Even if you have no sunlight at all coming through your windows, there's a great variety of shade-loving house plants for these low-light areas. I'm sharing my favorite house plants for windows with indirect sunlight!
These are the best hanging plants for those low light shady areas. Gratefully, there are so many gorgeous plants that actually thrive out of direct sunlight! I'm also including lovely hanging basket flowers for lower light shade areas.
These are the best indoor hanging plants that don't need sunlight directly.
All of these houseplants CAN benefit from a bit if direct sun, but they grow perfectly with no direct sun at all inside too.
Begonias (Begonia x semperflorens-cultorum)
Who doesn't love begonias? Begonia flowers are so lovely anywhere but especially in a hanging basket, And they do not like direct sunlight at all,... In fact, too much direct sun will damage their tender leaves and burn up their beautiful blooms ;( Begonias have the most beautiful flowers that are edible too so learn where to put them to keep on enjoying them...
Begonias grow well in any type of soil that drains well. Begonia plants grow or hang from 3 inches to 3 feet or more! If soil does not drain well it will start to rot and die. Place these gorgeous flowering plants in the best spot with a little sun in the morning, and shade in the afternoon!
Water begonias every 2-4 days, if you over water the leaves will turn yellow and drop. Remove dead flowers to help prevent disease. Potted begonias will last up to 3 years when well cared for!
Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra spectabilis)
Wouldn't bleeding hearts look gorgeous in a hanging planter in the living room? These beauties thrive in pots where the soil drains well, and where they get light to moderate shade.
In very northern areas pink bleeding hearts can tolerate full sun in consistently moist, but not too wet, humus-rich soil... But in most areas bleeding hearts grow the best in the shade and out of direct sunlight.
Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)
Impatiens grow the best in moist, well-drained soil and in areas with partial shade. Pick an area that only gets 2 to 4 hours of filtered sunlight during the day.
They like morning sun and afternoon shade, ideally. Impatiens can also grow well in areas with heavy shade. But remember that Impatiens grow best and will be taller and bloom less in areas with more shade.
Indoors Impatiens need about 4 hours of indirect sun light per day. Water once a week. If leaves turn yellow and drop they are getting too much water.
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
Creeping Jenny is a beautiful and impressive hanging plant indoors & outdoors in areas with partial shade. Lysimachia nummularia (Creeping Jenny) is a flowering plant in the primrose family. It's other names include moneywort, herb two pence, and two penny grass.
Creeping Jenny is a pretty perennial with small but bright, yellow flowers. The blooms do not last very long, but they are very pretty.
Creeping Jenny is considered an invasive plant in areas of North America.
It's also sometimes called “creeping Charlie,” but Creeping Charlie is usually used for Glechoma hederacea, an ornamental plant in the mint family.
Ferns (Pteridophyta)
Ferns are iconic Hanging Plants That Don't Need Sunlight!
Bird's Nest Fern
These tropical plants grow well in filtered sunlight and moderate shade. Don't expose birds nest ferns to direct sunlight (except for the early morning sun.) Direct sunlight can burn their delicate leaves! Inside, east- or north-facing windows are the best spots to hang a Birds Nest Fern!
- Give them plenty of humidity by misting your fern with a water bottle.
- Add a layer of mulch on top of the soil to help keep it moist.
- During the growing season, fertilize your fern every 2 weeks with water-soluble fertilizer.
- And re-pot your Birds Nest ern every couple of years in a bigger pot with fresh new soil.
BOSTON FERN
Usually, people hang their Boston ferns outside on the porch during the summer and bring them indoors over the winter. they are beautiful indoors and outside. Hang ferns in bright INDIRECT light and low light areas.
Water 1ce a week allowing the top 2 inches of soil to dry out between watering. Ferns do best with a bit of humidity so spritz with water every few days. Hanging Ferns can live for decades this way! in fact a Virginia family claims to have kept the same Boston Fern plant for over 100 years! If leaves turn yellow or fall off they are getting too much water.
If the have the space, a Boston Fern is a wonderful plant for a sunless window. Make sure to keep the potting mix nice and moist and never let it dry out for best results, otherwise you’ll get brown, crispy fronds.
Some leaf drop is normal so don’t expect perfection!
MAIDENHAIR FERN
Many people are scared of Maidenhair Ferns, but there is nothing to be worried about if you can provide your plant with the moisture that it needs to be healthy.
Never, ever let its soil dry out. Water your fern as soon as the surface starts to start getting dry.
