Houseplants can work wonders for an otherwise dreary corner of your house or office. They bring beauty and something truly unique into our lives. Many people spend years caring for their houseplants and feel that they are almost a part of the family. These plants provide us with so much variety and unique wonder that it behooves us to learn about them. There are special low light house plants that are especially great because you can keep them in the really dark and gloomy parts of the house. Naturally you can’t just put a plant in the absolute dark of a closet, but there are many species that can go in a dark room or near a window that does not get very much light. This can be especially useful for climates that do not get much sunlight in the winter, or where light conditions are poor for a large part of the year. You might think that a plant which can thrive in low light conditions might be rare or expensive, but you would be wrong. There are several common species that can be purchased at most gardens or nurseries that will provide you with beautiful foliage in dark conditions. Although these plants do not require a huge amount of care, there are a few things that you should know in order to keep them going strong.
Realize that a plant growing in a dark part of the house will probably grow much more slowly than other plants. Because it has much less sunlight it grows slowly, which is natural for this particular species. You won’t make them grow faster by putting them in the sun. These plants take less sun and they grow much slower, but this also means that they will need less water than most plants. This is partly true because they will grow much more slowly. If you water these plants too much you can literally drown them.
Their roots need to be free to take in oxygen, and if they can’t they could die. Also, too much water saturates the roots and tends to produce a very serious condition called root rot. Realize that you will need to observe your plants and make sure that they respond well to the amount you are watering them. Check to see if plants need water by poking your finger into the soil. If it is dry you should water—if still moist then wait for a little while to water again. Also, when you do water don’t soak the plants because this will tend to rot them. Get the water moist and allow it to drain properly.
Be cautious about where you place your low light houseplants. Keep them away from areas with drafts or cold air. Also watch for placing plants near a heater vent as this will tend to wilt leaves and dry the plant out. If your low light houseplant seems to be struggling you should experiment with its placement. Try an area with a slightly warmer area, or some spot with a bit more light.
Low light houseplants, if kept in good care, can provide you with years of wonderful beauty. While these plants might grow slowly this provides an unexpected benefit, which is that you get to know them. I have plants that I treat as I would a member of the family because I have spent so long caring for them. With some patience and experimentation you can find a method that will work for you. Good luck with your low light houseplant!