-saving lamps. In the smart home there are also products with which the light can be controlled in a targeted and automated manner.

Photo: iStock / serezniy