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13 Low Light Houseplants for your home

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Growing houseplants indoors can be difficult if you don’t have enough light. Many plants will struggle hard and even die without enough light. Here are —low light houseplants that you can grow in your low light home.

**Low light doesn’t mean no light so don’t even think about putting a plant in a room without a window or a grow light**

Monstera (Dark Leaves)

Monstera Deliciosa grow surprisingly well in lower light. The splits they get in their foliage is actually meant to allow light to filter down to the lower leaves. This is a great low light houseplant for your home

For Monstera growing tips click here!

low light houseplant
Monstera

Tip: The darker the foliage the better chance this plant will have in lower light. Variegated or plants with light colored foliage WILL need more light.

Aglaonema

Aglaonema come in so many beautiful foliage options. The are truly stunning plants. These houseplants do very well in lower light.

Alocasia

Alocasias are part of the plants that we call Elephant Ear Plants and they are gorgeous! There are so many to choose from. Alocasias make great low light houseplants

potted plant on wooden stool near bed
Alocasia

Pothos

Pothos is a great beginner plant for many reasons but they also do well in lower light situations. The Golden Pothos is great for a lower light situation.

Tradescantia

The Tradescantia is a beautiful trailing or climbing houseplant. There are so many color options but the darker the foliage the less light it needs compared to one with white variegation

low light houseplants
Tradescantia

Zz Plant

ZZ Plants are so easy to grow. They don’t require as much light and water like many other plants. They do well in lower light conditions.

Rhipsalis

This species of jungle cactus grow very well in lower light. Naturally they live under the canopy of trees and can handle a darker room.

potted plants hanging on plank in bathroom near shower

*Remember that low light doesn’t mean no light. All plants need light to be healthy*

Sansevieria (Dracaena)

Also known as Mother in Laws tongue is great in low light and likes to dry out before watering.

Philodendron

Philodendrons make such great houseplants in general. They are mostly easy going and adapt to many lighting conditions with proper transitioning.

person holding a hanging plant

Ferns

Known to be fussy ferns are gorgeous and grow very well in darker conditions. Not total darkness but not bright light.

low light houseplant

Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)

These easy going houseplants are low light tolerant. You can also allow them to fully dry between waterings

Calathea

Calathea are gorgeous houseplants but like ferns can be very fussy indoors. Keep the soil moist and the plant away from direct light.

calathea roseopicta leaves

Homalomena

Low Light tolerant and gorgeous the Homalomena is an easy to grow houseplant.

Any of those low light houseplants will grow well in lower light conditions but many will do well with medium bright light. Which plants will you be adding to your home?

Winter Houseplant Care Tips

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Winter houseplant care can be daunting. There’s no surprise that the winter months can be hard on our houseplants and us. Half of the time it is our fault and the other half it’s not our fault and there’s nothing we can do, but here are some great tips to help your plants survive winter inside your home.

Winter houseplant care

Buy a Humidifier

The winter months can be brutally dry inside your home, especially if you have to heat your home. Turning the heat on can make the air very dry so adding in a humidifier will help keep the air moist for your tropical houseplants.

Add Extra Lighting

It’s no doubt that winter is dark. There’s less sunlight coming in which means less light for your houseplants to photosynthisize. Add in grow lights for your houseplants in darker areas. Not only will you brighten up your home, your houseplant will be so happy.

Cut back on fertilizing

Many people will tell you to stop fertilizing during winter. I still fertilize but a very diluted amount. My plants tend to still grow during winter and if they are still growing I’m still going to feed them.

Move your plants

If you notice your plants are unhappy then you’ve got to experiment. Moving your plants to different rooms/ windows can help your plant. During winter the light changes so rooms that worked during spring and summer may not work during winter.

Hot Tip! Keep plants away from freezing, drafty windows and heaters, vents and hot air.

Water based on need

There are a lot of opinions on watering plants during the winter. Many say you need to water less because your plants are dormant and don’t require as much water. I find that my plants grow all through winter and are often drying out faster because of the dryer air. I water based on need and not based on the season.

The darker days can bring on the winter blues that’s for sure. Bringing plants into your home can brighten your space and bring joy during the long winter months.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

15 HousePlant Tips for Plant Parents

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We all struggle with houseplants. Some are easy to grow and some can be so difficult. You think you do everything right and it still dies. Here are 15 houseplant tips to help you on your houseplant journey.

houseplant tips

Tip #1:

Research, Research, Research! I cannot stress this enough. If you are having trouble with a plant I bet you that someone else has had the same problem and has solved the issue. There are thousands of resources online along with books and social media that can help answer any questions you have.

