A lot of people are unaware that there are plants that can thrive when placed in a windowless room with little or no light. The key is knowing the actual plants that require little or no sunlight because settling for the wrong one will see it wither off and die gradually before your eyes.
In this article, we'll open you up to viable options for plants that can grow in rooms with no windows thriving from the light it gets from artificial fluorescents.
That said, below is a list of 30 plants for rooms with no windows!
Jump to:
- Best Plants For Rooms With No Windows
- 1. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
- 2. Devil's Ivy or Pothos
- 3. Peace Lily
- 4. Aglaonema or Chinese Evergreen
- 5. Lucky bamboo
- 6. Snake plant 'Dracena Trifasciata'
- 7. ZZ Plant Zamioculcas
- 8. Dragon Tree (Dracena Marginata or Reflexa var. Augustifolia)
- 9. Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
- 10. Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)
- 11. Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
- 12. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
- 13. Peperomia (Peperomia obtusfolia)
- 14. Air plant (Tillandsia)
- 15. Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)
- 16. Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae)
- 17. Monstera (Monstera Delicosa)
- 18. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
- 19. Cactus
- 20. Creeping Fig
- 21. Ficus Lyrata
- 22. Money Tree Plant
- 23. Sansevieria
- 24. Sempervivum
- 25. Maidenhair Fern
- 26. Scindapsus Pictus
- 27. Boston Fern
- 28. Peacock Plant (Calathea Makoyana)
- 29. Philodendron
- 30. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller)
- Which plants will thrive in a windowless bathroom?
- Final thoughts
Best Plants For Rooms With No Windows
1. Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
A slow-growing plant that will eventually grow nicely as they mature in years to come.
This plant will thrive very well in a windowless room as long as you ensure they're planted in pots with suitable drainage holes and are watered when the soil is dry.
2. Devil's Ivy or Pothos
One of the very suitable plants to grow in rooms without windows.
To do this successfully, always see that the plants are watered when the soil gets dry, else you risk making the leaves turn a pale yellow and then drop off.
3. Peace Lily
These plants are as sturdy as they come. This explains why you see them almost everywhere thriving under different conditions.
You can get them in small cultivars and those that are big. The good thing is that both will thrive in windowless rooms.
With timely watering, you might even get them to flower.
4. Aglaonema or Chinese Evergreen
This list would have been incomplete without this timeless low-light plant. Place the plant in a well-draining pot and keep the soil from getting dry.
5. Lucky bamboo
You can grow this plant quickly without hassles, even in a windowless room.
Ensure that the pot stays filled with distilled room-temperature water. We recommend this as tap water might sometimes have some hard deposits that might be detrimental to the plant.
6. Snake plant 'Dracena Trifasciata'
This plant will not only thrive under low light conditions, but they require minimal care and attention too.
Snake plants come in wide varieties—some tall and long while others short and just perfect for desk plants.
7. ZZ Plant Zamioculcas
Even novices can easily manage the ZZ plants to plants.
They fall into this list as they are low-light-loving plants. You are good to go with putting them under just a fluorescent light.
Moreover, they shine through the not-so-lit room with their dark green waxy leaves.
8. Dragon Tree (Dracena Marginata or Reflexa var. Augustifolia)
A perfect example of a plant that strongly detests direct sunlight, making them ideal for rooms with low light and no windows.
Dragon trees are long and slim with spiky leaves. They add a bit of color and magic to your space.
9. Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)
The arrowhead plant can adapt well to just fluorescent light. Just be sure to mist them regularly, as they are moisture-loving plants.
10. Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia)
These plants are perfect home office plants and can thrive in even windowless rooms.
They have large leaves with delicate patterns and give your space some tropical feel.
11. Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
A bird's nest would eventually die off if put under direct sunlight. They survive better in indirect light and can even withstand artificial lighting.
This means that if you have a room with little or no natural light due to the non-presence of windows.
They are humid-loving plants, so remember to mist them frequently if you do not already have a humidifier.
12. Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
This plant is an ideal example of a low-maintenance one. They thrive under soft or artificial lighting, do not require frequent watering, and continue to grow for years without hassles.
One last important quality of this plant is the excellent aesthetics they offer with its vibrant large green leaves.
13. Peperomia (Peperomia obtusfolia)
With artificial lighting, this plant will grow optimally. Peperomias hate the sun. They come in different forms that you will find attractive.
Brighten up your dim office with the small waxy green or red leaves (depending on the variegation) of the Peperomia.
14. Air plant (Tillandsia)
Air plants are epiphytes, meaning they do not need soil to grow but derive the nutrients they need from the atmosphere.
With high fluorescent lighting and well-ventilated containers, your plants can go on to thrive even in a windowless room.
15. Lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)
The lady palm plants are beautiful, no doubt. They have got great-looking large-sized palms with dark fronds that brighten up your space.
They are great for rooms without windows.
16. Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae)
Artificial lighting alone is enough to satisfy this plant. Plus, they are vibrant plants that make your space look exquisite.
