Indoor Hanging Plants for Low Light Top Choices and Care Tips

Low-light indoor spaces often pose challenges for plant growth, but the right choice of indoor plants can turn dimly lit corners into lush, green sanctuaries. Indoor plants that thrive in low-light conditions are usually resilient and adaptable. Many of these plants also double as air-purifiers, removing toxins from the air while beautifying your home. Displaying these plants in hanging baskets or macramé plant hangers can help conserve floor space, making them perfect for smaller homes or apartments. In this guide, we’ll cover the best indoor hanging plants for low-light environments, along with detailed care instructions to keep them thriving.

Spider Plant: A Hardy Classic for Low-Light Spaces

The spider plant is a popular choice for low-light indoor spaces due to its adaptability and visual appeal. With its long, arching leaves that feature green and white stripes, this plant creates a striking display when grown in hanging baskets or macramé plant hangers. Spider plants are also known for their ability to purify the air, making them ideal for homes with poor ventilation or high pollutant levels. They are perfect for kitchens, bedrooms, and offices that don’t get direct sunlight.

Caring for Spider Plants in Low Light

Caring for a spider plant is straightforward, making it an excellent choice for beginners. Spider plants thrive in indirect or low light, though they prefer moderate brightness. Ensure the plant has proper water drainage, as waterlogged soil can cause root rot. Use a well-draining soil mix and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Spider plants also appreciate occasional misting to maintain humidity, especially in drier indoor environments. Regularly removing dead or yellowing leaves with pruning shears will help keep the plant healthy and encourage new growth.

Spider Plants as an Air-Purifying Plant

Beyond their resilience, spider plants are exceptional air-purifying plants, filtering toxins like formaldehyde and xylene from the air. This makes them particularly useful in homes with poor air circulation or pollutants. As a fast grower, spider plants also produce “spiderettes” or baby plants, which can be propagated to grow new plants. This trailing growth habit makes them ideal for vertical gardening, where they can cascade from hanging containers. By improving air quality and adding aesthetic appeal, spider plants are a must-have for low-light indoor spaces.

Philodendron: A Low-Light Survivor with Trailing Beauty

Philodendrons are another excellent choice for low-light environments, thriving in hanging baskets with their trailing vines. Known for their heart-shaped leaves and easy care, philodendrons add lush greenery to rooms that receive minimal sunlight. These plants are also low-maintenance, making them ideal for those new to plant care or those who want greenery without the constant upkeep. Philodendrons are perfect for living rooms, offices, or shaded areas that don’t get much direct light.

How to Care for Philodendrons in Low-Light Settings

Philodendrons thrive in low-light environments, but they can also tolerate brighter, indirect light if available. Water them when the top inch of soil feels dry, and ensure that their pot has good water drainage to prevent root rot. Use a nutrient-rich soil mix to support healthy growth. These plants are fast growers, and regular pruning with pruning shears is necessary to keep them looking tidy. Removing leggy or yellowing vines will help encourage fuller, healthier growth.

Philodendrons as a Decorative and Air-Purifying Plant

Philodendrons are not only decorative but also beneficial to indoor air quality. Like other air-purifying plants, they help remove toxins from the environment, making them ideal for offices or bedrooms. Their trailing growth habit makes them perfect for hanging baskets or mounted displays, allowing their vines to cascade down from high spaces. With their minimal light requirements and easy care routine, philodendrons are a versatile option for homes with dim lighting.

Pothos: A Low-Light Favorite for Beginners

Pothos, also known as devil’s ivy, is a versatile indoor plant that thrives in low-light conditions. It is one of the most resilient houseplants, known for its heart-shaped leaves and long, trailing vines that look stunning in hanging baskets. Pothos can adapt to various lighting conditions, including low light, making it ideal for rooms that don’t get much natural sunlight, such as bathrooms, bedrooms, or offices. This plant is perfect for beginners or those who want a low-maintenance plant that still provides beauty.

Caring for Pothos in Low Light

Pothos plants are among the easiest to care for, especially in low-light environments. They only need watering when the top inch of soil dries out, and it’s important to avoid overwatering, as pothos is prone to root rot if left in soggy soil. A well-draining soil mix is essential to ensure excess water doesn’t pool at the bottom of the pot. Pothos thrives in indirect light but can tolerate dimmer areas, though its growth may slow down in very low light. Regularly trimming its long vines encourages fuller, more compact growth.

Pothos for Air Purification and Small Spaces

In addition to being easy to grow, pothos plants are excellent air purifiers. They help remove pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene from the air, making them a great choice for spaces with poor ventilation. Pothos is also ideal for small spaces, as its vines can be trained to climb walls, trail from shelves, or cascade from hanging baskets without taking up much floor space. This makes pothos one of the best plants for compact living spaces or urban apartments.

