Okay, here’s my blog post about getting started with low-light indoor plants, written from my personal experience:
So, I’ve always wanted to be a “plant person.” You know, the kind of person with a home that looks like a lush, green jungle. Problem is, I’m not exactly known for my green thumb. And, my apartment? Let’s just say it doesn’t get a ton of natural light.
I started by doing some, um, “research” (aka, scrolling through endless plant pics online). I quickly realized I needed to focus on plants that could handle low-light conditions. I didn’t want to set myself up for failure right from the start!
My First Attempts (and Some Oops Moments)
My first purchase was a Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata). I’d heard they were basically indestructible. And guess what? It’s TRUE! I put it in a corner that barely gets any light, and it’s THRIVING. I water it, like, maybe once a month? Seriously, it’s the easiest plant ever.
- Find the right spot. Even low-light plants need some light. I experimented a bit, moving my plants around until I found spots where they seemed happy.
- Don’t overwater! This is where I messed up at first. It’s better to underwater a low-light plant than to drown it. I stick my finger in the soil, and if it feels dry, then I water.
- Snake Plant.It needs less watering.
Next, I got brave and bought a ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). Another winner! It’s in my bathroom, which has basically NO natural light, just a frosted window. It’s doing great! It’s grown, like, a bunch of new leaves since I got it.
Then… I got a little cocky. I bought a beautiful Calathea. They’re known for their gorgeous leaves, but also for being a bit… dramatic. I put it in a spot I thought was okay, but it started getting crispy brown edges on its leaves. Turns out, it needed a bit more humidity and indirect light than I was giving it.
- ZZ Plant.It needs less light.
I moved the Calathea to a different spot, closer to a window (but still out of direct sun), and started misting it with water every few days. It’s slowly recovering, but it was a good lesson: even “easy” plants have their preferences!
- Calathea.It needs more humidity and indirect light.
My Current Low-Light Lineup
Right now, my apartment is looking much greener, and I haven’t killed anything (major) in months! Here’s what I’ve got:
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata): My superstar.
- ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): Seriously unkillable.
- Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior): I just got this one, but it’s supposed to be super tough.
- Calathea (various types): Still learning with these, but they’re so pretty!
- Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) My newest one.
The pothos are really *’s hanging in there.
So, yeah, that’s my journey into the world of low-light houseplants. It’s been fun, a little frustrating at times, but mostly rewarding. My place feels so much more alive now, and I’m actually keeping plants alive! If I can do it, anyone can.
