The Best Low-Light Indoor Plants That Thrive Even in Dark Rooms

Water: Every two to three weeks, allowing soil to dry out between waterings

Associate Editor Jessica Cherner got herself The Sill's snake plant back in July 2020, and it's still thriving—even in its original upcycled planter. "I got a plant because I wanted to add a little bit of color and life to my apartment, but I didn't want to spend more than a few minutes here and there taking care of it," she says. "I literally water it every six to eight weeks, and that's more than enough." If you have pets, you may want to keep them away from your snake plant because, although it's not fatally poisonous, your cats and dogs can get sick if they ingest even a few bites.

Water: Once a week

With fronds that resemble the shape of a rabbit's foot (a well-known good-luck charm), the Rabbit Foot Fern thrives in indirect light with plenty of humidity. If you have a window in your bathroom, that's the ideal spot for this fast-growing plant. But be sure to keep it off the windowsill since direct sun will scald its leaves.

Water: Every two weeks

Available in a variety of sizes, the prayer plant is named for its leaves that open and close as the sun rises and sets. While the changing leaves may seem finicky, this resilient plant is surprisingly easy to care for. Plus, it acts as a natural air purifier! Water when the top quarter of the soil is dry.

Water: Every one to two weeks

This plant, also known as the Victorian parlor palm, is famously resilient. Plus, who wouldn't love those pretty feathery leaves that liven up any bland corner of your home? It does well in medium light but can survive in lower light areas as well. Though this palm likes humidity and extra moisture, you can water it sparingly. At least every two weeks is more than enough. It's also nontoxic for your cats and dogs.

Water: Once every seven to 10 days

Since this is one of the most durable indoor plants on offer (it does quite well in low light) and only needs to be fertilized once or twice a year, it's ideal for beginner gardeners. In fact, these plants don't even need natural light to grow; they'll survive just as well in artificial light. They also do best in dry air, so this is one plant you may not want to display in your bathroom. Sadly, the aglaonema Chinese evergreen is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, so keep it away from your beloved pets.

Water: Once a week, enough to cover the roots

Said to bring good luck and fortune, the lucky bamboo craves some light but can fully thrive in shady areas. Its best feature, however, is its ability to remove benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air while also acting as a natural humidifier. It's toxic to cats and dogs, so keep them safe by placing your lucky bamboo out of reach.

Water: Two to three times a week

This quick-growing tree adds life to any room in the house. Just make sure you're giving it enough water. Place it in a deep planter filled with well-draining soil, and give it a big drink when the top several inches of soil are dry. It does well in indirect light, so instead of placing it by a window opt for a corner that gets plenty of diffuse light. The ficus tree is toxic to cats and dogs.

Water: When soil is dry, about once a week

Didn't expect to find a tropical plant on this list? This houseplant can actually survive on fluorescent light alone and thrives in humid conditions like bathrooms. That's not why we love bromeliads, though. They can grow on the ground, on rocks, or on other plants and trees. How cool is that? They're also nontoxic to cats and dogs, making them one of our favorite plants on the market.

Water: One cup of water per week

The devil's ivy golden pothos plant (also known as pothos, which is Greek for "longing") gets its name from this plant's unique ability to grow vines even in the worst conditions. Because of its superpower, we'd suggest keeping this plant on its own inside rather than among other plants outdoors, where the pothos can basically strangle the rest of your greenery. Keep it in bright, indirect sunlight and away from your cats and dogs because it can be fatal if ingested.

Water: Once a week

Nerve plants, or fittonia, prefer brighter light, but they can handle low light just as well. The only downside to minimal light is lackluster leaves, which isn't indicative of any issues; it's just a side effect of low-light conditions. Nerve plants are a bit on the temperamental side because they require a lot of humidity to thrive. They're also nontoxic to cats and dogs, so feel free to leave your nerve plant on the floor.