English Ivy: Perfect for Trailing in Dim Rooms

English ivy is a classic indoor plant, known for its dense, trailing vines that can beautifully fill hanging baskets or wall-mounted planters. It is well-suited to low-light areas, making it an excellent option for dim rooms, such as hallways or bathrooms. English ivy adds a touch of elegance to any indoor space, and its fast-growing vines can create a lush, cascading effect when suspended from hanging baskets.

How to Care for English Ivy Indoors

English ivy thrives in indirect light but can tolerate lower light conditions, making it a great choice for rooms that receive little natural light. It prefers cooler temperatures and needs to be kept in consistently moist soil. To prevent root rot, ensure your pot has proper water drainage. Water regularly, but don’t allow the soil to become waterlogged. English ivy appreciates higher humidity levels, so misting it occasionally or placing it in humid environments, like bathrooms, will help keep it healthy.

Air-Purifying Qualities of English Ivy

English ivy is one of the most effective air-purifying plants, known for its ability to remove toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, and mold spores from the air. This makes it perfect for bedrooms, offices, or living spaces with poor air circulation. Its trailing nature also makes it ideal for vertical gardening or decorative hanging baskets that can enhance the aesthetic appeal of any room while contributing to a healthier indoor environment.

Tillandsia (Air Plants): Low Light and No Soil Needed

Tillandsia, commonly known as air plants, are unique in that they don’t require soil to grow. These plants absorb moisture and nutrients from the air, making them ideal for low-maintenance indoor gardens. Tillandsia thrives in macramé plant hangers or mounted on walls, creating beautiful, space-saving displays. Because they don’t need soil, they are perfect for homes with limited space or those looking for minimalist, creative plant displays.

Caring for Tillandsia in Low-Light Conditions

Tillandsia prefers bright, indirect light but can survive in low-light conditions with proper care. Since these plants absorb water through their leaves, they need to be misted two to three times a week or soaked in water for 20 minutes every two weeks, depending on the humidity of the environment. They don’t require a soil mix, making them versatile and easy to display in macramé plant hangers or terrariums. Air circulation is key, so avoid placing them in enclosed spaces without airflow.

Creative Displays for Tillandsia in Small Spaces

One of the best features of air plants is their flexibility in display options. You can hang them from planter hooks or place them in macramé plant hangers. Their small size and no-soil requirement make them ideal for small spaces where traditional pots may not fit. Incorporating them into vertical gardening systems or terrariums allows for creative, space-saving plant arrangements that require minimal maintenance but offer high visual impact.

Boston Fern: Lush Greenery for Low-Light Spaces

The Boston fern is a popular indoor hanging plant known for its dense, feathery fronds that create a full, lush appearance. These ferns thrive in environments with indirect light, making them ideal for low-light spaces such as bathrooms, shaded corners, or hallways. Boston ferns are particularly effective at improving indoor air quality by filtering out toxins, making them both beautiful and functional. Their delicate appearance belies their resilience, as they can tolerate a range of indoor conditions when provided with proper care.

Caring for Boston Ferns Indoors

Boston ferns thrive in areas with high humidity and indirect light, though they can tolerate low light with regular attention. They need consistently moist soil but must not be waterlogged, so good water drainage is essential. If your home is dry, regularly misting the plant or placing it near a humidifier will help it stay lush and healthy. Boston ferns prefer cool temperatures, so avoid placing them in areas that get too warm. Use a well-draining soil mix and water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry.

Ideal Placement for Boston Ferns

Due to their need for humidity, Boston ferns are perfect for placement in bathrooms or kitchens. When hung in hanging baskets or macramé plant hangers, their long, cascading fronds create a stunning display of greenery. In low-light environments, Boston ferns benefit from being misted regularly to maintain moisture, especially during dry winter months. These ferns can also thrive in shady outdoor spaces, such as covered porches or patios, during warmer months.

ZZ Plant: The Ultimate Low-Light, Low-Maintenance Option

The ZZ plant is well-known for its ability to thrive in almost any indoor environment, including spaces with very low light. Its dark green, waxy leaves make it a stylish addition to any room, and its drought tolerance makes it one of the most low-maintenance indoor plants available. ZZ plants are excellent for those with busy lifestyles or minimal natural light in their homes, as they require very little care to thrive.

