Home decor,  home office

Low-light plants for office desk

Last Updated on 19/01/2024


Discover ten low-maintenance and low-light plants for your office desk that can grow happily in a place that lacks light generally or some hours of the day. I have this issue on my home desk and I haven’t found a solution yet. In my unsuccessful list of office desk plants, there was one little dracaena marginal, a Crassula ovate, a bonsai ficus ginseng, and my last attempt, a small tree with pink flowers that I can’t remember its name. Most of these plants, when they started “feeling” uncomfortable on my desk, were moved out to our balcony, and there they “lived happily ever after”! I think that my next attempt would be a spider plant.

photo by Sarah Dorweiler via unsplash.com
photo by Sarah Dorweiler via unsplash.com

10 Low light plants for office desk
home layout by Joanna_ARTbyJWP via polyvore.com

10 Low light plants for the office desk

The charm and vibration of natural plants are surely superb. And, if your desk is in your bedroom, many plants are ideal for the bedroom, too. Moreover, there is always the solution to buy a nearly natural plant with a real feel if you don’t want plants inside your home, anyway. 


 1. Spider plant


This beautiful indoor plant, which originated in South Africa, has oblong bicolor leaves, green and beige, and very small flowers that are quite difficult to notice. It grows fast and its leaves are 20-40 long. That’s why it is ideal for hanging pots and baskets. Also, it is known for its ability to “filter” the air in the room. According to NASA tests are a champion cleanser of air because remove around 90% of the potentially cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde.

Plant on a shelf by  Lucian Alexe via unsplash.com - Low light plants for office desk
photo by Lucian Alexe via unsplash.com

As for its care, it loves indoor bright places. But, you should avoid places near fireplaces, air-conditioners, etc. It needs moderate watering once a week or more often during summer. You should keep its soil moist. And, fertilize it with liquid fertilizer for leafy greens twice a month during spring and autumn.


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2. Striped dracaena


Dracaena species are beautiful indoor plants that stand out for their characteristic trunk and sharp lanceolate leaves. They are also considered air cleaners from toxic elements. Moreover, they grow ideally in indirect sunlight but their adaptability helps them survive even in places with low light.

photo by Severin Candrian via unsplash.com - Low-light plants for office desk
photo by Severin Candrian via unsplash.com

These beautiful plants prefer temperatures between 16-25°C. So, we should keep them far from heat sources, such as fireplaces, radiators, etc. as well as from air conditioners. They need watering moderately, approximately every 10 days. During summer we must water more frequently, maybe every 5 days. Don’t fertilize it in fall and winter.


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3. Tillandsia plant – low-light plants for office desk

Tillandsia plants are also called air plants because they take nutrients from the air and they don’t need soil to grow. Also, they need little care. Use a soaking mist once a month, or once a week during summer. They prefer indirect light. But, they are very adaptive and they can live with artificial light.

tiny tillandsia plant in ornamental head shaped plant pot
Photo by Alena Darmel on Pexels.com

4. Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)


Chinese Evergreen or Aglaonema plant originates from Southeast Asia and it has beautiful glossy round leaves in various shades and gradations from green to silver. It grows easily indoors in warm places with indirect to low light and it needs minimum care. That’s why it’s ideal for people with no experience or time for plants.

photo by Severin Candrian via unsplash.com - Low-light plants for office desk
photo by Severin Candrian via unsplash.com

They need watering regularly, once a week from spring to autumn. But, it’s better to leave the soil almost dry without water. Misting is essential for healthier growth during summer. Furthermore, we can add liquid fertilizer for indoor plants three times a year, ideally at the beginning of spring, summer, and autumn.


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5. Golden pothos

The Pothos plant also originates from Southeast Asia and grows easily everywhere due to its durability and adaptivity. That’s why it’s called Devil’s Ivy. It prefers indirect light but it can grow even in low-light areas.

photo by Severin Candrian via unsplash.com - Low-light plants for office desk
photo by Severin Candrian via unsplash.com

Direct sunlight may burn each foliage and may create brown spots on its leaves. It needs water regularly. We should check the soil and water when it’s dry. Also, we can use liquid fertilizer for leafy greens once a month in spring and at the beginning of autumn. Frequent misting, especially during summer, and cleaning dust from the leaves help its growth and healthy appearance.

photo by Kelly Brito via unsplash.com
photo by Kelly Brito via unsplash.com

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More low-light plants for the office desk

6. Succulent plant


Succulent plants have parts that are thicker and more fleshy than usual to store water in dry climatic or soil conditions. Thus, they are durable, adaptable, and need minimal care. All succulent species don’t have the same needs for light.

green succulent plant on brown clay pot
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com


For example, Aloe Vera needs plenty of light but Haworthia succulents, Gasteria succulents, and some Crassulas want relatively shady spots. Moreover, they don’t need much water. We should let the soil dry thoroughly between waterings. And, ideally, we should put them near the window for some hours to get extra light.

photo by Kari Shea via unsplash.com
photo by Kari Shea via unsplash.com

7. Peace Lily

Peace lily originates from the tropical rainforests in Central and Southeast America. It’s called officially Spathiphyllum because its leaves look like a sword. And, peace lily because the white leaf around its flower symbolizes the white flag.

photo by Bellava G via unsplash.com
photo by Bellava G via unsplash.com

This tropical plant prefers indirect light but it can grow even in low-light areas. Low light conditions may delay its blooming. It needs water moderately once a week when the soil is dry. Don’t let it dampen. Moreover, we can use blooming liquid fertilizer once a month from spring till autumn.


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8. Bromeliads – low-light plants for office desk

This beautiful plant originates from tropical jungles and has only one impressive long narrow flower that lasts from 3 to six months. After this unique bloom, it may grow small flowers next to its roots. Moreover, the bromeliad is a durable, adaptive indoor plant that doesn’t need much care. It prefers indirect light and temperatures between 17-25°C. Water once a week when the top two inches of the soil is tough and dry, not often. Fertilize rarely or every two months if its growth is slow.

person holding red flower
Photo by Sasha Kim on Pexels.com

9. Snake plant (Sansevieria)


Snake plants are resilient and very popular for home and office decor. It has characteristic oblong pointed leaves that grow upwards that remain green all year. It is very adaptable and has minimal care requirements. Snake plant grows indoors without much light but it is well and outdoors, in the yard and on the balcony. Moreover, it cleans the air and it is ideal for the bedroom because it offers us a better quality of sleep. So, if you have your desk in your bedroom, double-check!

cabinet with framed picture and plants
Photo by Samson Katt on Pexels.com

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We don’t have to worry about watering as it has minimal needs. Once a month is usually enough. You can check the pot’s surface and water it when it is tough and dry. Water very little in the winter and every two weeks during summer. Although it has little fertilization needs, you can add liquid fertilizer at the beginning of spring and autumn.

photo by Minh Pham via unsplash.com
photo by Minh Pham via unsplash.com

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10. Philodendron

Philodendrons are easy-to-care plants for low maintenance, especially heartleaf philodendrons. It needs medium indirect light but it can grow in low light conditions. Water when the top of the soil is tough and dry, not often. Fertilize twice a year, in spring and autumn.

photo by Jeanyn Santiano via unsplash.com
photo by Jeanyn Santiano via unsplash.com

blog signature xo-xo Joanna


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