COLUMNIST: jordan TRAINER
Finding plants for a dark hallway can be a challenge. If there is no natural light coming through, it can prove pretty difficult to find greenery that will grow in this kind of space, but there are some exceptions that will flourish here and in dark rooms in general. These are my top five shade tolerant houseplants, along with tips on how to care for them.
Aspidistra elatior is commonly referred to as the cast iron plant. It gets its name as it is known to be one of the toughest and most resilient houseplants on the market. It has a long history and was popular during the Victorian era as it could withstand the high pollution and smoke from houses at that time.
To keep it healthy it is best to position it somewhere away from direct sun. A dark hallway or anywhere far back from a window is the best place for it to thrive. As it will not get as much light as other houseplants, you do not need to water it as frequently. Every 2-3 weeks should be sufficient and it is also a good idea to wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to keep it looking shiny and clean.
This plant thrives on being pot-bound, making it ideal if you have limited space and do not have time to re-pot very often which is another reason it makes an excellent plant, especially for beginners.
The Aglaonema ‘Maria’ is a great no fuss plant that thrives in shade where other plants struggle. It has a unique speckled leaf pattern that adds to its charm. It was a popular plant during the 1970s and 80s and has made a comeback in recent years due to its appearance and easy maintenance. It thrives in partial shade and does not need too much light to survive.
When it comes to watering it is best to wait until the leaves start to curl up or droop. This is a good indicator as to whether your Aglaonema needs watering or not. To keep this plant looking good it is best to clean the foliage with a damp cloth to remove dust. You can do this every month or so and this will help the leaves to absorb as much light as it can, even in a dark room or hallway.
All of these plants, including Aglaonema, are great for improving air quality by filtering toxins from the surrounding environment such as benzene and formaldehyde which can accumulate in rooms within the home.
Epipremnum is a large group of climbing plants originating from the tropical forests of China, the Himalayas, and southeast Asia. There are lots of different varieties to choose from and they come in all different colours and leaf patterns. The neon pothos is a bright lemon-green colour with cascading trailing stems. Its bold colour makes it an excellent choice for low-light areas and it will brighten up the darkest of rooms.
If you want this plant to grow fast it does prefer some natural light but this is not essential and it will happily tolerate partial shade. The neon pothos likes to slightly dry out in between waterings which is typically every 7-14 days. Over-watering can cause issues with root rot and browning leaves so try to avoid watering too frequently and make sure to drain away any excess water from the base of the pot. It is one of my favourite types of pothos and makes a great air-purifying houseplant.
The Sansevieria, or snake plant as it is more commonly known, although it is also know as mother in law’s tongue, is a rough and tough houseplant that thrives on neglect! Sansevieria cylindrica has tall, narrow pointed stems and dark green colouration. It is a bold architectural plant that will look great on a shelf or side table in any dark hallway or room. Being a desert plant, it does prefer sunlight but can happily tolerate a dark area with no issues. It is best to allow the soil to completely dry out in between waterings. This will prevent the risk of over-watering that can cause the stems to become weak and fall off.
Sansevieria is a slow growing plant in general and will not need to be pruned or re-potted for several years. This is a great choice for those who have a busy lifestyle but still want greenery in their home or office. It is a great air-purifying plant and its only drawback is that it is not pet-safe. Other than that, I would highly recommend this plant.
If you’re not a fan of Sansevieria cylindrica, there are plenty more to choose from including ‘Black Coral’ with dark green, gothic looking leaves. Sansevieria laurentii has bright yellow and green striped leaves and Sansevieria ‘Moonshine’ is eye-catching with its striking silvery-grey foliage.
Known also as the Philodendron scandens, this vining plant thrives in a wide range of growing conditions and makes an excellent houseplant to keep in shade. It is fast-growing and looks great on a shelf where it can trail down. Alternatively, grow it up a trellis or moss pole and turn your dark halls into a vibrant area of greenery.
For best results, grow Philodendron scandens in bright, indirect light or partial shade, a few metres back from a window is the best position. Avoid direct sun which can burn the leaves and cause them to turn brown. These plants do like higher humidity but it is not necessary to keep it healthy. I have grown this plant for many years and have always found it easy to maintain.
When it comes to watering it is best to allow the top half of the soil to dry out before watering it again. For a small plant this is usually every 10-14 days. I always find it better to underwater plants like this than to water too much which can cause the plant to drop leaves and die back. The heartleaf Philodendron makes an excellent low light plant but it is good to bear in mind that it is toxic and not recommended if you have pets.
Jordan Trainer is a Glasgow-based, plant enthusiast, and owner of Plantique. With a passion for houseplants, he has been growing and collecting them for almost 10 years.
In his column for Scotland Grows, Jordan recommends his favourite houseplants for differnet situations.
Keep up with Jordan on his Instagram and Facebook feeds, or pop into his shop at 286 Dumbarton Road, Partick, G11 6TD.