Caring for the ZZ Plant

ZZ plants prefer well-draining soil and should be watered sparingly. They are extremely drought-tolerant and can go for long periods without water, making them perfect for neglectful plant owners. Ensure that the plant is placed in a pot with proper water drainage to avoid soggy soil, which can lead to root rot. The ZZ plant does not require frequent fertilization but can benefit from a light feeding with organic fertilizer once or twice a year.

ZZ Plants in Indoor Decor

ZZ plants are perfect for adding a touch of greenery to dark corners, bedrooms, or offices with little to no natural light. Their upright growth habit makes them ideal for floor planters, but they can also be displayed in hanging baskets to save floor space. Because of their resilience and ability to thrive in low-light conditions, ZZ plants are often used in indoor gardens or vertical gardening arrangements to create a lush, green environment with minimal upkeep.

Golden Pothos: A Resilient Trailing Plant for Low Light

Golden pothos is another fantastic choice for indoor hanging plants, especially in low-light environments. Known for its heart-shaped leaves with golden variegation, this plant is both decorative and highly adaptable. Golden pothos can thrive in dimly lit areas, making it perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, or hallways. Its trailing vines grow quickly, making it ideal for hanging baskets or as part of a vertical gardening setup.

Caring for Golden Pothos in Low-Light Conditions

Golden pothos is incredibly forgiving and easy to care for. It requires very little water and can go for long periods between waterings, making it a great choice for those with busy schedules. Like other pothos varieties, it thrives in indirect or low light but will continue to grow, albeit slower, in dimmer areas. The key to keeping a pothos healthy is avoiding overwatering and ensuring proper water drainage. A well-draining soil mix is essential to prevent root rot.

Golden Pothos as a Decorative Plant

Golden pothos is perfect for adding greenery to indoor spaces where light is scarce. Its trailing vines can be allowed to cascade down from shelves, hanging baskets, or even trained to climb walls, making it a versatile choice for interior decor. The plant’s ability to purify the air further enhances its value, helping to remove toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene. It’s ideal for spaces that need a bit of life without much maintenance.

Chinese Evergreen: Adaptable and Beautiful

The Chinese evergreen is another highly adaptable indoor plant that thrives in low light. It features large, attractive leaves that come in various shades of green, silver, and sometimes pink. Chinese evergreen is not only beautiful but also extremely tolerant of low-light conditions, making it perfect for indoor areas with little to no natural sunlight. This plant is often used in offices, living rooms, or bathrooms where light is limited but greenery is desired.

Caring for Chinese Evergreen Indoors

Chinese evergreen requires minimal care, making it a great option for busy individuals or plant beginners. It prefers well-draining soil and should be watered when the top layer feels dry. Too much water can lead to root rot, so be sure the pot has good water drainage. Chinese evergreen thrives in low to medium indirect light but can also tolerate low light without losing its vibrant foliage. It doesn’t require frequent fertilization, but feeding it with organic fertilizer once every few months can support its growth.

Chinese Evergreen in Home Decor

With its striking variegated leaves, the Chinese evergreen makes a bold statement in any room. Whether placed in a hanging basket or a standing planter, it adds a touch of elegance to spaces with minimal light. The plant’s slow growth and minimal care needs make it perfect for areas that are difficult to maintain, such as offices, shaded corners, or even bathrooms. Its air-purifying properties further enhance its usefulness, helping to remove toxins from the indoor environment.

Prayer Plant: A Unique Low-Light Beauty

The prayer plant is a stunning indoor hanging plant known for its colorful, patterned leaves that fold up at night, resembling hands in prayer. This unique behavior, along with its vibrant foliage, makes it a favorite among indoor gardeners. The prayer plant thrives in low-light conditions, making it ideal for spaces with minimal sunlight. Its compact size and slow growth rate make it perfect for hanging baskets or macramé plant hangers in smaller rooms or apartments.

Caring for Prayer Plants

Prayer plants prefer consistently moist soil but should not be overwatered. Ensure the plant is in a pot with good water drainage to avoid soggy soil, which can lead to root rot. Although the plant can tolerate low light, it thrives best in bright, indirect light. To keep the vibrant colors of the leaves, place it in a well-lit area but out of direct sunlight. Humidity is important for the prayer plant, so regular misting or placing the pot on a tray of pebbles with water can help maintain moisture.

Displaying Prayer Plants Indoors

Prayer plants make an excellent addition to vertical gardening systems or can be displayed alone in hanging baskets. Their small size and vibrant leaves create a focal point in any room, and their trailing nature adds visual interest when hung in macramé plant hangers. The plant’s unique “praying” movement at night makes it a conversation piece, and its ability to thrive in low light makes it perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, or living spaces with limited natural light.