Plants That Survive Low Light in an Apartment (No Grow Lights Needed)

First, check how dark your spot is

"Low light" doesn't mean a closet. Illinois Extension's houseplant lighting guide defines low light as about 75 foot-candles. In apartment terms, that's:

Window faces	Low light starts	Medium light
North	A few feet away	Directly in front
East or west	3 to 10 feet away	A few feet away
South	15 to 20 feet away	3 to 10 feet away

If your plant sits farther back than the low-light distance, in a hallway, or in a room with blinds always shut, you're below low light. Even tough plants slow down there and may decline over months. Light from nearby buildings, porches and window coverings cuts it further, as Illinois Extension's low-light plant guide points out.

The five that handle low light best

Plant	Light	Water	Pets (ASPCA)
Snake plant	Very low to bright	Let soil dry completely	Toxic to dogs and cats
ZZ plant	Low, indirect	When dry, about every 2 to 3 weeks	All parts poisonous (Illinois Extension)
Pothos	Low to moderate	Let soil dry moderately	Toxic to dogs and cats
Heartleaf philodendron	Low to indirect	Keep evenly moist	See the ASPCA list
Cast iron plant	Low	Evenly moist, well-drained	Non-toxic to dogs and cats

1. Snake plant

If you've killed every plant you've owned, start here. University of Maryland Extension calls it likely the toughest plant on the planet and says it tolerates low light better than any other houseplant. It handles long dry spells but not overwatering. Iowa State's Yard and Garden team puts it bluntly: the only way to kill this plant is to overwater it. Illinois Extension says the soil should dry out completely between waterings, and that tall types usually reach 3 to 4 feet.

2. ZZ plant

Glossy, dark leaves that look almost fake. Illinois Extension says ZZ plants grow best in low, indirect light and also grow under fluorescent lighting in rooms with little or no natural light, which makes them the best pick for an office or an interior room. Water when the soil is dry, on average every two to three weeks. Iowa State notes it tolerates dry soil and low humidity, and its leaves grow from an underground rhizome. Keep it away from pets and children: Illinois Extension says all parts of the plant are poisonous.

3. Pothos

A trailing vine you can let spill from a shelf. Iowa State calls it one of the easiest and most forgiving houseplants and says it grows in low to moderate light; let the soil dry moderately between waterings. One trade-off: University of Maryland Extension says that in very low light the yellow or cream variegation fades to green, though the plant keeps living.

4. Heartleaf philodendron

Another trailing plant, with 3- to 5-inch heart-shaped leaves. Iowa State says it grows in low to indirect light and should be kept evenly moist. Maryland Extension adds that philodendron vines prefer bright light but tolerate low light, and the growth gets more spindly the darker it is. Pinching the tips keeps it fuller.

5. Cast iron plant

Named for how hard it is to kill. Iowa State says it endures heat, dust, low light and lack of water better than most houseplants, with broad, glossy leaves up to 18 inches long. It's also the pet-friendly pick: the ASPCA lists cast iron plant as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Illinois Extension's other suggestions for low light include peperomia, Chinese evergreen, prayer plant, peace lily and spider plant.

Water less in low light

Watering too much is the classic low-light mistake. Experts at NC State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences say most people water their plants too much, as if they were outdoors, and that dorm and apartment plants without direct sunlight don't absorb as much water. Illinois Extension notes low-light plants grow slower and need less water.

A simple routine:

1. Stick a finger into the soil before you water.
2. For snake and ZZ plants, wait until it's dry all the way down. For pothos, wait until the top is dry.
3. Use a pot with a drainage hole and empty the saucer after watering.
4. Expect to water less in winter, when days are shorter.

Signs your plant needs more light

Because low-light plants grow slowly, it can take a while to notice a problem. Illinois Extension lists the signs: stems get leggy or stretched, leaves turn a pale greenish-yellow, or the plant drops leaves. If you see these, move it closer to a window. NC State's advice is the same: if a plant struggles in low light, put it somewhere with more light.

If there's no brighter spot, adding light for longer helps. Illinois Extension says plants in low light benefit from 14 to 16 hours of light a day, and not more than 16, because they need a rest period. A lamp with an LED or fluorescent bulb on a timer can stretch the day without a dedicated grow light.

Pets: check before you buy

Several of the toughest low-light plants are toxic to pets. The ASPCA lists snake plant as toxic to dogs and cats, with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea as signs, and golden pothos as toxic to both, causing mouth irritation, drooling and vomiting. If you have a cat that chews leaves, the cast iron plant is the safer choice, or keep toxic plants on a shelf your pet can't reach. Search any other plant in the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list before you bring it home.