5 Hard-to-Kill Houseplants for Apartments with Low Light

One of the biggest frustrations of living in a space with limited light is the seemingly impossible task of keeping your houseplants happy. While all plants do need light to survive, if you know which plants to buy you can keep them thriving even in low light spaces.

The easiest way to determine what will do well is to look to the plant’s natural conditions. Succulents, cacti and other desert dwellers are best suited to sunny spots, while anything that naturally grows on the forest floor, under a canopy, or thrives in shade is a candidate for lower light situations.

Here are a few fool-proof options for low light apartments:

A popular houseplant when I was growing up, these interesting plants self propagate by sending out off-shoots, do well when their roots are crowded, and can thrive in low light conditions.

This is my favorite pick for the darker corners of my own apartment. It has a sculptural appearance, adds a bit of green, and seems to thrive on neglect.

A hardy plant that can tolerate both low light and watering neglect, the ZZ plant is great for those with a less than green thumb.

Adaptable bamboo is a great fit for dim rooms, and is inexpensive and easy to come across.

Known as a great plant for improving indoor air quality, the Peace Lily is also one of the few low-light friendly options that produces flowers.

Ready to take the next step and take care of a plant you can keep alive? Play our Design Roulette and pause the video whenever you like to choose the next plant to add to your space.

Re-edited from a post originally published 3.18.14-NT