I was first introduced to my love of plants through my mom. There were always plants in our home and we had a luscious garden in the front and back yards. I would watch her water them, cut off dead leaves, repot them, you name it. As a child, I never really gave too much thought as to why she always spent so much time nurturing them, I would just get annoyed whenever she would make me work in the garden with her. Baking in the hot sun while pulling out weeds from the flowerbeds wasn't my idea of fun and still isn't. However, I have developed a love for plants myself.
When I moved into my first place, I was excited to have my own plants to take care of and surround myself with. Because my mom had a lot of plants of her own, I begged her to give me a few to put in my space. She obliged and my apartment finally had its very own greenery. However, my lack of experience taking care of plants resulted in all but one dying.
But I wasn't ready to give up, so I begged my mom to give me another shot and now I have an aloe vera plant that I am proud to say is still thriving. With all that being said, I am still learning new things about plants, such as how often you should water them, how to properly pot them (and repot them), and knowing which ones need sunlight to grow and which ones don't. I live in an apartment that doesn't have a lot of natural light coming in so I have been on a mission to find plants that can grow in little to no light. Here are my results:
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, xoNecole may earn a small commission.
The Best Indoor Plants That Can Survive With Low To No Sunlight
English Ivy
Etsy / Theplantchica
Ivy is probably one of the most popular plants that you will find indoors. Not only did I have one in my home growing up, but I would almost always see it in other people's homes as well. Ivy maintenance is pretty easy as it grows better when the soil is more on the dry side.
Snake Plant
Etsy / PlantCraftingCo.
The snake plant is also easy to maintain. You can go weeks at a time without needing to water it and it can improve the air quality in your home.
Maidenhair Fern
Anthropologie
The Maidenhair Fern is one of the plants that you would have to mist with a spray bottle daily, as it can be easy to drown it with water. It also grows better in slightly acidic soil.
Cast Iron Plant
Etsy / 9EzTropical
Though a slow grower, this plant is robust, hence the name 'cast iron' and its leaves are full and healthy. Also known by the name Aspidistra elatior, cast iron plants are an evergreen foilage house plant can survive dry air and forgotten water days, making it a great choice for low-maintenance plant-lovers.
Lucky Bamboo
Plants.com
The Lucky Bamboo plant needs a little light to grow, so placing it near a window would be ideal. You can grow it in soil or water, but if you decide to grow it in water, make sure to change the water every two to four weeks.
Spider Plant
The Spider Plant is great for beginners as it can pretty much withstand anything. However, be sure not to water the soil to the point where it gets soggy or it can lead to root rot.
Monstera
Etsy / RareHousePlants
Also known as the Swiss cheese plant, the Monstera is known for its unique splits in its leaves and stiff roots. It grows best in warmer temperatures and needs to be repotted every year.
Chamaedorea
Home Depot
The Chamaedorea is a palm plant that, with indirect sunlight, can grow up to 4 feet tall. It is also known as being an excellent air purifier.
Sago Palm
Garden Goods Direct
Although the name suggests its a palm plant, it's actually a cycad plant and it can be grown indoors and outdoors. The Sago Palm thrives with little moisture, so water it sparingly.
Chinese Evergreen
Etsy / findusintheforest
The Chinese Evergreen plant can handle a variety of growing conditions as it is tough and easy to manage. However, make sure to check for pest periodically as it can harbor spider mites, scales, mealy bugs, and aphids.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here to receive our latest articles and news straight to your inbox.
Originally published on January 26, 2019.
Featured image by Getty Images
- Best Easy To Grow Indoor Plants - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Aloe Vera Plant Uses & Benefits, Self-Care - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- 8 Great Low Light House Plants — The Zen Succulent | Durham's ... ›
- Air-Purifying Plants That Don't Require Much Light - mindbodygreen ›
- The best and easiest indoor houseplants that won't die on you ›
- Indoor Plants that Don't Need Sunlight ›
- Indoor Plants for Low Light | Better Homes & Gardens ›
- Indoor Plants for Low Light | HGTV ›
- 12 Houseplants That Can Survive Low Light - Best Indoor Low Light ... ›
- 18 Plants That Don't Need Sun | ProFlowers ›
- 10 Houseplants That Don't Need Sunlight | Tips & Inspiration | Leedy ... ›
- Plants that Grow without Sunlight | 17 Best Plants to Grow Indoors ›
RELATED
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
