Houseplants: How Limited Light Can Still Delight

By George Graine, Fairfax Master Gardener
“Houseplants are the perfect sequel to summer.”
—Khang Kijarro Nguyen
‘Tis the season for houseplants. No, this is not another article about poinsettia or amaryllis. You should be able to find plant care for these merry-happy plants available on the internet. Instead, let’s concentrate on houseplants that should be safely indoors after they may have summered outside. All of these plants will probably need to make several adjustments due to lower humidity and in many instances a lower light condition. Not to fret because houseplant guru Lisa Eldred Steinkopf has written a quintessential houseplant book called “Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low-Light Houseplants” (Cool Springs Press, 2019). Included are profiles on 52 houseplants that should grow and thrive even in dimly lit parts of your home.

Before the generous section on plant profiles, there are several introductory chapters. These are must reads so that you will be able to take full advantage of the “ideal” plant that will fit into the “perfect” space you allocate. Perhaps in your home you want a plant that makes a statement or adds to a collection of houseplants or anything in between. Reading the first 30 pages of the book will prepare you for what is to come — the plants. Your plants will thank you for taking time to read about illumination (sun and electricity), hydration (watering), vitamins (fertilizing) and maintenance (including how to buy a houseplant). To be sure, these essential pages go beyond anything you may have read on a plant tag that was attached to the plant when you purchased it.

In these chapters, the author sums up how easy it is to care for and maintain houseplants. She says you need to learn “… to pay attention to the needs of your plants and meeting those needs in a timely manner.” Furthermore, “The primary factor to consider when choosing a plant is light. It will determine whether your plant will barely survive or thrive.” All of the plants included in the book were selected because they can live in a low to medium light environment. An insightful thought by the author is “If you have enough light to read a book, there is a plant that will live in your home.” You should do some research before shopping for plants as well as consider those already in your home. If you decide to skip the introductory chapters, you will do so at your own peril, i.e., the plant peril. Indeed, this is a bit harsh, but you need to recognize that these early pages, with text and examples, should prove to be the key to success with growing houseplants.

When considering Illumination, you need to account for the direction of the sun coming through the windows. Those houses fitted with a skylight have a “fifth” exposure. In all cases, phototropism will take place. That means plants tend to lean towards the sun. This problem is easily fixed by simply turning your plant a quarter turn each time you provide water. In this section you will also read about too much or too little light as well as how to use supplemental electric lights if your situation warrants additional light. As a further aid, the author provides 15 ways to enhance your sunlight.

The next chapter is concerned with hydration and vitamins (fertilizing your plant). Here you will read how water is the number one killer of plants either through overwatering or underwatering. In regard to fertilizing, this too has led to a variety of misconceptions. Fortunately, the author “un-complicates” these important conditions. Included is a short section on climate and atmosphere. You need to recognize that plants removed from outdoors are now located in an entirely new growing location, that is, your home.

Now let’s consider plant maintenance. The very first thing you need to think about is how to buy a houseplant. Although this may seem to be a mundane matter, the fact remains that you also need to have a keen eye before you succumb to the pick-me-up-and-buy-me stage. There is a lot to consider. For example, maybe you would like to discard the original plastic nursery pot and replace/repot the plant into your favorite Aunt Maude’s planter. Just make sure it has a drainage hole and the size is not more than 2 to 3 inches larger than the nursery pot. Be careful about the potting medium because plants perform best when situated with the ideal product. For example, you do not want a product that is so dense that plant roots are unable to get enough oxygen. Maintenance also includes grooming your plants even though this should not be a problem or take a lot of time. Some problem situations may appear when you least expect them. Be on the lookout for insect pests and diseases (described in the book). Sometimes a problem associated with the environment may happen. These are also noted; however, they are not caused by insects or disease. For example, this could be normal leaf drop or wilting as a result of insufficient or too much water.

Assuming you read the introductory chapters, the remainder of the book discusses each plant in a strict editorial format. It is reasonable to assume that many of these plants are often available at garden centers that have a separate houseplant section and in a much more limited way, at the box stores. The plant section of the book is arranged alphabetically. Additionally, an index is helpful for a quick look-up that pinpoints various pages in the book and of course the page for a specific plant. For example, chosen at random are bottom watering, environmental problems, pests and re-potting. Each plant profile includes a single page of critical information plus a beautiful full-page color photo of the plant in a pot. Furthermore, each plant profile will inform you as to what plant can be ideal for your situation. Of course, you might like plant X or Y or Z; however, it might not work for you. In other words, it is imperative that you pay close attention to the guidelines for each plant. You can be adventurous if you dare to defy the “rules.” This is akin to planting something in your outdoor garden knowing that it is not appropriate for your plant hardiness zone. All of the plants in this book should be carefully considered before you spend a dime.

Included in the description of each plant you will find the common name(s) and a botanical Latin name as well as these headings: Light, Size, Water, Propagation, Flowers, Cultivars and Pet Safety. Some plants in the book may be familiar to you such as snake plant, corn plant, spider plant and wandering Jew. If you are pleased with these plants, then you might consider branching out to other plants that are not necessarily rare or would cost a king’s ransom. For example, the now popular ZZ plant, botanically known as Zamioculeas zamiifolia, or perhaps the Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) would suit your indoor situation. This plant has several cultivars all with interesting color variations. There are so many houseplants to select from this book that it may become confusing. If that happens, take a trip to a garden center and look over the houseplants being offered for sale. Ask questions before making a decision. This will help you sort things out in your mind and at the same time allow you to visualize where the plant will be located once you get home. This can be a fun way to spend a part of your day at any time of the year. Happy houseplant hunting!