Houseplants for Low Light

Design and InstallationGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health CareUncategorized
Written By Peter Morris

Houseplants for Low Light !!!

Overview

 Listed below you will find the “easiest to care for” group of houseplants that tolerate low light conditions. They do pretty good with minimal care, and as long as you are careful about watering them when – you should be fine.Remember – “overwatering” is NOT caused by you using TOO MUCH WATER. Instead it is from you watering the plant TOO OFTEN ! Check out my previous blog on roots needing oxygen and the importance of not watering too frequently.Many have few to no insect or disease issues – but a few are indeed susceptible to some specific ones. Plant novices should stay away from those ! 

Plants

Asplenium (Birds nest fern)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year.Pests: Rarely gets any insects or diseases. Do not let it dry out completely. Aglaonema (Chinese evergreen)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year. Cut back if it gets leggy. MANY varieties available.Pests: Mildly susceptible to mealy bugs. Aspidistra elatior (Cast iron plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed very infrequently - 1x year.Pests: Mildly susceptible to spider mites. Calathea (Prayer plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year. MANY varieties available.Pests: Somewhat susceptible to spider mites. Does not like to dry out. Chlorophytum (Spider plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 3x a year. A few varieties available.Pests: Rarely gets any insects or diseases. Dieffenbachia (Dumbcane)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year. A few varieties available. Toxic sap !Pests: HIGHLY susceptible to spider mites. Dracaena  compacta (Corn plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year.Pests: Susceptible to root rot if watered too frequently. Allow to dry out before watering. Dracaena marginata (Dragon plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year.Pests: Somewhat susceptible to spider mites. Allow to dry out before watering. Dracaena massangeana (Corn plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year.Pests: Somewhat susceptible to mealy bugs. Allow to dry out before watering. Hedera helix (Ivy)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 3x a year. MANY varieties available.Pests: HIGHLY susceptible to spider mites. Howea forsteriana (Kentia palm)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 1x year. Needs a lot of room.Pests: Rarely gets any insects or diseases. Does not like to dry out. Maranta (Prayer plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 3x year. MANY varieties available. Needs room to spread.Pests: HIGHLY susceptible to spider mites. Does not like to dry out. Pachira aquatica (Money tree)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year.Pests: Somewhat susceptible to spider mites. Does not like to dry out. Philodendron adansonii (Swiss cheese plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 3x year. Needs a lot of room.Pests: Rarely gets any insects or diseases. Philodendron cordatum (Heart leaf plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year. Very compact.Pests: Rarely gets any insects or diseases. Philodendron monstera (Split leaf plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 3x year. Needs a lot of room.Pests: Rarely gets any insects or diseases. Rhapis excelsa (Lady finger palm)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year. Needs a lot of room.Pests: Rarely gets any insects or diseases. Sanseveria (Mother in laws tongue)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 1x year. MANY varieties available.Pests: Susceptible to root rot if watered too frequently. Allow to dry out before watering. Scindapsus aureus (Pothos)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year. Long and trailing.Pests: Susceptible to mealy bugs. Allow to dry out before watering. Spathiphyllum (Peace lily)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 2x year. A few varieties available.Pests: Susceptible to root rot if watered too frequently. Zamioculcas (ZZ plant)Notes: Easy to care for. Feed 1x year.Pests: Susceptible to root rot if watered too frequently. Has a water holding tuber so let it dry out between watering.     

Our Indoor Team can get you the right houseplant for you !

Call us - let's talk choices !

PLANT SPECIALISTSGREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

   Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBAAll photographs used with permission @SHUTTERSTOCK

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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