12 Best Low-Light Indoor Plants for Indian Homes and Apartments

Most Indian apartments have at least one spot that gets almost no direct sun: a hallway, a bathroom, a north-facing bedroom or an office cabin. The good news is that many popular houseplants evolved on forest floors under thick canopy, so they grow happily in low light. Here are 12 that we see thriving in homes across Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.

What counts as low light?

Low light means the plant can see the sky but gets no direct sun on its leaves, for example 2-3 metres from a window, or in a room lit only by a north-facing window. If you can comfortably read a book there at noon without switching on a light, most plants on this list will be fine. A completely dark room with no window isn't low light; it's no light, and no plant survives that for long.

The 12 best low-light plants

1. Snake plant (Sansevieria). Almost indestructible. Water every 2-3 weeks and let the soil dry out fully. A 4"-6" pot suits most nursery plants. See our snake plant care guide.
2. ZZ plant. Glossy leaves, very drought tolerant. Its thick roots can crack tight pots, so give it a little extra room. More in our ZZ plant guide.
3. Pothos / money plant. The classic Indian indoor plant. Trails beautifully from shelves and hanging planters. Variegated types lose some colour in very low light. Read the pothos care guide.
4. Peace lily. Tells you when it's thirsty by drooping, then perks up within hours of watering. Flowers best with medium light. See our peace lily guide.
5. Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen). Pink and red varieties brighten a dull corner. Avoid cold AC drafts.
6. Philodendron (heartleaf). Fast-growing and forgiving. Trail it or train it up a moss pole.
7. Syngonium. Arrow-shaped leaves in green, pink or cream. Pinch the tips to keep it bushy.
8. Cast iron plant (Aspidistra). Lives up to its name. Ideal for dark corridors.
9. Calathea and prayer plant. Striking patterned leaves that fold up at night. Need steady moisture and humidity, which makes a bathroom ideal.
10. Dracaena. Upright and architectural, good in tall planters at an entrance or office lobby.
11. Lucky bamboo. Grows in water or soil. A popular desk and gifting plant.
12. Bird's nest fern. Wavy, bright green fronds. Loves bathroom humidity.

Low light means less water

The most common way people kill low-light plants is overwatering. With less light, a plant uses water more slowly, so the soil stays wet longer. Always check the top 2-3 cm of soil with your finger before watering, and make sure the pot has a drainage hole. Every Harla planter does. If you tend to forget, a self-watering planter keeps moisture steady for moisture-lovers like peace lily and calathea. Our guide to how self-watering pots work explains which plants suit them.

Choosing the right pot

• Size: go only 1-2 inches wider than the nursery pot. Too much soil stays wet in low light. Our pot size guide has a full chart.
• Colour: light glazes like white, ivory and sandle bounce a little light back into a dim corner.
• Material: glazed ceramic holds moisture longer than terracotta, which suits most of these plants. See ceramic vs plastic vs terracotta.

For desks and shelves, browse our small and extra-small pots. For floor plants like dracaena and peace lily, see medium and large planters.

Quick FAQ

Can plants grow under LED or tube lights? Yes. Pothos, ZZ and snake plant do well in offices lit for 8-10 hours a day. Keep them within 1-2 metres of the light.

How often should I rotate my plant? Every 2 weeks, so it grows evenly instead of leaning towards the window.

Should I fertilise low-light plants? Lightly, once a month in summer and monsoon only. They grow slowly and need little feeding.