Tip #2:

You don’t always have to repot a root bound plant right away. Some plants actually prefer to be root bound for a while.

Tip #3

Low light doesn’t mean no light. If your plant label says it’s a low light plant please do not put this plant in a room without natural light or a grow light.

Tip #4

If you have a root bound plant that you want to keep in the same pot, you can prune the roots by 1/3 and repot the plant back into its pot.

Tip #5

A yellow leaf could be literally anything. Go back through your care routine to figure out if there’s anything you may have done or not done that could have caused a yellow leaf.

Tip #6

Older leaves turn yellow and die. It’s ok they aren’t meant to live forever.

Tip #7

Don’t buy plants you know won’t survive in your home. Save yourself the heartbreak.

Tip #8

Keep plants that are poisonous to your pets out of reach.

For tips on creating a Biophilic home read this post!

Tip #9

Make your own soil mix specific to your plants needs. The right soil goes a long way in growing healthy plants.

Tip #10

Watering is relative to light. If you plant gets high light then you will need to water more. If your plant is in low light you will water less.

Tip #11

Propagate, Propagate, Propagate! If you want more plants save money and propagate the plants you love.

Tip #12

Experiment with your plants. If they aren’t happy move them to different spots or try a different watering routine, maybe a different fertilizer until they are happy.

Tip #13

Fertilize your plants. Plants need food to grow healthy and strong. Get on a routine based on the specific plant and always follow the directions on the container.

Tip #14

Don’t chase trends. Buying and growing plants can be a costly hobby in itself and chasing trendy plants and make a HUGE dent in the bank account. If you can wait the trendy plants always drop in price.

Tip #15

Learn to let go of the plants that no longer make you happy. Letting go opens up space for new plants and new plants bring more joy into your life.

I hope you enjoy these houseplant tips! Are there anymore you would add to this list?

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Monstera Peru Houseplant Care Guide

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Monstera Karstenianum – otherwise known as Monstera Peru – is a stunner! It’s part of the Araceae family just like it’s big cousin Monstera Deliciosa, and is just as easy to grow with the right help. It is native to South America, so this plant likes to be warm and humid.

**The Monstera Peru is toxic to both people and pets**

The Monstera Peru can be a hard to find or “rare” plant; but thanks to some big time growers, you can/ will see this plant in your local stores from time to time.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my houseplant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

Monstera Peru

Characteristics

M. Peru is a climbing plant. It will attach itself to surfaces using aerial roots that cling, allowing the plant to climb. Climbing plants are amazing because it’s thought that climbing plants climb to reach more light, and the aerial roots will also take in water and nutrients. What a cool feature! You can give them a moss pole or a wood board to climb, or let them trail over the side of the pot. They are beautiful either way!

The foliage is dark green and wavy with deep ridges. It does not get split leaves like its other Monstera cousins, but it is just as cool of a plant.

For tips on growing a Monstera Deliciosa check out this post!

Light

Avoid strong, direct light with this plant. It can get sunburned in high direct light, but thrives in north or east facing light. It’s an understory plant, so you don’t have to worry too much about light issues unless you have it in too much sun or complete darkness.

Soil

Monsteras love to be planted in a light, well-draining soil. I use a mix of potting soil, pearlite and orchid bark. This mixture helps keep the roots moist but not soggy. Soggy soil is usually the cause of a lot of root issues.

Monstera Peru Aerial Roots

Water

This Monstera tends to be on the more tolerant side when it comes to being watered. Water it when the soil is mostly dry, but if you see the foliage curling in then you know you’ve waited too long. Give your plant a big drink! Always water until you see water pouring from the drainage hole.

Fertilizer

There are two ways to fertilize this plant. You can fertilize with an organic fertilizer every 3-4 weeks during the spring and summer and stop during the winter. Or you can dilute down your fertilizer making it very weak, and fertilize every time you water. Be sure to read the directions of your fertilizer of choice. Over fertilizing can cause issues such as leaf burn on your plants.

My favorite fertilizer to use is Fish Emulsion. Here’s a link

Humidity

Native to South America, this plant enjoys warm temperatures and a humid atmosphere. Temperatures between 60-80 F tend to be the sweet spot, and as far as humidity, 30-50% works perfectly. If you don’t have a humidifier and your home tends to be on the dryer side, then move your plant to a more humid room like the bathroom or a kitchen.

Monstera Peru

If you are in the market for a humidifier then check out this humidifier from Amazon! It has great reviews.

