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| Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) from http://www.hort.cornell.edu/4hplants/Flowers/SnakePlant.html |
As the days shorten in the fall, you might find that your home doesn’t get the same quality of interior light that it gets during the summer months. You may also have a room in your home, or at your workplace, where you’d like to have some greenery, but don’t get a lot of natural sunlight. Not to worry- there are a few houseplant varieties that generally adapt well to low-light conditions and can bring color to those spaces as we head into winter.
Four varieties that might be particularly well-suited to low-light situations are Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema), Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica), Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) and Peace Lily or Spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum wallisii 'Clevelandii').1 Heart-leafed philodendrons (Philodendron scandens) also tolerate low-light situations with relative ease,2 and all of the above-listed plants are generally low maintenance. All prefer mid-range to warm temperatures (as long as they are not near drafts) and require only moderate watering and moderate to low fertilization.
If you’re looking for a houseplant that is easy to maintain and can survive in very low light, consider one of the five varieties listed above. For further information, see the web articles listed below, or contact the Master Gardener Desk at your local CSU Extension office.
1“Low Light Houseplants,” University of Vermont Extension, http://www.uvm.edu/pss/ppp/articles/lowlite.htm
2 “Philodendron.” Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center, https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/philodendron-pothos-monstera/