Best Indoor Hanging Plants for Rooms With Low Light

Indoor Hanging Plants That Grow Well in Low-Light Spaces

Hanging plants bring greenery to shelves, corners, and other areas where floor space is limited. The options below suit rooms with low or indirect light, although low light does not mean complete darkness.

Quick Guide

Match the plant to the available light, the space beneath the planter, and the amount of care you can provide. Choose trailing plants for shelves and elevated planters, or more compact forms where long stems would get in the way. Check the soil before watering rather than following a rigid schedule, and move a plant closer to indirect light if its growth becomes sparse.

Best Low-Light Indoor Hanging Plants

Use this list to compare foliage shape, growth habit, and placement needs. Before choosing a plant, consider whether you want long trailing stems, upright leaves, colorful foliage, or a compact display.

Pothos

Pothos, also known as devil's ivy (Epipremnum aureum), is a popular trailing plant for rooms with limited indirect light. Its cultivars include Neon, Marble Queen, and Golden, offering different leaf colors and patterns.

Water when the top layer of soil is dry. Let the stems trail from a shelf or hanging planter, and trim them if they begin to crowd nearby furniture or walking areas. Variegated forms may show their patterns more clearly when placed closer to indirect light.

More information: How to Plant and Care for Pothos Plants

Chinese Evergreen

Chinese evergreens (Aglaonema species) come in a range of leaf patterns and colors, including white, pink, and green. They prefer medium to low indirect light and can tolerate lower-light conditions for short periods.

Water when the top layer of soil is dry. Their patterned foliage makes them useful in hallways, kitchens, and other places where flowers or highly variegated trailing plants may not be the best fit. Allow enough room around the planter for the leaves to remain visible rather than hiding it behind other decor.

Philodendron

Philodendrons (Philodendron species) are valued for heart-shaped leaves in green or variegated shades. Trailing forms work well in hanging planters and on high shelves with medium to low indirect light.

Water when the top layer of soil is dry. Heartleaf and Brasil philodendrons are options for rooms with limited natural light. Position the planter where the stems have space to hang without blocking doors, drawers, or frequently used surfaces.

More information: How to Plant and Care for Philodendron Plants

Spider Plants

Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) have an upright center and produce plantlets on long, arching stems. This shape suits hanging planters near windows that receive indirect rather than strong direct light.

Water when the top layer of soil is dry. Give the plantlets room to hang freely, and avoid placing the basket where their long stems will be repeatedly brushed or caught. The striped foliage can also provide contrast beside plants with solid green leaves.

More information: How to Plant and Care for Spider Plants

Ivy

Ivy (Hedera helix) can climb or trail, making it suitable for hanging baskets and elevated shelves. It grows in medium to low indirect light, and some varieties have variegated leaves.

Water when the top layer of soil is dry. Use its trailing habit to soften the edge of a bookshelf or fill vertical space in a corner. Keep the stems trimmed if the plant begins to spread across walls, furniture, or neighboring plants.

Peperomia

Peperomias are available in many leaf shapes and colors. Examples include Peperomia 'Rosso', with deep burgundy foliage, and Peperomia 'Watermelon', with patterned leaves. They prefer medium to low indirect light and can tolerate lower light for short periods.

Water when the top layer of soil is dry. Their varied foliage works well in a grouped display, especially when you want visual texture without relying on long trailing stems. Avoid crowding several pots so closely that individual leaf shapes disappear.

Purple Waffle Plant

Purple waffle plants (Hemigraphis alternata) have textured, heart-shaped leaves with a purple color. They suit medium to low indirect light and can tolerate lower light levels for short periods.

Water when the top layer of soil is dry. Place the plant where its distinctive foliage can be seen at eye level rather than high above the viewer. Pairing it with simpler green foliage helps prevent a small display from looking visually crowded.

Air Plants

Air plants such as Tillandsia do not grow in soil, so they can be displayed in hanging holders where a traditional pot would feel bulky. Their compact forms are useful above narrow surfaces or in small arrangements.

Choose a holder that does not hide the plant and place it where it receives available indirect or artificial light. Because care needs can vary, follow guidance for the specific Tillandsia rather than treating every air plant the same way.

How to Choose a Low-Light Hanging Plant

Start with the room's brightest available indirect light and observe how that light changes during the day. Then compare the plant's mature growth habit with the hanging location. Long vines suit open vertical spaces, while upright or compact foliage works better above desks, counters, and narrow walkways. Also consider how easily you can reach the planter to check the soil, water it, and remove damaged leaves.

Common Mistakes

Do not treat low light as no light. Avoid hanging a planter so high that routine care becomes difficult, and do not choose long trailing stems for a busy path where they will be disturbed. Another common mistake is watering on a fixed schedule without checking the soil first. Finally, leave enough space between grouped plants for each shape and foliage pattern to remain visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which low-light hanging plant is best for long trailing stems?

Pothos, trailing philodendrons, and ivy are suitable choices when you want stems to hang from a shelf or planter.

Can hanging plants grow in a room without windows?

Low-light plants still need a usable light source. If a room has no natural light, choose a location with consistent artificial light and watch the plant for signs that the placement is not working.

Which option works well in a small space?

Compact peperomias and air plants can fit smaller displays. A trailing plant can also save surface space when its stems have a clear vertical area in which to grow.

How often should low-light hanging plants be watered?

There is no single schedule for every plant or room. Check the soil where applicable and use the care needs of the specific plant rather than watering all hanging plants at the same time.

Where should an indoor hanging plant be placed?

Choose a reachable location with suitable indirect light and enough clearance for the plant's growth. Keep trailing stems away from doors, drawers, walkways, and frequently used work surfaces.

Related Articles

How to Plant and Care for the Purple Heart Plant

Plants That Thrive in the Bathroom Without Light

Bathroom Plants That Thrive in Humidity