Water: Once a week

Spiky leaves that grow upward and have prominent red outlines make these plants pretty striking, but too much direct sunlight can damage them. Keep your leaves healthy by placing it far from the window that gets the most sun; it'll do best in a spot that gets plenty of bright indirect sunlight. Though Madagascar dragon trees aren't known to cause any issues in dogs, they can induce drooling, vomiting, weakness, incoordination, and dilated pupils in cats.

Water: Once a week

The spider plant's adaptability makes it super easy to grow and, therefore, one of the most popular houseplants. As far as care goes, it's pretty straightforward. Just place your spider plant in bright to moderate light in a room that's a comfortable temperature for everyone, including you. Any temperature that feels too hot or cold could lead to an early death for your spider plant. One more thing: Be sure to keep the soil slightly moist at all times. (You may want to invest in a spray bottle.) Lastly, these plants are not toxic to cats and dogs, so nothing will happen to your pets if they chomp on some leaves every now and then.

Water: Once a week

Hoyas, or wax plants, are not picky houseplants. They'll thrive in bright light but do just fine in lower light conditions. They're also super low maintenance and can bounce back if you forget to water them for a little while. One word of advice: Allow the soil to dry out completely between waterings because soil that's too wet will cause the leaves to drop. If they do fall off and your pets eat them, they'll live to tell the tale because wax plants aren't toxic to cats or dogs.

Water: Moderate watering; every one to two weeks

You might not think the tropical monstera plant can handle anything less than bright, direct sunlight, but these beauties can actually tolerate even the lowest light conditions. They just won't grow as quickly or as dramatically as they would in a brighter space. They're also equally as toxic to humans as they are to cats and dogs, so this isn't a green you'd want to mix into your salads.

Water: One cup of water every two weeks

If you've ever dreamed of having a palm tree as part of your indoor jungle, here's your chance. A sago palm might not be quite as tall as the ones in you've seen on the beach, but it's just as beautiful. Like most tropical plants, it grows best in bright, direct light but can certainly survive in darker nooks of the home. It's a bit pickier about water, though. Only give your sago palm a drink when the top inch of soil has dried out. The easiest way to kill your plant is to overwater it. Unfortunately, every bit of this plant is toxic to cats and dogs, including the leaves and trunk.

Water: Once a week, less during colder months

The staghorn fern thrives in high-humidity environments with indirect light. They're not quite as low maintenance as some of their tropical cousins on this list, but they're still worth the investment. To keep yours healthy, be sure to offer good air circulation, warm temperatures, lots of humidity, and consistent moisture. Not only are they pretty, but they can also purify the air, so they're ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms. Feel free to put them anywhere, though, because they're not toxic to cats or dogs.

Water: Every one to two weeks

The sweetheart plant (a nickname it's earned because of the shape of its glossy leaves) can handle dim rooms but requires pinching to prevent it from growing in long, single stems. To keep yours healthy, prune it regularly, moisten the soil every day, and repot it every few years. Don't be fooled by the name, though. These plants are highly toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.

Water: Once every two weeks

Filtered light is ideal for dieffenbachias, so try using a curtain as a barrier between your lush leaves and the sun's sometimes harsh rays—especially during the spring and summer. Avoid watering it until the top two inches of soil are completely dry, then pour enough water into the pot to soak the soil. Just like the last few plants on our list, this one is toxic to cats and dogs, so keep it somewhere your pets won't get into it.

Water: Every two to three days

With pink and red flecks, the colorful calathea adds an extra punch to your indoor plant collection. It likes bright light so much that it could spend up to eight hours in the sun daily. That said, it's perfectly happy in the shade. This plant is nontoxic and pet safe.

Water: Once every 10 days

Variegated Schefflera plants, which are native to Taiwan and South China, are a great low-light choice because they grow slowly, so you don't have to worry about them overpowering a small space. The only problem? They're not pet friendly, so if you have a cat or dog, it may not be the best plant for you because you can't really put it anywhere other than the ground.