20 Hard-to-Kill Indoor Plants That Don't Need Sunlight to Thrive

Snake Plant

Incredibly tolerant of neglect, snake plants do well tucked into that awkward corner that's far from a window. Their cool, modern pointed leaves with variegated colors look beautiful in a small pot or a large planter. "Water when the top layer of the soil is completely dry, which usually takes about two to three weeks," explains Poole.

Spider Plant

You've probably seen this low-light hanging plant's green or green-and-white variegated leaves in many office settings. "Spider plants grow like weeds if you keep them trimmed, and you don't let them rot," she says. "Keep a saucer underneath a pot with drainage to avoid that."

You'll also want to pull dead bits and leaves out of the pot. "It's better to cut off a dying leaf or tendril because then the plant puts more energy into new growth instead of trying to keep that leaf alive."

Pothos

Going overboard trying to care for a pothos (or any of the several pothos varieties) can actually kill it—seriously. If they get too much real sunlight, it can do them in. "They almost want to be starved a little bit, so let them really dry out between waterings. I think one of the reasons they do so well in office settings is that people forget to water them!" says Poole. To check, stick a finger into the soil to tell if it's dry, or lift the pot to see how heavy it is; a plant that needs water will feel pretty light.

If your pothos is in need of a trim, you can create new little plants by placing the clippings in a cup of water on a windowsill until new roots start.

Maidenhair Fern

Beautiful but complicated to care for, ferns can always be a little persnickety. "The tricky thing here is that they can't be over or under-watered. These plants really want to be humid, not wet," says Poole. "You'll want to put them in a clay pot (they breathe better) and don't water it from the top. Instead, put small stones in the saucer underneath the pot. Place water directly in the saucer so that it's hitting just the bottom of the pot. It creates its own humidity dome around the plant." Keeping ferns in a room that gets some humidity, like a bathroom, is always a safe bet, too!

Ivy

Popular for outdoor gardens and the sides of buildings, ivy is also a great low-light indoor plant. There are tons of varieties of ivy; some are pure green, while others have white-and-green variegation. Their cascading waves of leaves are very tolerant of neglect and you only need to water them when they've dried out completely. You never want them to be soggy.

"While you don't need to trim them, if you want something bushier, you can cut them back. This is another plant that's easy to take cuttings from to grow new plants. Take the clippings and put them in a glass of water until roots form," says Poole.

Bird of Paradise

Might we introduce you to the future replacement for your fiddle leaf fig plant? Lower maintenance than the previously mentioned greenery, a bird of paradise has a tropical look but doesn't need a ton of care. You want the soil to be damp, but never soggy, so make sure there's proper drainage in place. Water it when the soil on top looks dry.

This low-light indoor plant will take five or more years to bloom, but in the meantime, its oversized leaves will add a tropical vibe to your space.

Cast Iron Plant

This aptly named plant is pretty much black thumb proof, if you're looking for indoor plants that don't need a lot of sun (or a lot of TLC). (In fact, you have to keep it out of direct sunlight.) It can tolerate a bit of neglect—just keep the plant's soil moist to keep it thriving.

Prayer Plant

The prayer plant is a tropical plant that needs low light to thrive—though it needs humidity and warmth (making it a perfect plant to live in your bathroom). You have to water this plant weekly to keep it happy.

Parlor Palm

If you want a palm tree where you don't have a lot of sunlight, you're in luck. This sweet palm will thrive in low-light situations, is perfect for beginners, and look super cute.

Lucky Bamboo

This easy-to-grow plant is thought to bring good luck to your home, where it thrives in low light. You can grow lucky bamboo in soil or directly in water—but you will need to ensure that it's watered regularly if you do keep it in soil.

Note: If you're a pet parent, you'll want to ensure the lucky bamboo is out of reach of your cats and dogs.

ZZ Plant

A ZZ plant doesn't need a lot of sun—you can even keep it in a room without any natural light. If you're the type who neglects plants, a ZZ plant can survive (and thrive) without water.

Monstera

It's no surprise that one of the most trendy plants recently is also one of the plants that's relatively easy to care for. It the wild, it grows in the shade of larger tropical plants, so it's used to getting minimal light. It also loves a warm and humid environment, so they'll do great in bathrooms and other cozy spots in your home.

Peace Lily

This perennial houseplant favorite thrives on low light and benign neglect—it only needs watering every few weeks, so it's basically foolproof.

Note: This one is toxic to dogs and cats, so keep it away from your pets.

Dragon Tree

This spiky tree is basically black thumb-proof, as it can handle both low light and minimal watering.

Wax Plant

Also known as the hoya, the wax plant is regularly touted as a great low-maintenance plant—it can go weeks without watering when you're on vacation (or just forget!). The thick, waxy leaves can hold on to water for drier times.

Watermelon Peperomia

This pretty little plant can grow just fine in low light (or even artificial light)—and stays petite if you're short on space, too.

Staghorn Fern

Staghorn ferns don't need a lot of light—or even soil—to thrive. You can mount it on a wall if you've run out of shelf space for all of your plants.

Ponytail Palm

A fun and funky addition to your plant collection, the ponytail palm is proof that even palm trees can thrive in low-light conditions.

Money Tree

The money tree is thought to bring good luck and prosperity where you place it. As a tropical plant, it needs to be kept moist (though don't let it sit in too much water). It can grow up to eight feet tall.

Heartleaf Philodendron

Philodendrons have become incredibly popular, and you don't have to miss out on the trend if you're dealing with low light. The heartleaf philodendron is one of the varieties that can thrive in low light conditions.