Staghorn Fern
Staghorn Ferns are different from other types of ferns... They have two kinds of leaves or fronds. Most visible are the long grayish-green fronds that are forked like a stags antlers.
These ferns leaves are covered with soft white hairs, like “staghorns.” Staghorn ferns do not have substantial root systems, so they collect moisture from the air with those little white hairs! Don't try to brush them off!
These fronds are productive leaves that also have spores to propagate future staghorn ferns.
Coral Bells (Huecheras spp.)
I love these beautiful plants! I grew them on my front (north facing) porch last year... But, Coral Bells can be grown inside as houseplants! this is a plant that will grow happily in any kind of sunlight, ranging from full sun all the way to full shade... As long as you keep watering it!
Heucheras, or coral bells, are herbaceous shade-loving perennials. They are native to America and known mostly for their gorgeous leaves.
They're a great low-maintenance option indoors and outside! They shoot up beautiful stems covered in coral-colored bell-shaped flowers!
Caladium (Caladium x hortulanum)
Caladiums are one of the most popular plants for shady areas and showy houseplants! Indoors they grow best in areas with lots of indirect bright light, heat, and humidity.
Caladiums are tropical perennial plants with gorgeous, colorful, heart-shaped leaves. They are native to the tropical forests (in South & Central America) that also have well-defined wet and dry climate seasons!
Their beautiful leaves are variegated with green and different patterns of pink and white! Keep the soil wet but never soaked!
String of Pearls!
This one is a perfect plant for indoors, and one of my favorites! I have one hanging on my fireplace mantle and LOVE it!
String of pearls is a delicate hanging succulent that grows very well in warm & dry climates. They're so easy to care for as inside houseplants but are wonderful succulents that thrive outdoors too, (especially in zones 9 and warmer.)
But in other cooler zones, (where temps can drop lower than 30 degrees F,) it's better to grow String of Pearls indoors or in a container that can be moved indoors for protection from the cold.
Grown outdoors, String of Pearls needs to be hung in a partial shade spot, where it can be protected from the hot afternoon sun light, but still, get the bright INDIRECT morning sunlight.
Pothos (Devils Ivy) - Hanging Plants That Don't Need Sunlight
Botanically known as Epipremnum Aureum. This includes golden pothos known for its heart shaped green and yellow leaves. These make the best hanging plants!
My mother grows these all over her house and it feels so fresh! A great way to bring life into the house during the winter in cold climates!
Really... Who doesn’t love pothos?
These popular plants are the most common indoor hanging house plants, and they're a good choice! Pothos are very versatile and grow in a wide range of sunlight light! In fact, they can grow in areas of full shade all the way to full sun!
They’re also one of the very few house plants that can grow (and actually thrive) in spots far away from windows, However, they definitely grow better in front of a window.
These viny plants can get quite long.., You'll want to trim and propagate your Pothos every so often, and they make great gifts to share with family and friends!
Keep Pothos away from children... The leaves contain tiny microscopic needle-like crystals. When chewed, those tiny crystals poke your tongue, mouth, and throat and cause irritation, and drooling, almost right away.
Silver Vine - (Scindapsus pictus)
Cats love silver vine like cat nip and it makes them quite happy when they eat it, it's not toxic to people or pets. Water in the morning every week or so as needed and re-pot once a season. If it gets too much water the leaves will turn yellow.
They also like humidity so spritz them with water every few days a week during the dry winter to keep them happy.
Silver vines are vigorous growers and can grow 12 feet in the first year! they like medium to bright indirect sunlight indoors.
This plant is used in alternative medicine for humans as a preventive suppliment in Asia, and like cat nip, cats love it too! In fact, people hang baskets of silver vine over their kitty condo just for their cats!
HEARTLEAF PHILODENDRON
Heartleaf s botanically known as Philodendron Hederaceum. It's just as easy to grow as Pothos, and they look very similar, except they have darker green leaves.
In moist soil and natural sunlight, heartleaf philodendron vines grow pretty long, making it a perfect choice for hanging in a low-sunlight window.
Of course, You can trim your heartleaf Philodendronas you like when it gets too long.
PHILODENDRON BRASIL
This is a variegated type of Heart Leaf Philodendron. If you love variegated foliage, this is a perfect hanging plant for your home!
The beautifully variegated, heart-shaped leaves of the Philodendron Brasil create an eye-catching show for any sunless window.
