How Indoor Plants Grow Without Sunlight ?

In the first instance, People could never have imagined that plants can adapt to the human environment without forests, play a special role in physical and mental well-being and add a touch of nature to the home. Moreover, Many people think that if you want to add plants indoors, you must have enough sunlight, in which case if your apartment is too small and dark, then it may be impossible for plants to grow.

To be honest I was also very concerned about plant care at the beginning of my indoor plant journey and I thought it might be too difficult for me. But the good news is that there are plenty of plants that don’t need much sunlight to grow, meaning they can thrive in low light.

In this article I will share how plants grow without sunlight, how to care for them and some scientific explanations about low light plant growth.

Can Indoor Plants Grow Without Sunlight ?

First of all, No plant can survive for long without the presence of sunlight. Moreover, In the forests there are many small plants growing under the many large plants, many of which do not see the sun even once in their entire life but still sustain themselves. Surviving without sunlight, these plants have found their place in our interiors through various transformations. On the other hand, plants can survive without exposure to the sun for a long period of time at night, so many plants can survive without the presence of light for a period of time.

In this case, we must take care of some essential things in the selection of indoor plants, such as whether the place designated for the plant meets the sun at any time of the day, whether the surrounding air temperature fluctuates, and whether I have minimum skills in plant care. Otherwise the probability of failure increases.

The Photosynthesis Process of Low-Light Plants.

If you want to know about the photosynthesis process of low light plants, then you must understand the following points. Let’s discuss in detail below :

1. Describe of Photosynthesis .

Obviously, Photosynthesis is such a process that all plants on earth have to follow this process to survive. In this process, plants use oxygen, carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight to make food necessary for their survival. There are some plants that need more sunlight to complete this process while others can complete the process with less sunlight. But one thing must be remembered that the plant cannot survive for long in the absence of sunlight.

2. Adaptations for Low – Lighting .

The process of photosynthesis is of immense importance for the survival of plants and the role of chlorophyll in carrying out the process of photosynthesis is extensive. Since chlorophyll absorbs light energy to carry out photosynthesis, plants with high light need low concentration of chlorophyll and plants with low light need high concentration of chlorophyll. Some plants are able to survive in low light environments by adapting to varying chlorophyll concentrations.

3. Energy Reduction .

Inside the tropical rainforest are numerous plants that can survive without sunlight at all. Moreover, Studies have shown that low light plants tend to have less energy yield. Because low light plants have less energy and spend most of their energy surviving in low light, they are less able to grow as quickly as high light plants.

4. Natural vs. Artificial Light.

Interestingly, Today’s modern science follows natural light and discovers artificial light which completes the process of photosynthesis and plays the role of natural light. In the winter season, artificial light is of immense importance for minimum plant growth in sunless apartments and office rooms. Although artificial light cannot provide full spectrum light like sunlight, it helps plants to survive in a dark environment for a certain period of time.

Indoor Plants Which Survive without Sunlight.

Although the idea that all plants need sunlight to live healthily is completely wrong, there are some plants that can survive in artificial light environments. If we keep the plants that live in artificial light in any enclosed environment and provide artificial light, these plants play an unimaginable role in physical and mental development along with increasing the beauty of our indoor environment. Let’s discuss some low light plants below :

Pothos .

The plant with heart-shaped leaves in a spring pattern, placed anywhere in the house, will catch the eye of the members of the house or the guests from outside. Also, if you’re looking for a low-light and low-maintenance plant, you can add Pothos plants to your list of favorites. You can take care of these plants with artificial light arrangement if you want, but one thing to be aware of is that the brighter the light, the more they will grow.

Peace Lily.

Covered with long tailed leaves and the white colored flower that shines like a lamp between them, the whole plant presents a charming decoration to the viewer. They can adapt to low light places, but if there is enough light, white flowers can be seen. These plants absorb harmful toxins from the air making it suitable for human consumption which is very important for our healthy living.

Snake Plant .

