Best Tropical Plants For Low Light
Garden Clippings for Nov 26, 2022
Tropical plants grow best in the tropics, where there is constant warmth and plenty humidity. It is understandable that there will be challenges if trying to grow tropical plants in our indoor northern environments.
Thankfully there are many tropical plants that are so versatile that they will easily grow in our homes, even through winter when indoor humidity is low. And growers, primarily in Florida, have selected, bred, and produced many plants that are geared to growing indoors.
Perhaps the greatest challenge for indoor gardening is low light. If you have a south, east, or west facing window, your options are plentiful, but those with a north facing window or those who have offices with no natural light, will want to choose from the following list of 8 plants.
Golden Pothos is an all-time favorite because it grows anywhere, thrives on neglect, and will look great for years. Its variegated gold-green leaves are lush, shiny, and attractive. Plant it in a hanging basket or allow it to trail over the edge of a decorative pot. For best results prune it often to keep the plant bushy.
Chinese Evergreen is a popular foliage plant for offices, shopping malls, and low-light rooms because it requires zero attention. Its big leaves behave like Hostas and will not grow taller than about 18 inches. I have a 20 year old Chinese Evergreen in our family room and it looks just as good as the day I brought it home.
Spider plant is another specimen suited for hanging baskets. Easy to grow and easy to multiply, Spider plant has narrow variegated grass-like leaves that cascade nicely over a decorative container.
Snake plant is another no-brainer choice that tolerates both low light and low water. Snake plants come in many varieties and sizes, ranging from a few inches to a few feet in height. Leaves are green and white, long, tall, and mottled resembling snake skin. In our home we have a snake plant in the bedroom and north facing front room. It thrives under neglect and seldom gets water.
Like the perennial Ferns that grow in Ontario gardens, tropical Ferns like a spot that is warm, humid, and shady. Maiden Hair Fern has fine textured lush green leaves. Staghorn Fern is the opposite with bold heavily textured leaves that somehow grow on the side pocket of a tree trunk or slab of lumber.
Corn Plant is the first tall plant on this list, growing to 6 feet or more. It can be trimmed down to keep size in check. Leaves are striped in yellow and green, resembling corn leaves. Corn plant is a good choice for a tall growing plant to fill an empty corner.
Cast Iron plant, as the name suggests, is strong and indestructible. Growth habit is similar to Chinese Evergreen, but with dark green foliage that won’t grow higher than 2 feet. Cast Iron plant is a good choice for those who claim to have black thumbs.
English Ivy is a trailing vine that grows nicely in a hanging basket or on a shelf with room for foliage to cascade downward. We temporarily moved one to a shelf in a low light office room thinking we would soon need to replace it, but it continues to thrive. Be sure to water faithfully, or it will succumb to spider mites.
