6 of the Best Indoor Trees That Thrive in Low Lighting - Home & Texture
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6 of the Best Indoor Trees That Thrive in Low Lighting

November 9, 2023 at 6:17 PM PST

Plants can bring any interior space to life. They can brighten up a room and add a natural source of clean air to its surroundings. However, they can also be tricky when it comes to care. Too much light, too little water, and not enough fresh soil can spell doom for any household tree or plant. What is one to do?

Thankfully, there are a select number of trees and plants that are known to be low maintenance and perfect for anyone who lacks that “green thumb.” These indoor trees thrive in low-light settings. They require very little maintenance and are perfect for people who find themselves in and out of the house a lot, perhaps traveling for work. Because they take little water, one doesn’t have to worry about forgetting to water the plants. The best thing about these types of trees and plants is that they can be purchased from your local home improvement store or online.

Here are six low-light indoor trees perfect for any type of home.

The Corn Plant

The corn plant is a low maintenance tree that thrives in low light. Pictured: A corn plant or Dracaena Fragrans tree.

Dracaena Fragrans, also known as the corn plant because of its wood stem and flat leaves, is an easy-maintenance indoor tree that requires a low-light environment. The good thing about this plant is that it can be watered roughly once a week during the spring through fall seasons. Watering can be cut down significantly during the winter seasons. This plant should be kept between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and requires organically rich soil.

The Money Tree

The money tree, also known as the Pachira Aquatica is said to bring positivity and is a great indoor tree that thrives in low light settings. Pictured: A money tree.

If you’re looking for some positive energy, the money tree, known as the Pachira Aquatica, is the perfect good luck tree. This indoor tree can grow six to eight feet and thrives in both low-light settings and full sunshine. You can choose to water this plant whenever the soil is dry and more frequently during the warmer seasons. Fertile soil works best with this tree and keeping the temperature between 65 and 75 degrees allows for better growth.

Rubber Plant

A rubber plant makes the perfect addition to your home. This indoor tree grows and thrives in low light and requires a moist soil. Pictured: A rubber plant or Ficus Elastica tree.

The Ficus Elastica is called the rubber plant because of its fast-growing nature. This indoor tree can grow up to 10 feet tall and is relatively low maintenance (though on this list it’s closer to the high side), requiring it to be watered regularly to keep the soil moist and only needing potting soil to grow. This tree thrives in both low light and sunlight but will grow faster in more light. You’ll need to turn the plant regularly to balance the tree’s growth and keep it in temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees in a humid environment.

Dragon Tree

The Dragon tree is a great indoor tree that requires low light and can be planted in loose soil. Pictured: A dragon tree
Photo: Amazon

Dracaena Marginata or dragon trees are easy indoor trees. They grow in both low light and bright sunshine and can be planted in loose soil. Dragon trees are known for being hard-to-kill plants and only need to be watered weekly during peak growing seasons, which are spring through fall. Watering can be cut back during the winter to let the soil become slightly dry. This plant thrives best in 60 to 80 degrees but can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.

Banana Leaf Ficus

Banana Leaf Ficus trees are very common indoor house plants that require regular watering and low light. Pictured: A banana leaf ficus tree.

This tree, also called the Alii Ficus, is a common houseplant that you’ve most likely heard of or seen before. This long-leaf tree brightens up any room it is in and serves as a gorgeous addition to a home. This indoor tree thrives and depends on low light for growth and can tolerate different temperatures. While this tree is low maintenance and easy, it does require regular watering and soil to be constantly moist.

Norfolk Island Pine Tree

The Norfolk Island Pine Tree is an indoor tree that thrives in both low light and sunlight. Pictured: A Norfolk Island Pine Tree
Photo: The Home Depot

The Araucaria Heterophylla is known as the Norfolk Island Pine Tree for its beautiful needles. This indoor tree has a vibrant fragrance and is soft. It thrives in both sunlight and low light conditions and will grow in temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees, although it will still grow at lower temperatures. Depending on how much sunlight and water this tree gets, it can grow up to 8 feet tall. Soil needs to be sandy and should be consistently moist, meaning watering should be done in moderation.




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