Tired of taking houseplants that require bright light to your dimly lit home and watching them eventually wither away? If so, it’s time to get real and introduce some low light plants to your indoor garden.

Most likely Murphy’s Law is at play here. It seems that indoor gardeners who long to fill their homes with houseplants somehow end up with less than ideal lighting conditions.

You can brighten up your indoor garden with artificial lighting, but an even easier route is to choose plants that like things on the dim side. Fortunately, there are several indoor plants that do well when lighting conditions are less than ideal. Many of these houseplants originated on the shaded floors of the jungle, so they thrive in such conditions.

Low Light Really a Problem?

If you bring plants that require bright light into a dimly lit home and have luck with them for a time, you might think that improper lighting conditions aren’t your problem. The truth is they are. Houseplants will seem to do well in dimly lit conditions for a while, because when they receive sufficient light, they build light stores. Once placed in poor lighting conditions, though, these plants begin to pull from their light stores to survive. Eventually light stores are depleted, and it’s then that houseplants begin to drop leaves and look sickly.

Unsure if you have dimly lit conditions for houseplants? Besides watching plants eventually lose leaves and fail to flower, you can also determine low light by the orientation of your home. If your house has more north-facing windows and/or those windows facing south, east and west are obstructed outside by plants and structures, then you most likely have low light in your home. If you want to get an accurate idea of the light levels in your house, measure the availability of light with a light meter.

The following nine houseplants for low light are sure to brighten up your indoor garden. When fertilizing, use a well-balanced, organic fertilizer.

Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium podophyllum)

This tropical plant tends to trail or can be trained to climb. Bright light will burn the leaves and make them yellow, so it thrives in low light. Provide rich, well-draining soil and water when the top inch of soil has dried out. Fertilize every three months.

Cast-Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

As its name suggests, this plant can take quite a bit of abuse—including low light conditions. Featuring leathery, pointed leaves, cast-iron plant will eventually reach 2 to 3 feet high. It requires well-draining soil. Water when the top 2 inches of soil has dried out. Fertilize every four months.

Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)

This easy plant features showy, variegated leaves that light up the indoor garden. The plant is tolerant of low to high lighting conditions. Provide with well-draining soil and water when the top 2 inches of soil has dried out. Fertilize every other month.

Dracaenas

This group includes a wide variety of striking houseplants that eventually grow into tall indoor trees. Cultivars include ‘Janet Craig,’ corn plant and Marginata `Tricolor.’ Dracaenas do best in low to medium light. They require well-draining soil and need watering when the top 2 inches of soil has dried out. Fertilize very four to six months.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

If you like flowers, then the peace lily is the perfect addition to your low-light indoor garden. This beauty features lovely white flowers and dark-green, glossy leaves. Grow in low to medium light and keep away from bright light, as the leaves will burn and the plant won’t flower. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy. If you forget to water and the plant droops, water well and it will spring back. Feed every other month.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

This fast-growing vine can be grown in a hanging basket, or you can train it to climb up a trellis or even across a wall. The plant features heart-shaped leaves that may be variegated with yellow or white marbling. Pothos grows in low to bright light. Provide rich, well-draining soil. Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil has dried out. Fertilize every three months.

Philodendron (P. Scandens)

Featuring eye-catching, heart-shaped, glossy green leaves, this plant will vine, or it can be trained to climb with support. Provide low to medium light and a well-drained soil. Water when the top inch of soil has dried out, and fertilize every three months.

Radiator plant

This plant includes a variety of cultivars featuring various leaf patterns and textures—from fleshy and heart-shaped, to smooth and even fuzzy. The plant requires low to medium light and rich, well-draining soil. Water when the top inch of soil has dried out, and fertilize every two months.

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

This plant’s common name comes from the fact that the sword-like leaves often have markings that resemble snake skin. Snake plant is an easy-to-grow succulent that adds architectural interest to your indoor garden. The plant thrives in any indoor lighting conditions, including low light. Grow in well-draining soil and water when the top 3 inches of soil has dried out. Fertilize every three months.

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.