From the shadows: 8 plants that don't need light
We all dream of living in a place with large windows, where the sun's rays are free to bathe the space as they please. But the truth is that there are a huge number of us who have had to resign ourselves to confining our dreams and lives to small, dimly lit flats.
Whether it's because you live in a big city or because you've had the floor whose windows overlook another building, having little light can make you give up on the idea of having plants at home. This doesn't have to be the case as there are a lot of houseplants that need little light.
Low-light
plants usually come from places such as jungles, where there can be a lot of humidity, but due to the large number of tall trees they do not get the sun's rays directly and have adapted to this environmental condition. For this reason, it is common to find tropical indoor plants in this category, with beautiful colors or abundant foliage.
You should remember that many of the plants that don't need sunlight, while preferring moist environments, can be susceptible to root rot if overwatered. Remember that you don't have direct sunlight, which contributes to water evaporation, so it's a good idea to water only when the soil is dry and keep the moisture with a spray on the leaves, unless otherwise indicated.
Plants that require low light
Bromeliads There are hundreds of varieties ofbromeliads
This tropical indoor plant, which is a close family of the pineapple, can have touches of color, different leaves and different requirements. They are perfect for indoors and look great wherever you decide to put them, as long as they do not receive direct sunlight, as these burn their leaves. Prefer indirect light or fluorescent lights. A trick to distinguish bromeliads that live best in the shade: they usually have leaves without thorns, unlike varieties that prefer direct sun.
Drácena Lemon Drácena
is a hardy plant and very easy to maintain, which makes it perfect to have in the corridors and places where many people circulate. It looks like a small tree and reaches a certain height, making it a very common plant in common spaces of offices and residential buildings. While it is one of the plants that grows under bright indirect light, it can adapt very well to indoor life, in low to medium light. There are those who use it as an ornamental element in shady outdoor spaces, as it can be considered as one of the outdoor plants that do not need sun.
This
plant is beautiful, has very striking leaves and will look perfect in any corner of the home or office. However, you have to be careful with it if you have small children or pets at home, as there are parts of the plant that are toxic and can cause allergic reactions. In fact, it gets its name because the sap, when consumed, inflames the mouth and throat, to the point of making speech impossible. Dieffenbachia does very well in low-light conditions or in indirect light.
Pothos
is one of the most popular low-light indoor plants. This is because it is very resistant, requires little care and reproduces very easily. This plant does not need direct sunlight and can adapt to almost any condition. In fact, it can live both in substrate and in water. It grows fast and you can let its stems descend to give it a nice hanging effect. Remember that if it turns too yellow, it's getting too much indirect light.
Also
known as sansevieria or St. George's sword, this plant is perfect for beginners. Considered by many to be one of the outdoor plants that need little light, mother-in-law's tongue is so versatile that it can be grown in almost any space. This species of succulent will spread its cute leaves wherever you want to place it, requires little watering, and is on the list of plants that purify the air. Because it grows vertically, it can be used as a decorative element to add height to a space.
Native
to therainforests of America, this is one of the low-light plants that may require indirect lighting to produce the most flowers, but will continue to grow and develop indoors. It grows easily and will adorn any space with its shiny, deep green leaves. Believe it or not, the beautiful white flowers are actually a modified protective leaf that grows around the yellow flower.
These plants get their name because at nightfall, the leaves of this plant are gathered and look like folded hands, ready to pray. The prayer flower or maranta is a very popular plant for interior decoration because of its colors and oval shape. Although it is easy to care for and maintain, you should pay attention to its watering to avoid overwatering. If you ever notice that its leaves have been picked up and have not returned to their normal position during the day, it means that it is in a very dark place. If you expose it to indirect light, it will return to normal.
There
are many varieties of ferns and if you like the whimsical shapes of these plants you wish and dream of having them inside your home, the maidenhair fern is ideal. It has beautiful, small and abundant leaves that fall and resemble human hair. You can keep it in the shade, as long as you maintain its moisture requirement. A trick to keep it perfect: water it with distilled water so you can see it in all its glory.