SILVER PHILODENDRON
Silver Philodendron (Scindapsus Pictus) belongs in the Scindapsus genus.
These are also super easy to care for and will grow long vines with pretty speckled foliage that makes them very pretty to look at. Another great choice for an indoor hanging plant that does not need direct sunlight.
MONSTERA ADANSONII (Swiss Cheese Plant)
Monstera Adansonii has beautiful heart-shaped leaves that develope holes in them as they grow large. These are a popular pick for a no-sun low light windows, and indoor hanging baskets.
Monstera is another fast growing plant. You can trim and propagate these frequently because they grow so fast!
In a hanging basket the leaves do not get very big, (It’s only when you give your plant a climbing support that it can attach onto that the leaves will get larger with more and more holes in the leaves.)
PRAYER PLANT
The prayer plant has stunning foliage that gently hangs from your hanging basket!
These awesome plants “pray” by folding their leaves (arms) up at night! Those leaves will then come back down when the sun comes out the next day!
Prayer Plants are sensitive to tap water, It's best to water with distilled water, RO water, or filtered water!
Spider Plant - Hanging Plants That Don't Need Sunlight
Spider Plants are botanically known as Chlorophytum comosum, and they're some of the easiest houseplants you will ever grow!
Spider plants are so fun to grow and propagate! They have numerous "babies" produced on their long stolons.... You only need one plant and you will have an endless supply to share with friends and family!
Spider plants also grow small, dainty flowers great to add some visual interest to your hanging baskets!
SNAKE Plant
Snake plants are tough plants that thrive in a wide range of indoor sunlight, from low to high! They usually grow quicker in bright light, However, hot direct sunlight will burn their leaves!
These arent usually hanging plants, but they can be! Just hang lowers because they will stand up tall. An ideal place for snake plants indoors is about 10 feet from any west or south facing window!
ZZ Plant
ZZ plant is short for Zanzibar Gem! These cool perennial plants like well draining soil in partial shade and do well in bright light indoors about 5-10 feet away from windows. Let the soil dry out between watering.
If your ZZ plant stems or leaves turn yellow or droop it's getting too much water. They are slow-growing plants that only grow a couple of inches a year... Repot every spring in a pot with holes for drainage.
ZZ Plants grow slowly to an average of 3-4 feet tall and 3 feet wide indoors. They are also heirloom plants that live for very long periods of time and can be passed down for generations!
But be careful with ZZ plants! They are poisonous. All parts of this enchanting house plant are poisonous so keep them out of reach of children, and be sure to wash your hands after handling it.
English Ivy! Hanging Plants That Don't Need Sunlight
English Ivy is another great choice for any indoor sunless window. English Ivy gets big with cascading green foliage. It has trailing stems that make for easily propagated cuttings! Another great gift for family and friends.
English Ivy will also grow well in cooler, sunless rooms. For the best growth, position your Ivy plants in front of any window. Also Common Ivy or Hedera Helix.
Christmas Cactus & Thanksgiving Cactus
The best place to hang a Christmas or Thanksgiving cactus is in an East facing window. Water every 2 to 3 weeks when the top of the soil is dry.
6 to 8 weeks before you want your cactus to bloom, start placing it in a dark closet for 14 hours each night. Then bring it back out into a bright location during daylight. Once its flower buds start to grow, you can stop the closet treatments, and it will bloom for the holidays!
Air Plants! (Tillandisa) - Hanging Plants That Don't Need Sunlight
I LOVE my air plant! these plants are a bit magical... These are great gifts because everyone loves them and they're so easy! They don't need any soil and require almost ZERO maintenance!! It's a bit viney and cactusy... Ya, I made up those words:)
A gorgeous color of light green stems grow with barely any care at all! I just spritz my air plant every few days and it thrives! These will grow and hang down as they get bigger. A beautiful and magical marvel!
Air plants do best in a spot 1-3 feet away from an East or West facing window. (I keep mine on the kitchen counter.) You can water them with a spritz bottle like I do, or dunk them in water every couple of weeks and let it dry upside down so water does not get trapped inside the crown.
Healthy air plants have wide-open leaves or stems. If it's dehydrated the leaves will curl up. You can feed air plants with a water-soluble fertilizer that you use to spritz or dunk them in.
I hope you enjoyed Hanging Plants That Don't Need Sunlight
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If you use this info to grow plants inside and love it, Tag me on Instagram @farmhouse_harvest with your plants!
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