Propagation

Propagating the Peru is so easy. You can make cuts just after an aerial root. Then you have your choice of propagation methods. I like to root my plants in water, but you can root in soil, perlite, vermiculite, the list goes on! Just make sure to use clean pruners and clean or sterile pots, potting mediums and container.

You will not regret bringing this gorgeous plant into your home. You can adjust any of these care tips to fit your home and lifestyle.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

How to Keep a Fern Alive

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Ferns may be the most killed houseplant of all time, or at least in my house they are. These tricky plants can be so difficult to keep happy that it can ruin your confidence as a houseplant parent. At this stage in my houseplant journey (10+ years), I don’t typically buy ferns anymore. I have three different varieties that do well for me inside. Keeping ferns alive in the garden is a whole different and easier ballgame I’ll save for another post.

This blog post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission to fund my houseplant habit if you use these links to make a purchase. You will not be charged extra, and you’ll keep me in the garden. It’s a win for everyone, really.

When keeping ferns inside your home, there are several things that you cannot ignore when growing ferns and even with all conditions met it doesn’t guarantee success. They are very particular and will turn crispy at the slightest change in conditions.

fern
Fern

How Much Light do Ferns Need?

Ferns do extremely well in low, dappled light. One of the reasons to own ferns is because they can live in a darker corner of your home and do pretty well. Now mind you, low-light doesn’t mean no light. No houseplants can survive without any light. So be sure that dark corner does get some light throughout the day.

How to Fertilize Ferns

Every plant needs to be fed if you want them to grow well. For ferns, I like to use a low, diluted dose of fish emulsion every other watering. Ferns can be very sensitive to fertilizers so be sure to use an organic fertilizer instead of synthetic and dilute it down. If you notice your fern is getting brown tips or leaves, cut back on the frequency of fertilizer.

Staghorn Fern
Staghorn Fern

How to Water Your Ferns

Ferns do not like to dry out and it will be hard to keep your fern alive if you let it go bone dry. Be prepared to keep their soil consistently moist all the time. That may mean watering every 2-3 days or once a week depending on the environment you keep your fern. If you keep your fern in a more humid space, you may not need to water as frequently unlike if you kept it in a dryer area. I keep ferns in our full bathroom because the humidity from the shower helps keep the fern happy. Proper watering is a major key to keeping your fern alive, so set an alarm if you need to remember to water your ferns.

Ferns Love Humidity

If you want your fern to look beautiful and be healthy give it lots of humidity. Now humidity levels will vary depending on the type of fern, but try to keep the area at at least 40% humidity. No need to go overboard, just try to keep a balance of humidity and regular watering to keep your plant happy.

fern living under a dome
Fern under a dome

The Best Fern Tip

One great way to have some success with your ferns is if you know the exact variety, do research on where that plant is native, and then recreate those conditions as best as you can in your home.

Ferns are so beautiful and if you can successfully keep one happy indoors, give yourself a pat on the back because this is no easy task. If you are one who struggles with ferns, I hope these tips help you keep your fern baby alive.

Happy Gardening

Ciearra

Monstera Deliciosa Growing Roots outside the pot?

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The Monstera Deliciosa Vine is an amazing plant. Many people don’t realize at first that this is a vining plant that loves to climb. In its juvenile form the monstera is this sweet little plant with heart shaped leaves that grows in a perfect little round-ish shape. When it starts to age you’ll get your first leaf with fenestrations. Then as it gets a little older you’ll start seeing root nodes begin to grow. Those roots are called aerial roots and they are wonderful!

green leaf plant
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Aerial roots are roots that grow above ground. Aerial roots on the Monstera Deliciosa are awesome because they help the monstera climb surfaces. They help stabilize the plant as its growing up a tree or say a moss pole. Monsteras when given a place to climb will grow bigger leaves with more fenestrations.

green leaves of a swish cheese plant
Photo by Annie Spratt on Pexels.com

For a full Monstera Deliciosa Care Guide Click Here

Aerial roots can take in moisture and in the houseplant community are used when propagating. When making a cutting you will want an aerial root or two to get the plant to root faster.

monstera deliciosa planed in vase arranged on table near laptop in bedroom
Photo by Tiia Pakk on Pexels.com

There are many who love the look of aerial roots even when they begin to drag on the ground but if this bothers you It will not harm the plant to cut them back. If they get too long and in the way it’s probably in your best interest to give them a snip snip.

Whether you like them or not aerial roots are really cool and are part of the Monstera. Them growing long is normal and should be enjoyed along with the other amazing characteristics of this plant.

Happy Gardening!

Ciearra

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