18 Best Small Low Light Plants for an Office Desk With No Windows

Tradescantia x andersoniana also called Blushing Bride Tradescantia is one of the trailing Tradescantia varieties which bears pink and white variegated new growth.

Blushing Bride Tradescantia grows to a height of 6-10 inches and the stems can be 4-5 feet long. It is a great hanging basket plant where it can display its magnificent foliage.

Tradescantia x andersoniana blossoms in bright, indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of of 16-27⁰C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist fertile, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Blushing Bride Tradescantia (Tradescantia x andersoniana)

Heartleaf Philodendron also called Sweetheart Plant is a climbing plant which bears magnificent glossy, dark-green, heart-shaped leaves and is perfect on a desk top where the stems can cascade down beautifully.

The Sweetheart Plant also freshens the air by removing trichloroethylene from indoor air but is considered toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals..

Philodendron scandens blossoms in medium to bright, indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soils coupled with monthly feeding during the growing period.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)

ZZ Plant also called Zanzibar Gem, Zuzu Plant, Aroid Palm or Emerald Palm is a highly tolerant plant with attractive glossy foliage which is perfect for a low light office desk.

Zanzibar Gem is highly tolerant to low light, dry conditions but does not like direct sunlight. The plant is considered to be amongst the hard to kill plants.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia will grow in medium to bright, indirect light, average warmth and moderately moist, fertile, free-draining soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Read more on how to grow and care for ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Chinese Evergreens are compact plants with colorful sword-shaped leaves on short stems that will add a splash of color in indoor spaces and are ideal for a desk top.

Chinese Evergreens easy care plants even for a beginner. They are also good air cleaning plants that will freshen the indoor air by getting rid of benzene and formaldehyde.

Aglaonemas require medium to bright light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, well-drained soils that are rich in organic matter but do not require regular feeding or regular repotting.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Chinese Evergreens (Aglaonema)

Pothos also called Devil's Ivy, Devil's Vine or Money Plant are popular, easy care, trailing plants with colorful, heart-shaped leaves and are perfect for a low light office desk.

Devil's Ivy are also good air cleaners which get rid of xylene, toulene, benzene, formaldehyde and ammonia from indoor air.

Scindapsus aureus flourish in medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, moderately warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing period.

Read more on how to grow and care for Pothos (Scindapsus aureus)

English Ivy also called Common Ivy or European Ivy is a trailing plant with lobed leaves whose colors vary from simple green to complex mixtures of white, cream, grey, yellow and is ideal for a desk top.

In addition, European Ivy is a good air cleaner which gets rid of benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toulene and trichloroethylene from the indoor air.

Hedera helix will grow in medium to bright, indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soils coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for English Ivy (Hedera helix)

Parlour Palm is a slow-growing palm which bears beautiful, dense, deep-green, feathery foliage on arching branches with a minimal outward growth which makes it perfect for an office desk in low light.

The Parlour Palm is also a good indoor air cleaner which gets rid of xylene, toulene, benzene, formaldehyde, trichloethylene and ammonia from the indoor air.

Chamaedorea elegans grows best in medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, average warmth and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with regular feeding during the growing period.

Read more on how to grow and care for Parlour Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)

Snake Plants also called Mother-in-law's Tongue, Devil's Tongue, Jinn's Tongue, Bow String Hemp or Snake Tongue bear charming, architectural, long, narrow, succulent leaves perfect for a office desk.

The Bow String Hemp are hardy plants which will withstand low light conditions and is reknowned for its air cleaning properties getting rid of formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, toulene and trichloroethylene from indoor air.

Sanseviera thrive in medium to bright light, average warmth and moderately moist, loose, fertile, succulents potting mix coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Snake Plants (Sanseviera)

Calathea fasciata bears deep-green leaves with lime-green, rib variegation and purple undersides and is a striking plant for an office desk with no windows.

Goeppertia fasciata is a low light plant with spectacular, glossy, orb-shaped leaves radiating from the center of the plant.

Goeppertia fasciata grows well in medium indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing period.

Read more on how to grow and care for Calathea fasciata (Goeppertia fasciata)

Holly Fern or Japanese Holly Fern is one of the popular fern plants with toothed, sharp-tipped, holly-like leaves which tolerates lower light and saline conditions better than most ferns.

Being a compact fern, Japanese Holly Fern like Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Duffii') is perfect for a desktop, tabletop, plant shelf and other limited spaces.

