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Every home has a place where a great houseplant should be. Sometimes it can be an empty corner, or even an empty wall that just needs something to brighten it up a bit.
Maybe you just want a great houseplant to make a statement in your bedroom.
inside the plants it can range from small potted flowering shrubs to tall trees, and everything in between.
They are often grouped together for best effect, although some people take issue with this and place their plants alone.
However you choose to place your houseplants, it’s important to determine which are the best tall houseplants for low-light areas.
Often placing a plant indoors means it is in an area where the light isn’t perfect.
While some plants do well in low-light areas, many others don’t, so it’s helpful to know which ones to choose and which to plant outdoors.
Contents
The Best Tall Houseplants for Low Light Areas
The best tall houseplants for low light areas are; umbrella plants, rubber plants, Swiss cheese factories and the bird of paradise.
1) Umbrella plants
The umbrella plant it was fashionable several years ago and then seemed to fall out of favor. Looks like they’re making a comeback now.
I don’t know why they were unpopular, as they are wonderful houseplants. They are very elegant and easy to maintain plants.
advantage
- easy to maintain
- The dwarf version stands at a smaller height.
the inconvenients
- They are toxic to dogs and cats.
2) rubber factory
These amazing trees are getting huge! In Spain we have them outdoors at over 30 feet tall! rubber factories They are easy to grow and these great houseplants do well in bright or low light.
advantage
- Elegant shiny leaves.
- Highly adaptable to lighting conditions.
- Placing it in a lighter location ensures additional growth
the inconvenients
- A fast draining mixture is necessary
- It will not perform well if it receives too much water.
- The soil should be moist at all times, but not soggy.
3) Swiss cheese dairy
These were extremely popular in the 80s and are now making a comeback with people choosing them as houseplants as they make a huge statement wherever they are placed.
They will do well in moderate or indirect light.
advantage
- they grow fast
- They will become climbers if trained.
- Easy to plant and multiply.
the inconvenients
- They need a big space
- Be careful with watering since it is not necessary to soak them, once a week is enough.
We have a complete guide for how to care for a monstera
4) Bird of Paradise
You probably recognize this as Strelitzia. My mother had one that grew enormously.
Definitely one of my favorite large plants. A bird of paradise is easy to grow medium and even easier to care for.
They produce leaves that unfurl to reveal their beauty.
When the leaves of your birds of paradise curl, Find out here!
advantage
- It works well alone or in a group.
- Adjustable in low light or direct bright light
the inconvenients
- I don’t like soggy ground
- Must be sprayed regularly to maintain high humidity
Best Large Indoor Trees for Low Light
Of course, indoor trees need extra space, both in height and in the area they cover.
They need a pot large enough to keep them happy, while limiting their excessive height. Like all other indoor plants, they need good drainage.
The best large indoor trees for low light conditions are Madagascar dragon tree, ficus, and fiddleleaf fig.
1) Madagascar dragon tree
Also called Dracaena Marginata, they are very easy to grow indoors and do well in low light areas. In fact, they prefer to be out of direct sunlight as it can scorch their leaves.
If you are having trouble with this plant, check out our article on: How to save a dying Dracaena marginata plant.
advantage
- Easy to grow, which is suitable for novice gardeners.
- drought resistant
- An excellent air purifier that removes formaldehyde, trichlorethylene and xylene from the air.
the inconvenients
- It will suffer if it receives too much water.
- It doesn’t like fluoride in water, so you may need to use distilled water.
2) Figs
This plant tolerates bright, indirect or low light. They are attractive because their leaves can vary from dark green to pale yellow. They need rich, fast-draining soil.
advantage
- Low maintenance
- Tolerates low light well
the inconvenients
- It must be pruned regularly to prevent the branches from coming into contact with the ceiling or walls.
3) fiddle leaf fig tree
you can buy the fiddle leaf fig tree either as small plants or as large mature plants. You will find them as low as 2′ or as high as 10′.
This plant loves the morning sun and is well fed once a week in spring and summer.
advantage
- resistant plants
- large leaves
the inconvenients
- It’s easy to overwater them, they don’t like to get wet.
What should be considered for tall plants?
There are good and bad things with every plant, but there are things that keep the plant happy or leave it in an unhealthy state.
With tall plants, there are some unique things to keep in mind.
Perhaps the most problematic area for tall plants is the tendency to become unbalanced and break, or simply topple over from being too heavy.
switch off
It helps if you stake the plant as soon as you transplant it into its new pot.
If you try to lift it when the plant is tall, you risk damaging the root system, introducing bacteria and making your tall plant unhappy.
Although it may seem odd at first that the plant has a strong stake, this gives the plant time to adjust to the stake and not hurt itself when placed later.
Cleaning
Unless you make a concerted effort to sit down in a chair and clean the top leaves, they will only collect dust and clog the pores of the leaves.
Your plant will not be at its best and it could even hamper the photosynthesis that takes place in your plants. Plants with large leaves are particularly susceptible to it.
What to consider for plants in low light?
curly leaves
This is usually a sign of insects or disease. If you look closely at the leaves, you can see signs of the culprits.
Also, if there is any disease, you should see faint whiteheads or small blackheads.
If you take a few pictures of the areas and go to your garden center, they will know if they need to give you a specific antibacterial or antifungal solution.
Stretching of leaves and stems
Even if your plant does well in low light, it’s a sign that it needs a little more light than it’s getting.
You can also rotate the plant so that all sides receive the same amount of light per day.
brown tips on the leaves
This often happens due to irregular watering. Even if a plant is known to be drought resistant, it still needs water. You may not need to water it every week, but you do need a little.
Another reason could be low humidity. Many houseplants come from the tropics where the air is humid. You should mist your plant every few days.
The third reason may be too much salt in the water or even excessive use of fertilizer. You might want to try distilled water instead of tap water and be careful with the fertilizer.
The importance of light, even in low light
Although we are talking about plants that thrive in low light conditions, most have adapted to these conditions by developing broad leaves that catch as much sunlight as possible.
Light is an essential part of the life of every plant, without light the plant will not survive. Although some plants can live in low light conditions, they still need light to grow.
Indoor plants are categorized as low, medium, and high based on their light requirements, with light intensity, quality, and duration being the influencing factors.
The quality of light can be improved by using artificial means such as red and blue wavelengths. Fluorescent lamps best reproduce natural light.
If your plant looks spindly and stretches upwards, first check the quality and intensity of the light.
Plants need a period of darkness to grow properly. Keep any light exposure to less than 16 hours a day so they can rest.
Very low light issues
- The leaves are turning yellow
- stems become thin
- The leaves are small
- Leaf tips develop brown spots.
- Dry lower leaves
- Variegated leaves lose variegated patterns.
Final Thoughts: Best Tall Houseplants for Low Light
Most homes have that awkward corner where it’s too dark for many plants to grow well.
This is when we look for plants that can tolerate low light, and there are plenty that will do just fine in that light.
There are several things to remember about plants in low light. Pay particular attention to the soil in which they are potted, which should provide good drainage. This is important if your plant wants to grow well.
If you keep in mind that the best houseplants need different things than what you would plant in your garden.
You can fill that void with a beautiful, healthy, thriving plant in its perfect environment.
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
Top 12 Outdoor Plants That Reduce Air Pollution
10 Stunning Striped Foliage Plants to Own and Tips for Choosing Pots
The best plants in a windowless office
Written by: Valerie Holyoak