Although these plants look like poisonous snakes, if they are placed anywhere in the house, they will win the hearts of family members or any new guest. If you are new to indoor plant care, this plant should be first on your plant selection list as it adapts well to low light or any harsh conditions.

Spider Plant.

Plants with very long tails, if set anywhere in the room where there is a table, they catch the attention of the interlocutors and make the conversation even longer. Green and white striped foliage plants add modern design to the room and can adapt to many low light environments. These plants do not require much maintenance, but regular watering makes them easier to grow.

ZZ Plant.

If you are very reluctant about plant care or your apartment does not get sunlight at all then you can add this plant to the house by artificial light arrangement. Plants with waxy glossy leaves enhance the beauty of the house when placed anywhere in the house and their vibrant appearance catches the eye of the viewer.

Understanding Indoor Light Level.

If your indoor space, like my apartment, has a very limited amount of sun peeking through the balcony early in the day, you definitely need to be aware of light before selecting plants. In this case, you need to select plants that can adapt to your home’s climate and survive for a long time. Let’s discuss how you measure the position of the light in your home.

1. Light Level Types.

If you want to categorize interior lighting, you only have to think about three types of lighting. Let’s discuss the types of lighting below :

Low Light Level : In our home, we mean low-light spaces that are located a little away from the window or balcony, the natural light source. We can take care of low light plants with artificial light if we want.

Medium Light Level : The rooms in our apartment which have north-east windows are exposed to indirect light. Although these spaces rely on indirect light, these spaces show much more brightly light.

Bright Light Level : Generally, rooms with south-west windows are exposed to the most direct light because the sun flows in this direction. These places receive sunlight most of the day so these places are best for sun loving plants.

2. Best Way to Access Your Light Level.

If you are new to light measurement like me then you must know about window or balcony shadow monitoring. In this case, if the shadow is very sharp and distinct in color then it is bright light, if the shadow is soft and faint then it is medium light and the shadow is faintly visible but non-existent then it is a low light space. Also, in the modern age, you can use light measuring meters or various smartphone apps that can determine the amount of light in your room in a short time.

3. Solve Light Issues with Artificial Sources.

If you’re a plant lover like me and don’t have enough light in every part of your house, you can take care of indoor plants with artificial light setup like LED lights. Modern LED lights can emit very bright colors of intense light that are almost as effective as natural sunlight for your plants. In this case, be sure to set the artificial lights at a certain distance from the plants depending on your plant’s ability to absorb light. But for normal plants, the distance between lights and plants is 12-24 inches.

Growing Tips Indoor Plants Sunlight-free.

I used to ask myself at the beginning of my indoor plants journey if plants can live indoors without the presence of sunlight. But after various online articles on this, talking to experts and information from some trusted YouTube channels, I found out that plant care is possible with some techniques other than sunlight :

Artificial Light use for Growing.

Artificial light is a boon for plant care in places with no natural light and ensures plant growth in such a way that it doesn’t look like the area is almost completely sunless. In this case, LED lights must be set at a distance of 12-24 inches from the plant and try to keep them switched on for 8-12 hours a day by following the solar cycle.

Watering as Needed.

Watering the roots of plants for plant life does not mean keeping the topsoil of the roots always wet with water. Water only when the soil on the top of the plant is drying out, otherwise the plant will die from tail rot due to overwatering. However, low light plants do not need as much water as high light plants because low light plants grow less than high light plants.

Rotate Plants Constantly.

Routinely rotate your houseplants toward the sun over time, and you can move low-light plants to high-light plants if you want, so they don’t suffer from nutrient deficiencies. If this method seems too boring for you, you can keep the plants fresh by arranging artificial light.

Briefly , Growing indoor plants without sunlight is not just a dream but you can revive a low light space with a burst of greenery if you want by applying some right techniques. Determining your home’s lighting levels, choosing the right plants, setting up adequate artificial lighting and routine maintenance can turn even a dreary space into a greenhouse.