Cyrtomium falcatum blossoms in medium to bright indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of 15-24⁰C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falcatum)

Adanson's Monstera also called Swiss Cheese Vine or Monkey Mask Plant is one of the popular Monstera varieties with glossy, long, ovate, green-colored, perforated leaves.

Swiss Cheese Vine and its relatives Monstera siltepecana (Silver Monstera) and Monstera dubia are low-light, vining plants perfect for an office desk where the stems can cascade downwards beautifully along the sides of the pot.

Monstera adansonii prospers in bright to medium indirect light, average warmth of 17-29⁰C, humidity of 50-55% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained, Monstera potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing period.

Read more on how to grow and care for Adanson's Monstera (Monstera adansonii)

Cebu Blue Pothos is a low maintenance vine which is popular for its spectacular lance shaped leaves with a climbing and or trailing growth habit.

Cebu Blue can be grown on a desk top where the stems and leaves can cascade downwards beautifully making a magnificent sight for the eyes.

Epipremnum pinnatum 'Cebu Blue' requires medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with regular feeding in the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Epipremnum pinnatum 'Cebu Blue' Pothos

Asparagus fern also called Asparagus Grass or Lace Fern bears beautiful, feathery, needle-like branches can gracefully droop downwards and will be spectacular on an office desk.

Lace Fern adapts well to a wide variations in light, heat and frequency of watering and does not demand humid conditions like true ferns.

Asparagus plumosus grows best in medium to bright, indirect light, cool to average warmth and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soils. These characteristics make this plant perfect for an office desk with no windows.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Asparagus Fern (Asparagus plumosus)

Anthurium radicans is one of the popular Anthurium varieties on account of its lovely, glossy, blistered-looking, heart-shaped, dark-green leaves which are deeply veined and for its showy flowers with a maroon pinkish color.

Anthurium Malyi is a small herbaceous evergreen tropical perennial plant which grows to a height of about 1.8 feet. On account of their compact size, Anthurium radicans and its relative Anthurium luxurians are perfect for an office desk.

Anthurium radicans prospers in bright indirect light, average warmth of 16-27⁰C, humidity of 60-80% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, aroids potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium radicans (Anthurium Malyi)

Pepper Face Plant also called Baby Rubber Plant or American Rubber Plant is one of the compact, upright-growing Peperomia varieties with cupped leathery leaves which resembles a rubber plant and hence its common name 'Baby Rubber Plant'.

American Rubber Plant is a hardy plant that will thrive even when the growing conditions are less than perfect. It grows best in bright light away from direct sunshine but it can tolerate medium to low light.

Peperomia obtusifolia requires moderately warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Pepper Face Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia)

Satin Pothos also called Silver Pothos, Silver Vine or Silver Philodendron are evergreen, trailing plants which bear pleasant, matte, green leaves covered in silver blotches with a satin sheen.

Silver Philodendron can be treated as a trailer or climber, reaching up to 10 feet or more. The stems can be allowed to trail from a hanging basket or tabletop planter.

Silver Pothos are low maintenance, pest resistant plants which will thrive in low light conditions with moderate watering making them perfect for a low light office desk.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Satin Pothos (Scindapsus pictus)

Lucky Bamboo also called Curly Bamboo, Ribbon Plant, Ribbon Dracaena or Chinese Water Bamboo is a popular plant due to its ability to grow either in water or in soil. It is popular with feng shui enthusiasts as it is believed to bring good luck and hence the common name.

Curly Bamboo has highly twisted arching grey-green leaves and slender, soft and upright stems while the roots are red. It grows to a maximum height of 2-3 feet and the leaves are about 9 inches long which makes it ideal for an office desk.

Dracaena sanderiana grows best in bright, indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of 16-27⁰C, moderate humidity of 50-55% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose potting mix coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Learn more on how to grow and care for Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Brown Spiderwort or Bear Ears Plant is a low-growing, compact plant with minimal outward spread whose short, bronze-colored leaves form a rosette and is ideal for the limited spaces.

Bear Ears Plant can grow to a height of 1-1.5 feet and the leaves are only about 6-8 inches long. The compact size of this plant like for Cyclamen persicum makes these plants ideal for an office desk with no sunlight.

Siderasis fuscata grows best in medium, indirect light away from direct sunshine, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter coupled with regular feeding during the growing season..

Learn more on how to grow and care for Brown Spiderwort (Siderasis fuscata)

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