Help. I like the idea of house plants but I seem to keep failing. I think the problem is a lack of “bright light” in the places that I want to keep them.
What are some houseplants that don’t mind that they won’t get a lot of bright light?
Thanks!!
Succulent groupings in “terrariums” are really popular right now!!! http://livedan330.com/2014/11/03/diy-succulent-terrariums/
I’m embarrassed to say, that I recently tried succulents and it was a total failure. I didn’t do terrariums, but I purchased “ready made” terra bowls that had attractive succulent groupings. They didn’t last long. I think they need light? I was very careful not to overwater, but it did seem that the planting mix would dry out soooo fast.
That pic is cute. In that situation, I wonder how long it would last and how often it would need watering?
Some silk plants are so natural-looking, they even fooled my old cat! The expression on her face was priceless when she realized she was chewing on a fake plant. 
They do need very little water. One vendor selling them at our farmer’s market told me she just gives hers the last little bit of water in her water bottle once a week or so and that’s about it!
@BunsenBurner Yes, I agree. I want real for their air-cleaning abilities, too.
These are some of the best air-cleaning houseplants.
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Golden pothos or Devil’s ivy (Scindapsus aures or Epipremnum aureum)
Peace lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’)
Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)
Bamboo palm or reed palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
Snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata’Laurentii’)
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium, syn.Philodendron cordatum)
Selloum philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum, syn.Philodendron selloum)
Elephant ear philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)
Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragans ‘Massangeana’)
Janet Craig dracaena (Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’)
Warneck dracaena (Dracaena deremensis ‘Warneckii’)
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
Gerbera daisy or Barberton daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
Pot mum or florist’s chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium)
Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)
- Philodendron scandens `oxycardium', heartleaf philodendron
- Philodendron domesticum, elephant ear philodendron
- Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana', cornstalk dracaena
- Hedera helix, English ivy
- Chlorophytum comosum, spider plant
- Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig', Janet Craig dracaena
- Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii', Warneck dracaena
- Ficus benjamina, weeping fig
- Epipiremnum aureum, golden pothos
- Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa', peace lily
- Philodendron selloum, selloum philodendron
- Aglaonema modestum, Chinese evergreen
- Chamaedorea sefritzii, bamboo or reed palm
- Sansevieria trifasciata, snake plant
- Dracaena marginata , red-edged dracaena
If any of these can take low-light and are pretty hardy, that may be what I need.
Try " ZZ Plant " short for Zamioculcas zamiifolia.
Low light, takes indirect light from any window, grows from a tuber, new leaf stalk is shiny like it has been waxed. Aprx 2’ -3’ tall.
The gardening editor from Southern Living magazine has posted a few articles on houseplants that survive neglect & low light.
http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2015/08/16/5-dorm-plants-your-kid-cant-kill/
& a more detailed article about ZZ plant
http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2009/01/28/every-girls-cra/
How much light do you get at the spot where you want to grow the plants? Even low-light plants need some light. How far away is the nearest window, and which direction does that window face?
I have a “christmas cactus” that has thrived for many years despite the fact that I am historically incompetent when it comes to house plants, and live in a “cave” (roofed porch and mature trees way too close to the house, on all sides, pretty much ensure that very little sunlight gets in!). I put it outside on the porch (little morning sun) during the summer (and I think my daughter gives it water occasionally), but otherwise give it very little attention and it gets little sun. It keeps getting bigger (I suppose I could trim or separate it, but I haven’t), provides flowing green all year, and continues to surprise me every November with lots of bright pink blossoms.
Pothos is pretty and very easy to grow.
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How much light do you get at the spot where you want to grow the plants? Even low-light plants need some light. How far away is the nearest window, and which direction does that window face?
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They get very little light, and in some areas, the rooms are dark much of day (we’re gone, lights are out, and they’re not close to a sunny window). Also, I like including some in my VRBO rentals, and sometimes the plants can be ignored and in the dark for a few days at a time.
Clivia is a wonderful plant that doesn’t require much care, is drought-resistant, likes morning light, has great foliage, and gorgeous blooms once a year.
Christmas cactus is also good, but it hates a lot of direct sun and it does need watering. I’ve seen a lot of them looking withered and sick in windows. Might work well for you.
Pothos is fine with low light and is hard to kill. (Believe me, I’ve tried!)
Spider plant can’t take direct bright sun and needs to be kept damp. The fact that it really can’t take drying out might cross it off your list.
Peace lily is great with low light, but you can’t let it dry out.
I did try two peace lilies. I don’t think I let it dry out, but they both had leaves that would slowly turn brown around the edges, then die out, with no or “too few” new leaves…making it look too sparse to keep.
What about an air plant?
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/houseplants/care/grow-air-plants/
Requires minimal attention. (Med student daughter has a bunch hanging in her house so I know they don’t require much care. Her succulent plantings have all died of neglect,)
phalaenopsis orchid https://www.aos.org/Default.aspx?id=217
Really, truly. Set it where it will receive indirect light (mine is near a north-facing window). Water it if you remember to once every week or so. If it blooms, you will have total glamour for 3-4 months. If it doesn’t feel like blooming, you have some nice fat green leaves.
Check Home Depot and Lowes periodically, when they don’t sell out before the blossoms start to die down, you sometimes can find them really cheap.
I’ve the same problem and now move them to a sunny place once a week. I put one on the covered porch a couple of days ago and it may have got a little too much sun since a few leaves look burned. In the cooler months I carry them over to a south window when the sun is shining for a day. Been doing this for 6 months only and haven’t lost one yet but time will tell if my new experiment works.
Sounds like you dont have time for indoor house plants especially given your track record with plants that require small amounts of light and water. The air plants and the ZZ plants mentioned upthread require almost no care. They might be your only option.
People should stop using the term “black thumb” - that is a “trigger” phrase that is completely inappropriate and racially insensitive.
Black is not the opposite of green, red is.
Black should not be used to not connote incompetence or killing something.
Can someone change the title of this thread?
Almost no natural light, and requires little attention. The perfect plant would be mold!!
Seriously, I honestly think the silk flowers mentioned up thread is the best option. Silk orchids are especially good at looking real. I grow a bunch of orchids, and my H still can’t tell silk from the real thing.
I literally do nothing to my plants other than watering them, and they don’t die. I only water them when the soil feels dry, sometimes that’s once a week or 3-5 days. I also don’t put my plants in direct sunlight. Ivies are very easy to take care of. I also have orchids and bamboos.