For windowless rooms: 8 plants that need almost no light

Cultivating plants in windowless rooms – yes, it’s possible! Here you can find out which eight species thrive without much light and what you should consider when choosing their location. You do not have to be too considerate by choosing your location to do some sports betting.

Good to know: The ecological dilemma with houseplants in general is that closed rooms do 

In general, houseplants need daylight to grow – many of them would die in a windowless room. However, there are species that thrive without much light. In this article, we’ll introduce you to eight of them.

not offer ideal conditions for native plants – but they do for classic houseplants, as these originate from warmer climates. This means that most houseplants are brought to Germany via long and therefore CO₂-intensive transportation routes. In addition, indoor plants from conventional production are often heavily contaminated with synthetic chemical pesticides.

Plants for windowless rooms: how to make it more sustainable

Plants can also thrive in a windowless room. Cultivate your plants for windowless rooms from plant cuttings if possible – either from your own house plants or plants from family and friends. If you want to buy new houseplants, make sure they are certified organic and have been grown in a European country. Unfortunately, certified organic houseplants are still rare. You are most likely to find them in smaller flower stores that value ecological sustainability.

These eight plants can thrive in windowless rooms:

1. lucky feather

The lucky feather is a plant that is well suited to windowless rooms because it generally needs little light. The lucky feather (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) likes it dark and needs little water, but appreciates warmth and high humidity. Bathrooms without windows are therefore the ideal location for it. It grows up to one meter high.

2. cobbler palm

The cobbler’s palm is native to the shady forests of Chian and Japan. The cobbler palm (Aspidistra elatior) also feels most at home in dark, warm rooms with high humidity. It also only needs to be watered every two weeks.

3. basket maranthea

Calathea plants are usually well suited to windowless rooms. Basket marantas, also known as arrowroot or calathea, do not mind the dark. However, they also prefer high humidity. Their substrate should always be moist, which is why you need to water this plant regularly. 

4. single leaf

Spathiphyllum wallisii needs high humidity but not much light. Spathiphyllum wallisii needs high humidity and must also be watered regularly. It needs a room temperature of 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. Between March and August it forms a decorative white flower bulb. 

5. sword fern

The sword fern originates from the Asian tropics and can also survive in windowless rooms. The sword fern (Nephrolepis) can survive without much light, but needs all the more moisture. In addition to regular watering, you should spray it once a week with lukewarm water.

6. dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia are perennial, adaptable plants. They can also thrive in dark rooms. Dieffenbachia (Dieffenbachia seguine) also likes extra moisture. You should therefore not only water it regularly, but also spray it with lukewarm water. 

7. fleshy peperomia

The so-called baby rubber plant, or American rubber plant, is widespread in Central to South America. Nevertheless, it also survives in dark rooms. The fleshy peperomia (Peperomia obtusifolia) doesn’t mind the dark, but it also needs plenty of moisture. You should keep the substrate constantly moist, but avoid waterlogging. 

8. rod palm

The rod palm does not have high requirements, but can also grow very large.

The stick palm (Rhapis excelsa), also known as the rod palm, does not need a lot of light or moisture. It is sufficient to water it every two to three weeks. Despite its undemanding nature, it can grow up to two meters high.

Plants for windowless rooms: what you should look out for

With our tips, your plants will also thrive in a windowless room. 

Although the houseplants mentioned above can manage with very little daylight, they would not survive in the dark in the long term. Therefore, follow the tips below to provide them with a minimum of light:

• Place the plants as close to the room door as possible. 
• Leave the door of the windowless room open as often as possible. 
• Swap different plants with each other: For example, place plant A in a room with a window, while you place plant B in a windowless room. Alternate the location of the two plants on a weekly basis so that both plants get daylight for two weeks of each month. 
• Another way to provide plants in a windowless room with light is to install a plant lamp.