Help indoor plants light up your life

Written by

Amy Earley

July

2023

One of the main things to consider when buying an indoor plant is the light it requires.

Many people buy a plant they like the look of then try to find a spot for it. But sometimes it makes more sense to consider where you want to put a plant, then find the right one to go there.

Light conditions change through the seasons, so a plant growing happily in a medium-light spot in summer may need to be moved if available light falls dramatically in the depths of winter.

Here’s a list of some indoor favourites and the best light conditions for them. Some plants are included in more than one category if they can cope with a variety of light levels.

Low light

Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), peace lily (Spathiphyllum clevelandii, wallisii etc), Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), Devil’s ivy/pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Dracaena deremensis ‘Janet Craig’.

Medium light

Devil’s ivy/pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Madagascar dragon tree (Dracaena marginata), dumb cane (Dieffenbachia), happy plant/corn plant (Dracaena massangeana), kentia palm (Howea forsteriana), Fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata), lady palm (Rhapis excelsa), swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa), parlour palm (Chamaedorea elegans), rubber plant (Ficus elastica), ribbon/spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla).