By: Kathleen Mierzejewski
If you live in an apartment or any other setting that doesn’t allow for much gardening, you might wonder, “What plants can I grow indoors in the shade?” There are many indoor plants for shade that you can actually grow well inside.
Shade Plants for Inside
Some of the more popular indoor plants that like relatively little light would be the Aglaonema or “Chinese Evergreen” plant. There are a lot of different varieties of the Aglaonema. They have really pretty leaves that are variegated. They grow slow, so you don’t have to water them that frequently. You can just make sure you keep the soil barely moist. Shade plants for inside don’t require much water. Further, the Aglaonema doesn’t require fertilizer either.
Another good choice for indoor plants for shade would be the Aspidistra or “Cast Iron Plant”. This plant is named after those pots and pans you can put through the ringer and they still come out just fine. The Aspidistra is one of the most hardy shade plants for inside. It can handle a lot of neglect. If, on the other hand, you shower this plant with “affection” you will find it growing to three feet tall! The Aspidistra can handle lower temperatures, so if you run your air conditioner, this is a good choice.
Another of the shade plants for inside is Sansevieria. This plant is referred to sometimes as the “Snake Plant” and is one of the more hardy shade indoor plants. It has long leaves that are somewhat stiff and can tolerate any light, high or low. As with all shade indoor plants, don’t overwater this one. It won’t like it. It also doesn’t like cooler temperatures so if you run your air conditioner all the time, don’t choose the Sansevieria.
Indoor Tropical Plants for Shade
When it comes to indoor tropical plants for shade, there are a few indoor plants for shade that are perfect. Those would be the Cyrtomium falcatum or “Rochford Holly Fern,” the Kentia palm and the Parlor palm. The fern is related to the Boston fern and has stiff leaves. It can completely handle being in an area of low light. The palms do great in low light and are one of the better shade indoor plants. With the palms, however, you have to use a growing medium that is kept moist all the time. Also, fertilize your palms because they are big feeders and require more nutrients in the soil.
What plants can you grow indoors in the shade? As you can tell, there is a variety. These are only a few of the more shade-loving ones, but you can pick and choose whatever you feel will look great in your indoor space.
