10 Easy-Care Low-Light Indoor Plants

These 10 indoor plants thrive in low light and are easy to maintain. But they do have differences you'll need to know to ensure you choose the right ones for your space. The amount of light entering your room depends on the window direction. For example, a room facing south has a high-light setting, whereas an east and west facing room has medium indirect light. Low-light rooms are mostly north-facing. If your room has no natural light, try adding grow lights.

Size: The trailing stems can grow up to 20 feet and need pruning.

Growing Medium: Well-drained soil

Water: Every 1-2 weeks. Allow the medium to completely dry out between waterings.

Golden pothos is popular because it can survive in a variety of lighting conditions and doesn't need a lot of water. It's almost indestructible, making it a great choice for people who are new to house plants. Golden pothos produces attractive, easy-to-grow vines with smooth, heart-shaped leaves.

The leaves on some varieties are variegated, but to keep the coloration, you'll need to make sure your plant gets more light. This plant has vines that grow quickly, so it looks great in a hanging planter or on a tiered plant stand, where the vines can trail. You can easily propagate cuttings in water, too. This plant is toxic to pets, so do them away from it.

Size: Up to 3 feet tall 

Growing Medium: Well-drained soil

Water: Every two weeks. Allow the medium to completely dry out between waterings.

The snake plant is also a good choice for beginners since it requires little light and infrequent watering. This stunning plant features stiff, swordlike leaves and can grow up to 8 feet tall. Snake plants make a great statement in an otherwise empty corner. Play up the look of this unique plant by potting it in an irregular-shaped pot. Snake plants can vary in color from plain green to green and yellow. Spring flower stalks are rare, but you may see them if you place your plant in very bright light. These plants are easy to propagate and make great gifts, too. Just be sure those friends don't have pets since snake plants are toxic to cats and dogs.

Size: Up to 3 feet tall 

Growing Medium: Well-drained potting mix or sphagnum moss ball

Water: Soak the pot once a week for 10 minutes. Allow the medium to completely dry out between waterings.

Staghorn ferns produce fronds that look like the forked antlers of a male deer or stag. This is an epiphytic plant, meaning it grows on other plants and gets its nutrients from the surrounding air and water. This plant is fun to drape from metal hanging baskets or a piece of untreated wood. Create a growing medium for the fern using 1 part 1-inch wood chips, 1 part organic potting soil, and 1 part sphagnum moss. Place the fern in the growing medium, making sure the fronds touch the wood and/or the growing medium. Secure the plant with metal wire or plastic stripping. This plant loves high humidity and creates a spa-like look in bathrooms. It's not toxic to pets.

Size: Up to 12 inches 

Growing Medium: Well-drained potting soil

Water: Once a week. Allow the medium to completely dry out between waterings.

The spider plant, named for the flowers or "spiderettes" that hang off of the original plant, has been a classic in homes since the Victorian era. Thanks to their thin, arched foliage in solid green or variegated white, these easy-to-grow house plants look great in a hanging basket or a pot on your desk. They like well-drained soil, low humidity and indirect light. Share these easy-to-propagate plants with friends or add them to your collection. While not considered toxic, they contain chemicals that can cause an upset stomach and other discomforts in pets.

Size: Up to 3 feet 

Growing Medium: Well-drained soil

Water: Every 2-3 weeks. Allow the medium to completely dry out between waterings.

The ZZ plant thrives in low light and doesn't require much water or humidity. The sheen on its dark green, waxy leaves is stunning. The ZZ plant can grow up to 12 feet tall, so put it in the corner of a large room to make a statement. A small plant looks great on a tabletop in a neutral pot that won't distract from the plant's unique look. A bigger plant can go on the floor or a plant stand, as long as the stand can support the plant's weight. Remember to place this plant carefully since it's toxic to animals and humans.

Size: Up to 2 feet

Growing Medium: Free-draining soil

Water: Every 1-2 weeks. Allow the medium to completely dry out between waterings.

The leaves of this plant resemble hands in prayer after they rise in the evening; hence, it's called a prayer plant. Most types of prayer plants have variegated leaves, which add to their overall appeal. They look great hanging in baskets or potted near a window where they'll receive indirect sunlight, but direct sunlight can burn them. Prayer plants are tropical and require consistently moist — but not wet — soil. They thrive in humid environments, so stash them in your bathroom, kitchen or laundry room to add color to those rooms. Prayer plants aren't toxic.

Size: Up to 5 feet

Growing Medium: Purified water

Water: Change the water every 8 to 10 days.

For thousands of years, the lucky bamboo plant has been a symbol of good fortune and prosperity, and it's said to bring luck to its owners. Lucky bamboo prefers low-light and doesn't need soil or fertilizer to grow. In fact, you can plant it in distilled or purified water. The branches of the lucky bamboo are naked, ending in tufts of long, thin leaves. The leaves develop into plant stalks, which you can shape into designs using wires. Plant lucky bamboo in wood planters adorned with pebbles. Set them against a white background in your home or office for a distinct look. They're toxic to pets.

Size: Up to 10 feet

Growing Medium: Well-draining soil 

Water: Every 1-2 weeks. Allow the medium to completely dry out between waterings.

The rubber plant gets its name from its milky white sap that contains latex and was once used to make rubber. If you're looking for a tall house plant for a low-light setting, consider getting a rubber plant. Indoors, rubber plants can grow into small trees with a maximum height of 10 feet if given bright, indirect light. Buy them when they're young so they can adapt to growing indoors and restrict their growth by keeping them in small pots. Rubber plants potted in bamboo or tin pots look fantastic in boho-style bedrooms. Keep out of reach of small children and animals, as the sap in these plants is poisonous.

Size: Up to 3 feet

Growing Medium: Well-draining potting soil

Water: Every 1-2 weeks

Bromeliads are colorful, tropical plants that use their roots for balance, not for transferring nutrients. The leaves take in all the water and nutrients the plant needs. When watering your plant, be sure to direct the water into the small cup made by the leaves at the base of the plant. Most bromeliads will thrive on a coffee table or countertop a few feet away from a window. Bromeliads can grow by soil-free methods, making them perfect for pet owners who'd love to avoid the mess their animals make by digging in house plant dirt. This plant is nontoxic to pets.

Size: Varies by type

Growing Medium: Potting soil mixed with sand and perlite

Water: Every 2 weeks. When the soil feels bone dry.

Almost 60 plant families contain succulents, including the cacti and aloe vera families. Because there are so many varieties, you can find succulents in every shade, including blue, purple, pink, orange, red and green. Succulents originated in the desert, so they don't like humidity. Let their soil dry completely between watering. Succulents are perfect for terrariums because they grow slowly, but be sure to line the container with the right medium — like fine gravel or rocks — to prevent condensation from building up and killing your plants. Succulents are nontoxic to pets. However, many are fragile, so keep them out of reach of curious paws. Read our buying guide on succulents if you'd like to find out which one would best suit your space.