Keeping your home cheery during the winter is no easy feat. With shorter daylight hours, dropping temperatures and little natural light, it’s hard to stay positive about the upcoming months. Even so, this is the perfect time of year to get creative with indoor plants that thrive in low-light conditions. Luckily, there are plenty of tropical plants that won’t be phased by lower levels of sunlight. Read on for our list of 7 indoor tropical plants perfect for keeping your home feeling sunny all winter long!
Fiddle-leaf fig
Fiddle-leaf fig trees are a tropical staple and one of the most popular houseplants. This tree is native to Western Africa and thrives in humid environments. Fiddle-leaf fig trees are well known for their large, tropical leaves (which resemble a violin’s scroll). They don’t require large amounts of water. If the plant doesn’t get enough water, the leaves will lose their bright green color. Too much water will show when the plant drops its leaves.. Fiddle-leaf figs can grow large, so be sure to give them plenty of space. They are great for high-light areas, but can be kept in lower light areas if given supplemental light.
Spider plant
Spider plants are another popular houseplant. Native to Brazil, they’re extremely versatile and easy to care for. Spider plants are a great option if you have an extremely low-light environment. Spider plants are extremely easy to propagate and make for excellent housewarming gifts. You can simply break off a stem and replant it! They are happiest in soil that’s kept on the drier side. But, if left too dry, the leaves will shrivel and fall off. So, aim to keep soil slightly moist but never soggy wet. Spider plants make excellent hanging houseplants. They’re also available in a smaller, trailing variety.
Dragon tree
Dragon trees are a tropical favorite. They’re native to the Arabian Peninsula and thrive in warm, humid environments. Dragon trees are well known for their lush, silver-green leaves and towering height. These trees tend to grow very tall (ideally reaching 5-6 feet indoors). So, be sure to give dragon trees enough room to grow! Dragon trees are one of the more finicky houseplants. They require warm, humid conditions and a constant source of water. But, they don’t do well in overly-wet soil. So, keep the soil on the dry side and mist occasionally. If you keep dragon trees in a warm room, you may want to mist them more often. Dragon trees are best suited to high-light areas. However, they can grow in lower light rooms with the assistance of fluorescent lights.
Wandering jew
Wandering jew (Euphorbia) is another great plant for low-light environments. Native to the Mediterranean, this plant thrives in low humidity and dry soil. Wandering jews are available in a number of colorful varieties. Some varieties are variegated and others are solid-colored. Wandering jews make excellent potted plants as well as hanging plants. This plant looks great as a trailing houseplant and is ideal for hanging baskets.
Hoya
Hoya plants are a unique houseplant that’s very different from typical tropical plants. Hoya plants are native to Southeast Asia and are sometimes referred to as “wax plants” or “wax flowers”. These plants look strikingly similar to wax flowers. The flowers are small and bell-shaped, often growing in clusters. Hoya plants are available in a variety of colors and sizes. They thrive in bright rooms with indirect sunlight. They enjoy average room temperatures but do best in warm, dry environments. Hoya plants do not require a lot of water or fertilizer. Let the top soil dry between watering. Simply misting a few times a week is adequate for most species.
Neanthe bella palm
Neanthe bella palms are a tropical plant that comes in a variety of attractive colors. These plants are native to Southeast Asia and thrive in warm, humid environments.They produce clusters of small, pink flowers in the summer. Neanthe bella palms are an excellent choice for low-light environments. These plants enjoy warm, dry conditions and don’t need much light to thrive. Neanthe bella palms produce tall, spiky leaves. These leaves can be beautiful. But, they can also be dangerous! Be sure to keep the plant far away from children and pets.
Rubber plant
Rubber plants, also known as Ficus elastica, are another tropical plant that thrives in indirect light conditions. This plant is native to Southeast Asia and produces long, thick leaves that are often compared to the texture of rubber. Rubber plants prefer warm, humid environments. They don’t require a ton of water or light. So, they make an excellent plant for indoor areas with lower levels of sunlight. Rubber plants are easy to propagate by dividing their roots. Simply place the roots in water and they’ll grow new plants!
Find your tropicals for a cheerful winter
The winter months can be a bit dreary. But, there are plenty of tropical plants that thrive in low-light conditions. These plants will keep your home feeling cheerful and cheery all winter long! What’s your favorite indoor tropical plant? We’re happy to help you find your favorite tropicals at LittleTree Garden Market!
