When selecting indoor plants for a dark, potentially windowless basement apartment, it’s important to choose carefully. Opt for plants that not only love low light but are also resilient and can tolerate humidity, shade, and cooler temperatures. These conditions, often found in basements, require specific types of plants that can thrive in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Therefore, it’s crucial to pick the most suitable indoor plants tailored for basement environments.
The best indoor plants for your basement apartment as below:
Oakleaf Grape Ivy
Being an excellent choice for a shady garden, especially in a basement, the oakleaved grape ivy, or Cissus alata, will ensure lush vegetation all throughout the year. In fact, this trail of ivy that may be between 10 and 18 feet, has dark green shiny leaves that are similar to oak tree leaves in shape. While almost all spaces are suitable, light deficient areas such as living rooms could limit its growth—which may be good for people looking to keep it on a tight leash— but under the influence of natural light or artificial grow lights it really shines.
Cast Iron Plant
Nicknamed as the bar room plant, the cast iron plant is most popularly known for its long endurance ability despite mistreatment. It is even able to endure temperatures down to 23° Fahrenheit without any loss of green leaf or in other words negative symptoms. On the other hand, some cultivars such as Variegata, Lennon’s Song, Hoshi-Zora (starry sky), and Asahi (morning sun) need more sunlight than the weight could be obtained, so it’s recommended to grow instead varieties that cope well with low light. This species contains monothepious types which require no bright light.
Baby Rubber Plant
The Peperomia obtusifolia – more popularly known as the baby rubber plant or pepper face, for its round leaf shape – is given its names for the physical attributes of the plants. Interestingly enough, just like the word ‘rubber’ which is in the title of this humble plant, its leaves feel like hard as plastic.
As such, it likes to take refuge in the shade rather than the sunlight directly which can burn it. Although this is advantageous for water efficiency, it has a tendency to get dry fast, therefore soil moister checks are to be performed regularly. It is this easy to figure out when the plant needs water. You do not need a meter or anything fancy. Simply insert your finger a few inches into the soil, If it feels dry, then it is time for you to water the plant.
Pothos
Now coming to another indoor variety of vine, the pothos is also a good choice to sprinkle your space. It reaches about 4 to 8 in of size and becomes smaller and more moldable. The pothos plant has an easygoing attitude when it comes to the light conditions as they tolerate low light, but they do even better with bright and indirect light. However, it seems variegated types like the pearls and jades or Jessenia and the marble queen pothos varieties are the most divergent and they may struggle under low light and thus lose their beautiful colors. The neon-yellow or the golden pothos requires a minimum requirement while staying green if the light is insufficient.
ZZ Plant
ZZ plant, also called Zanzibar gems, is nearly indisputably unkillable type of plant making it a perfect choice for darker environments. The ZZ plant, a succulent, has long stems that resemble waxy leaves. This type of a plant only needs to have watering time once every two to three weeks. Its brightly and shiny leaves can help reflect sunlight, though this is a subtle action, brightening up the dark space in your basement home.
Snake Plant
For a sturdy plant that can stand on its own and is perfect for indoor gardens, snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) is an excellent choice no matter the preexisting condition, low light for example, this plant will survive and even thrive. This plant may exist for twelve or even twenty years – during all these times your contract may finish the servicing. You should pick a variant with less amount of variegation to enhance its resistance to low-light environment and help it grow keeping in mind the photoperiod it needs to live in.
Rex Begonia
Indoor gardens that need a boost of color should definitely include the painted-leaf begonia variety. Some of the species grow between 1.5 and 3 meters high with sufficient bright and breezy indoor conditions. They are tolerant to a wide range of temperatures and facility conditions. With its splendid foliage, the shrub can grow up to 4.5 inches wide and 22.5 inches long, hence an intriguing appeal. Similarly to rex begonias, colorful growth can be observed of these plants in spaces with low to medium filtered light. However, in case you live in a dark apartment, intensity of the colors can be lower than what you would like. With the muted tones also available, you can add a hint of color to make your home the livelier one. Cleaning the leaves at certain intervals will reduce dust settling on the leaf, and in turn, the plant will be able to efficiently take in sunlight through photosynthesis.
Monstera
The rich jungle vibe that the Monstera deliciosa brings to the atmosphere of a humble apartment is an irreplaceable feature. Whereas plant growth may be conditional on the care provided, you can always have a dash of exoticism around your home regardless of how much it grows; it will not exceed 10 to 15 inches, the maximum limit. Offering them bright, indirect lighting will definitely speed up the growth rate, resulting in their robust leaves and glamourous spectral looks.
Spider Plant
A spider plant simply bears enviable nature’s aptitude for making an extraordinary companion for the “basement-dwellers” who seek an adorable friend. Variegated spider plants can lose their color in dimly lit areas however solid colored types of spider plants are more tolerant. In an idyllic situation, position your spider plant where it receives the best sunlight: from east, north or west windows. This will ensure dark green color and healthy growth.
Mint
With the limited natural light of a basement apartment, the challenge of growing your own herbs may seem daunting, but mint is a hardy and flexible herb which can flourish in low-light spaces. Fresh mint is a great ingredient used to make a quick burst of flavor dish like basil pesto, Greek yogurt and smoothies, and it can also be used to make tea that aids digestion.
Use finger test to determine the level of moistness in the soil; it will be helpful in figuring out when it is right for you to water the mint plants.
Philodendron
The philidendro is the other big choice of plants that will also bring a splash of green to your basement apartment. Due to this plant having the potential to develop up to 3 to 8 feet tall, it is essential to provide adequate vertical space for it to grow. Besides this, it needs about 6 feet wide space horizontally. If you like the thought of having a philodendron weild climber, use a wire-bound pillar to train it up. Insufficient lighting does not lead to low growth of philodendrons but rather helps the best indoor plant (heart-leaf philodendron) grow well with low light too.
Therefore, the philodendron plant will be doing great in rooms where sunlight is too little.
