If your current collection of houseplants is increasing and you are seeking ways to expand your growing areas, artificial lighting is a great option.
These plants enable you to keep houseplants in places lacking natural light or lacking windows. For keeping these plants lush, you need to know what houseplants thrive in artificial light.
Best for artificial light are plants that are naturally accustomed to low light conditions. This is any plant that has ‘bright indirect light’ used to describe its light preferences.
Plants that are already accustomed to low light will adjust more easily to artificial light. Some plants that are particularly sensitive to sunlight might even do better under artificial light.
Additionally, think about the types of lights that you might already have on hand. Bulbs with red light encourage flower and fruit development, while bulbs with blue light promote leaf growth.
Therefore, artificial lights can be strategically used to instigate the type of growth you want.
A grow light can be purchased online, in garden centers, or at hardware stores. It runs on its own, and it can be set on a timer.
Then you need to decide which plants you’re going to grow under artificial light.
What are the Best Houseplants for Growing under Artificial Light?
A houseplant that is already accustomed to growing in low light conditions is the best option for artificial lighting. There are pothos, philodendrons, peperomias, spider plants, ivy, ZZ plants, cast iron plants, dracaenas, aglaonemas, maidenhair ferns, and parlor palms among these species.
1. Pothos
A Pothos vine grows on a basket, cascades down from a shelf, or can be staked centrally for it to climb. They’re low maintenance plants that bloom in sunny environments.
This is one of the most popular houseplants and available in a variety of colors, tones of green, and leaf sizes. All these varieties make it so one single plant can be used for a wide variety of aesthetics and environments.
Want a unique look to make your dark corner stand out? I’d suggest snow queen pothos, which features mostly white leaves. If you are going for a more tropical forest vibe, I’d suggest looking for a silver pothos with its large leaves in dark green and silver.
If you’re not looking to buy a new plant, no worries. A great thing about pothos is that they are super easy to propagate from cuttings.
You can snip off parts of the vine and root them to start new plants. If you already have a pothos plant in your home, this is a great option for trying to grow them under artificial lights without having to buy a new plant.
2. Philodendrons
Unlike pothos, philodendrons are a favorite houseplant since they are so easy to care for. They tolerate low light and irregular watering.
The philodendron offers a wide variety of shapes and colors of plants to grow under artificial light. I personally love colorful plants that stand out. Especially in a dark corner without much natural light, I like choosing colorful plants that stand out.
The heartleaf philodendron is also known as a pothos variety, making it a great climbing plant for your walls. For something a little more exotic, try and source a Philodendron patriciae.
If you have a chance to get your hands on a rare variety like this with its rippled leaves and intense red color, avoid direct sunlight. Avoid sunburn by cultivating them under artificial light.
3. Peperomia
Peperomias are amazing plants that provide greenery in small spaces. They make a wonderful addition to the office or look good on a bookshelf or shelf.
These small plants are quite sensitive to sunlight, but they will become discolored if not given enough light to thrive. Because of this, artificial light is a good choice for them.
When grown under grow lights they’ll receive all the light they need to put out their fascinating colors while avoiding cosmetic damage caused by direct rays of the sun. Or use grow lights to supplement natural light in areas where it isn’t so bright.
The Watermelon Peperomia variety, called Peperomia argyreia, is one of my favorites. The leaves are streaked with silver-grey markings that make it look like a watermelon.
Its stunning foliage will stand out in a dark corner. Use our Peperomia argyreia care guide to provide it with everything it needs to thrive.
4. Spider Plant
The perky leaves of spider plants shoot upward from the base and give the appearance of spider’s legs. Spider plants grow great in almost all light conditions, as long as direct sunlight is avoided.
Spider plants have a variety of colors, sizes, and stages of development. You can buy a potted plant that looks messy, with pups coming out from the sides, or you can maintain a really nice plant if you prune the sprouts off.
No matter what your preferences or space availability, there is a spider plant variety for you, hung from baskets or potted on a shelf or table.
Although spider plants do sometimes appear on lists of plants which do well in low light levels, they will not necessarily thrive. Although they can survive in low light levels, they will not necessarily thrive.
Grow lights can help your spider plants live a long and fulfilling life by encouraging their photosynthetic ability. If you are unsure what to do with your spider plant, check out our spider plant care guide. The grow lights will help maintain active growth, so you can propagate the offshoots and create new plants.
5. English Ivy
One time, my first English Ivy died because I didn’t give it enough light, which caused it to drape down the bookcase and barely get any light.
I assumed they wouldn’t need much light, so the dark bookshelf would be perfect. As time passed, I noticed how unhappy the plant became with so little light.
I tried desperately to move it to the table a few hours per day to generate enough light for the plant, but it proved too much work. By the end of several months of poor lighting conditions, the plant was dead.
In my experience, ivy plants are a great choice for low light conditions, but they need indirect light just the same. As I found out after doing some research, English ivy requires various kinds of light throughout its growing cycle.
Provide your plants with moderate light while they are growing in the spring and summer. Then switch to bright, indirect light during the fall and winter.
By using grow lights on a timer you can accommodate these changes instead of redecorating every six months to accommodate the needs of your family. By adjusting the timer, you can grow English ivy in spots with little light and adjust to their changing light preferences.
You can either keep English ivy in a small pot or let it grow long and cascade down the pot. In other words, you can hang it up, let it hang from a shelf, or let it climb on a wall. Plant design-wise, this type of plant can be anywhere around the house, provided that there is at least a bit of light.
You can take advantage of any place that is away from direct sunlight to keep English ivy alive by adding artificial lights to your installation.
6. ZZ Plant
It’s not hard to understand why ZZ plants have the reputation of being hard to kill. They really are easy houseplants to take care of. They thrive in conditions with little to no light, and their tuber roots allow them to go without water for a long time.
The hardiness of these plants makes them ideal for environments where light is scarce or nonexistent. In an apartment, places such as closets or pantries can be underutilized because they lack natural light.
The plants will grow, but grow in a stunted manner. ZZ plants will actually get by with little or no light at all. Plants that don’t get enough light may survive, but they cannot grow. It is extremely exciting to watch ZZ plants put out new growths through the tubers.
Consequently, even though they can survive with very little light, it’s a good idea to supplement their environment with artificial light if you want them to keep growing.
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