17. Monstera (Monstera Delicosa)
This plant is a practical climber, so get a trellis handy. As an added advantage, they thrive superbly well under any light condition.
18. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)
Quite hardy and sturdy. This plant prefers low light and infrequent watering. Plant in a well-drained potting mix and only water when the soil is dry to avoid root rot.
19. Cactus
You might know the cactus plant as a desert-grown one that thrives under bright sunlight. However, several other cultivars do well under low light.
For your windowless rooms, go for variants like the zebra cacti, scarlet ball cacti, and Christmas cacti, to mention just a few.
20. Creeping Fig
This plant can be managed even by a novice. They require minimal care and attention. Creeping Fig prefers indoor or indirect sunlight, perfect for rooms with no windows.
The creeping fig with the scientific name 'Ficus Pumila' belongs to the Mulberry family. They prefer temperature levels of 65-85F and a pH level of 5.5-6.5.
21. Ficus Lyrata
This plant is typically used as an indoor houseplant. With the right conditions in place, they will thrive still under low light conditions.
Ficus Lyrata, with the scientific name 'ficus benjamina,' belongs to the Ficaceae family. They prefer temperature levels of 60-70F and a pH of 5.5-6.5.
A fertilizer rich in nitrogen is better preferred for this plant.
22. Money Tree Plant
Native to East Asia, this bubbling plant with robust green foliage is a fitting addition to a dull space. For best results, have them planted in a potting mix with loamy, well-draining soil.
The Money plant belongs to the Mallows family. They prefer temperature levels of 60-80F and a pH of 6-7 or 7.5.
When it comes to fertilizer application, have water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half its strength before use.
23. Sansevieria
The cultivars of this plant that grow best under bright sunlight are very popular that most people forget that other cultivars equally do well in low light. Just have them planted in a free-draining soil mix, and you are good to go.
Sansevieria, with the scientific name; Dracena Trifasciata' belongs to the Asparagus family. They prefer a temperature level of about 55-85F and a pH level of 4-8.5.
For fertilizer application, a reduced all-purpose fertilizer will suffice.
24. Sempervivum
These plants have very peculiar shapes that look great against a light green hue. They are sun-loving plants that can adapt still under low light.
Sempervivums belong to the stonecrop family. They will thrive best under a well-draining soil mix with perlite, gravel, sand, etc. The ideal temperature level for this plant is 65-75F, with a perfect pH of 5-6.
For fertilizer application, use a control-release fertilizer.
25. Maidenhair Fern
The Maidenhair is a hardy plant that can adapt to any condition. Once you guarantee an evenly moist soil for their growth, they can go on to thrive without much light making them ideal plants for a windowless room.
Maidenhair, with the scientific name 'adiantum,' belongs to the family tree of Adiantaceae.
They prefer temperature levels of 60-70F and a pH of 6-7. Maidenhair ferns are slow growers and do not necessarily require fertilizer application.
26. Scindapsus Pictus
The Scindapsus Pictus is naturally a low-light-loving plant. Also known as silver vines, they are timeless plants that will need just a good potting mix with a humidity level of about 40% to thrive well.
27. Boston Fern
Boston Ferns is great for windows with no rooms as they find the direct sun unfriendly. Plus, you will not have to fuss over them as they require little care.
For best results, plant in loamy and airy soil.
28. Peacock Plant (Calathea Makoyana)
This plant is highly versatile. You can have them hung or just placed on a desktop. Aside from being tolerant to low light, they offer great visual goodness with their purple hues with light green edges and dark green outlines.
The peacock plant belongs to the Arrowroots family. They thrive best under temperatures that fall within the range of 60 - 75°F and a pH level of 6.5.
For fertilizer application, use a water-soluble one diluted to half its strength.
29. Philodendron
The main feature of this plant that will appeal to you is its easy care nature. Philodendrons belong to the Arum family tree. They thrive better when grown under temperatures of 70 - 80°F and a pH level of 5.0 - 6.0 with an average high humidity level.
They prefer indoor lighting and loose, well-drained soil to grow well.
30. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller)
Just plant the aloe vera in a well-draining potting mix and an average to the high humidity level of about 80%, and they would go on to thrive even under low light conditions.
Asides from the beauty the plant offers, they also make great natural medicine ingredients.
The Aloe Vera plant belongs to Asphodelaceae. They thrive best in temperatures of 55 - 80°F in a soil pH level of 7 - 8.5.
For fertilizer application, use a liquid houseplant mix.
Which plants will thrive in a windowless bathroom?
This is a pretty tough one, as you have to ensure that the plants can tolerate the awkward combination of high humidity and low light levels.
Plants that fit this bill the closest include the peace lily, aloe vera, Boston ferns, English Ivy, etc.
Final thoughts
Don't get it twisted; sufficient sunlight is a requirement for plants to photosynthesize, bring forth flowers, and thrive.
At the same time, some plants are very sturdy and capable of adapting to unfavorable conditions.
If your room at home is without a window and the only source of lighting that you have are artificial fluorescents, the plants listed up there can help brighten not just your space but your mood also.
