The Truth About Low Light Houseplants and What Really Works Indoors

What if I told you there’s no such thing as a low light plant?

The idea of "low light" plants has led to a lot of struggling houseplants and a lot of discouraged plant parents. The truth? Lighting is the most important factor in whether your plant thrives or barely survives (or unalives ☠️). 

Plants use light to convert water and carbon dioxide into energy—it’s how they stay alive and grow. The amount of light they need depends on their native environment.

Basically? Plants eat light. If you’re putting your plant in “low light,” you’re putting it on a crash diet. It might survive for a while, but it won’t thrive. Eventually, it will likely wither away.

You want better for your plants. I know you do. 💚

You know that feeling: you pick up a cute little plant labeled “low light,” bring it home, and stick it on a bookshelf across the room. A month later… it’s not looking so cute anymore. Sound familiar?

If you’ve been searching for things like “best low light indoor plants” or “indoor plants that don’t need light,” I’ve got some honest news (and a hopeful solution) for you.

Do Low Light Plants Exist?

No (sorry).

The term “low light plant” gets thrown around so often it’s basically meaningless. It sounds convenient—like you can just put a plant anywhere and it’ll be fine.

All plants need light—it’s how they make food. But some plants can tolerate lower light levels better than others. Those are the plants that have been touted as the Low Light Lovers, and with this bit of misleading marketing, their fate has been sealed. 

Plants “see” and use light differently than we do. What might look like bright enough light to us could actually be essentially No Light for your plant. And most of the time, our homes are way darker than we think.

So when you place your plant on the opposite side of the room from a window, or in a windowless room, it’s not a low-light spot, it’s a slow goodbye.

Let’s talk about what low light really means, why it sets you (and your plants) up for frustration, and what to do instead.

So What Counts as Low Light (and how do I avoid it)?

The term “low light” started with horticultural science (using actual light meters), but it got oversimplified through the retail space in an attempt to make it easy for people to understand. 

Let’s clear up the categories of indoor light in plain language:

☀️ Bright Direct Light

• Your plant literally sits in sunbeams (what ‘Direct’ means) for the majority of the daylight hours (6+), like a happy cat. This is similar to a Desert Environment.

• Found in south- or west-facing windows with no obstruction (like sheer curtains or trees).
  

• Comparable to outdoor sun exposure, especially midday.
  

• Best for succulents, cacti, or high-light tropicals like Bird of Paradise.

• For advanced Plant Parents with light meters

• PPFD: 400–1000+ µmol/s/m²

• DLI (12 hrs): 17–43+ mol/day/m²
  
  

🌤️ Bright Indirect Light

• Your plant should be as close as possible to a window without being directly in a sunbeam for more than 2-3 hours of the day. 

• This is similar to a Rainforest Environment

• Sunlight is filtered through sheer curtains or reflected from walls. That’s what ‘Indirect’ means
  

• Found in an east-facing window, or up to a few feet from a south- or west-facing window.
  

• Ideal for many popular plants like Rubber Trees, Fiddle Leaf Fig, Monstera, and Hoyas.

• For advanced Plant Parents with light meters

• PPFD: 150–400 µmol/s/m²
  DLI (12 hrs): 6.5–17 mol/day/m²

⛅ Medium Indirect Light

• Your plant should be ~3 feet away from a South- or West-facing window, directly in a North-facing window, or directly to 2 feet from an East-facing window.

• This is similar to a Forest Floor environment
  

• Good for Pothos, ZZ plants, Snake Plants, or Peace Lilies.

• For advanced Plant Parents with light meters

• PPFD: 75–150 µmol/s/m²

• DLI (12 hrs): 3.2–6.5 mol/day/m²

🌑 Low Indirect Light

• Far from windows or areas that are shaded and receive little-to-no indirect light.
  

• You should use grow lights in order to keep plants in this spot.

• For advanced Plant Parents with light meters

• PPFD: <75 µmol/s/m²

• DLI (12 hrs): <3.2 mol/day/m²

If you want to know exactly what your specific plant needs, our Plantkyn Care Kits include an easy lighting guide that tells you where to place them for optimal growth and happiness.

🌿 So What Do You Do If You Have Low Light?

Here’s the part where you might be looking for a  list of so-called “best low light indoor plants.” We won’t do that because we want you and your plants to win! 

Instead, here’s your quick win:

Move your plant closer to a window. Even a few feet makes a big difference.

And if that’s not an option, add a grow light!  

A simple bulb can completely change your plant’s life (and yours). Grow lights are super functional these days and can be used in place of regular light bulbs. They come in so many different sizes, shapes, colour tones, and some are even dimmable.  

Here are some that I use! 

✨ TL;DR: There Are No Low Light Plants

• If it’s more than a few feet from a window, it’s probably too dark.
  

• No plant wants to live in low light.
  

• You can grow healthy indoor plants—if you match their needs to your space.
  
  

🌿 Your next step?

Learn what your plant actually needs with a Plantkyn Care Kit. It’s the easiest way to build confidence and give your plants the conditions they need to thrive.

Plantkyn Care Kits are how to cultivate a hobby you love. Each plant-specific kit teaches you:

• Everything you need to grow a happy plant in a quick, cute, and beginner-friendly way
  

• What kind of light it truly needs
  

• How to adjust care if something goes off track

• And additional support if you ever need it