9 Recommended Indoor Plants That Are Easy to Grow and Tolerant of Shade

If, like me, you love caring for indoor potted plants but are hampered by not having much light at home and cannot grow flowering plants, then you can consider the shade-tolerant plants below. They need very little light, can grow in low-light indoor environments, and are very easy to care for, so even a plant killer will find it hard to kill them.

The biggest problem with growing potted plants indoors is insufficient light, but the plants below adapt very well to low-light environments and can even grow under lamplight. Let's take a look at what plants they are!

1. Cast Iron Plant

The cast iron plant, also called the iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), is a plant with very tough leaves that grows rather slowly, but its drought tolerance and cold tolerance are both good, and it can grow in indoor light conditions. Its adaptability to the environment is excellent, and you can place it in any corner of the home, and avoid frequent watering. The cast iron plant is also a lazy person's plant; frequent watering is exactly what makes it easy to die.

2. Philodendron 'Little Angel'

If you want to grow a tropical-style foliage plant, then Philodendron 'Little Angel' is a very good choice. It has very emerald-green, fresh leaves and stays evergreen all year round.

The care method is also very simple: just let the potting soil dry out completely before watering thoroughly, keep the soil appropriately moist in spring and summer, keep the care temperature above 4°C, and when the air is dry, mist it regularly to maintain higher air humidity.

3. Lucky Bamboo

Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is very suitable as an indoor potted ornamental and can also be grown directly in a vase. It adapts well to indoor light conditions, and just a little clean water is enough for it to survive well.

Once lucky bamboo has rooted in water, it basically needs no management and looks very fresh and attractive. The most important thing is to avoid yellow leaves, maintain a certain air humidity, keep the care location brightly lit, and provide year-round warm temperatures.

4. Calathea

The one in the picture above is Calathea roseopicta

Calatheas all prefer low-light environments; if placed in a spot with ample light, their leaves are instead prone to sunburn. Their leaves unfold during the day when the light is ample and curl up at night.

To care for calatheas, first keep the environment warm and humid, and maintain high air humidity to avoid dry air. Although they are shade-tolerant plants, do not keep them in a completely dark place; keep at least a little lamplight.

5. Snake Plant

The snake plant (Sansevieria) is an indoor potted plant that can be grown in every corner of the home. It has a very good air-purifying ability, capable of purifying harmful gases such as formaldehyde, toluene and benzene, and it also has very good environmental adaptability. It is especially drought-tolerant and shade-tolerant, does not need frequent watering, and as long as it is kept in a year-round warm, slightly dry environment and watered thoroughly after the potting soil dries out, it will grow well.

6. Aglaonema 'Lady Valentine'

Aglaonema 'Lady Valentine' is a potted plant I really like. It can be grown as a hydroponic plant and looks very fresh. It has variegated leaves, and if given appropriate scattered light and kept in a year-round warm, humid environment, it can even produce lovely small flowers.

7. Pothos

If you want to grow a hanging plant that can climb and trail, then pothos (Epipremnum aureum) is the best choice. Pothos can climb as it grows, its leaves and stems look evergreen all year round, and it can survive in every corner of the environment. However, when caring for it, be sure to maintain a certain air humidity and avoid excessive dryness.

Regularly cleaning the dust off pothos leaves can enhance its photosynthesis and help it produce a better air-purifying effect.

8. Spider Plant

The spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) is a lazy person's plant that is very hard to kill and does not need frequent watering. It has a certain drought tolerance, its root system grows very vigorously, and it does not need too much light. It likes a year-round warm, humid environment and should be kept out of excessive direct sun, otherwise its leaves tend to curl. The care location should stay brightly lit, and avoid keeping it in an overly dark place.

9. ZZ Plant

If you want to grow an indoor potted plant with an auspicious meaning that does not need frequent care, then the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is the best choice. It is also called the money tree leaf, and as it grows it looks like strings of coins. Its adaptability to the environment is excellent, with extremely good shade tolerance and drought tolerance. It can be grown in a spot indoors with no light, and basically only needs to be watered thoroughly once a month.

People who manage to kill a ZZ plant are basically doing so because of excessive direct sun, excessive cold, or frequent watering.