Low-Light Tolerant Plants

Low light refers to conditions with little sunlight. The plant should be far enough from a window where the sky is not visible, but the light is still shining through it. A lack of sunlight provides less energy and nutrition. As seasons change, so does the amount of daylight. You will need to move your plant as the sun changes its position to adjust its exposure to the sunlight. Plants that grow in the shade outside are low-light plants. They still receive sunlight without being directly in it.

Plants can’t grow in complete darkness because they need light to survive. Like humans and animals, plants have a circadian rhythm that determines day and night. At night the plants use oxygen in place of photosynthesis to thrive and prepare for the next day. Darkness is necessary for plants so their metabolism can function appropriately.

Low-light plants do not need as much water as those that require full sunlight. You do not want to over-water your plant. The soil needs to be dry before you give it water. To avoid over-hydrating your plant, check for signs of thirst, such as wilted or curled leaves and stems and dry soil.

Not all plants require the same lighting. The amount and intensity of light vary per type of plant. Three different day lengths will help determine how much your plants get: Short-day plants, such as azaleas, can thrive on less than 12 hours of light per day. Long-term plants, or vegetable and flower seedlings, require between 14 and 18 hours of daily sunlight. Day-neutral plants, including foliage-type plants, only need eight to 12 hours of sunlight a day to survive. Blue light stimulates better growth while red light promotes flowering. Fluorescent lights are safer on plants because they put out less heat. LEDs cost more but very effective in plant health. They provide red and blue spectrums for both vegetation and flowering of plants. They do not have to be close to the plants to provide appropriate lighting.