The best low light hanging plants are pothos (especially ‘Jade’), heartleaf philodendron, spider plant, Boston fern for humid bathrooms, English ivy and tradescantia. They cope with bright indirect or moderate light, such as a north-facing window or a few metres from a brighter one. Trailing succulents such as string of hearts and string of turtles, plus hoyas and lipstick plants, need a brighter spot to do well. No plant grows in complete darkness, so in windowless rooms add a grow light.
Hanging plants and trailing shelf plants make good use of vertical space, soften hard corners and bring life to bathrooms, kitchens and hallways. This guide covers the best hanging plants for low light, for showers and bathrooms, and for shelves and ceilings, plus how to water, feed, prune and hang them safely.
At Patch Plants, botanist Sawera Shahid reminds readers that “low light” means less light, not no light: a plant that tolerates shade still needs some daylight to grow. Choosing the right plant for each spot, rather than forcing a sun-lover into a dim corner, is the easiest way to keep hanging plants lush. Learn more about our guides on the About Patch Plants page.
Key Takeaways
- Pothos, heartleaf philodendron, spider plant and tradescantia are the most reliable low light hanging plants.
- Boston fern is the classic choice for a bright, steamy bathroom.
- String of hearts, string of turtles, hoya and lipstick plant need brighter indirect light to grow well.
- Low light means slower drying soil, so water less often; overwatering is the main cause of failure.
- Pothos, philodendron and English ivy are toxic to pets; spider plant and Boston fern are pet-safe choices.
- Use ceiling hooks fixed into a joist or rated anchor, and allow for the weight of wet soil.
Low Light Hanging Plants at a Glance
| Plant | Light | Water | Pet-safe? | Best spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Low to bright indirect | When top 2–5 cm dry | No | Shelves, offices, bathrooms |
| Heartleaf philodendron | Low to bright indirect | When top 2–5 cm dry | No | High shelves, hallways |
| Spider plant | Medium to bright indirect | When top 2–5 cm dry | Yes | Hanging baskets, bathrooms |
| Boston fern | Medium to bright indirect | Keep evenly moist | Yes | Bright, humid bathrooms |
| English ivy | Medium to bright indirect | When top 2–3 cm dry | No | Cool rooms, shelves |
| Tradescantia | Medium to bright indirect | When top 2–3 cm dry | No (sap can irritate) | Shelves, baskets |
| String of hearts | Bright indirect | When dry throughout | Generally considered safe | Bright shelves |
| Hoya | Bright indirect | When mostly dry | Generally considered safe | Near bright windows |
The 10 Best Low Light Hanging Plants
1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos is the easiest trailing plant for dim rooms. NC State Extension notes that it prefers bright, indirect light but survives for long periods in low light, that low light can reduce variegation, and that the solid green ‘Jade’ pothos is especially good for low-light spots. It is well suited to hanging baskets, and cut stems root easily in water.
- Best varieties for low light: ‘Jade’ (solid green), golden pothos. ‘Marble Queen’ and ‘Neon’ need brighter light to keep their colour.
- Care: water when the top 2–5 cm of soil is dry; feed lightly in spring and summer; trim long vines to keep it full.
- Pets: toxic (calcium oxalate).
See our full pothos care guide.
2. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Heartleaf philodendron has soft, heart-shaped, deep green leaves on trailing stems and copes with low light as well as pothos does. It looks especially good on top of bookcases and kitchen cabinets, or trained along a curtain rail. Water when the top few centimetres are dry and pinch out tips to keep it bushy. It is toxic to pets. See our philodendron care guide.
3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plants form fountains of arching, striped leaves and send out plantlets on long stems, which look lovely in a hanging basket. They tolerate medium light but grow fullest in bright indirect light. They are non-toxic to cats and dogs, which makes them one of the best hanging plants for pet owners. Brown tips are usually caused by dry soil, low humidity or salts in tap water. See our spider plant care guide.
4. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Boston fern is the classic hanging plant for bathrooms. It needs medium to bright indirect light, evenly moist soil and humidity of around 50% or more, which a steamy bathroom with a window can provide. It browns quickly in dry, heated rooms or if the pot dries out. It is pet-safe. See our Boston fern care guide.
5. English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English ivy trails or climbs with lobed leaves in green or variegated forms such as ‘Glacier’ and ‘Gold Child’. It prefers cool rooms and medium to bright indirect light, and suffers in hot, dry air, where spider mites can become a problem. Keep it trimmed, and don’t plant it outdoors where it can become invasive. It is toxic to pets. See our English ivy care guide.
6. Tradescantia (Inch Plant)
Tradescantia grows fast, with striped silver, green and purple leaves that cascade over a pot edge. It tolerates medium light, but its colours are strongest in bright indirect light; in low light, stems stretch and the purple fades. Pinch back the tips regularly and replant cuttings into the pot to keep it full. The sap can irritate skin and pets. See our guide to silver inch plant care.
7. String of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii)
String of hearts has fine trailing stems with small, silver-marbled heart-shaped leaves. It is semi-succulent and needs bright indirect light to stay full; in dim light it becomes sparse, with long bare stems. Water only when the soil is dry throughout and use a gritty mix. For other trailing succulents, see our guide to string of pearls care, which needs similar bright conditions.
8. String of Turtles (Peperomia prostrata)
A small, slow-growing trailing peperomia with round, turtle-shell-patterned leaves, ideal for shelves and small spaces. It likes bright indirect light, a light, free-draining mix and moderate humidity, and the soil should dry partly between waterings. It’s a better fit for a bright bathroom shelf than a dark corner.
9. Hoya (Wax Plant)
Hoyas have thick, waxy leaves on trailing or climbing stems and, in good light, produce clusters of scented, star-shaped flowers. They tolerate medium light but need bright indirect light to flower. Let the soil dry out mostly between waterings. See our hoya plant care guide.
10. Lipstick Plant and Goldfish Plant
These trailing gesneriads have glossy leaves and red or orange tubular flowers. They need bright indirect light and moderate humidity to flower, so they suit a bright bathroom or kitchen window rather than a dim hallway. See our guides to the black pagoda lipstick plant and goldfish plant care.
Flowering Hanging Plants for Lower Light
Flowering takes a lot of energy, so true low-light spots are best filled with foliage plants. If you want flowers in a moderately lit spot, the most reliable trailing options are Christmas cactus, which flowers in bright indirect light with cool, long nights in autumn, hoya, and lipstick or goldfish plants near a bright window. A peace lily on a high shelf flowers in moderate light, but it isn’t a trailing plant.
Outdoor hanging-basket favourites such as petunias, lobelia and trailing begonias need much more light than most rooms provide, so keep them for patios and balconies.
Best Hanging Plants for Bathrooms and Showers
Bathrooms are often humid, which suits ferns and many tropical trailers, but they are also often dark. Choose by light first:
- Bright bathroom with a window: Boston fern, spider plant, string of turtles, hoya, lipstick plant.
- Dim bathroom with a small or frosted window: pothos (especially ‘Jade’) and heartleaf philodendron.
- No window: no plant will thrive long-term without a light source. Use an LED grow light on a timer for 10–12 hours a day, or rotate plants to a brighter room every few weeks.
Hang plants where they get steam but not a direct spray from the shower. For more ideas, see our guides to plants in the shower, low-light bathroom plants, plants for bathrooms with no light and the 33 best plants for your bathroom. For artificial light, see grow lights for indoor plants.
Caring for Low Light Hanging Plants
Low light hanging plants need a slightly different routine from plants in sunny rooms, mainly less water and less feeding.
Watering
Low light hanging plants use water slowly, so the soil stays wet longer. Check before every watering: most trailing foliage plants want water when the top 2–5 cm is dry, ferns before the surface dries, and succulents only when dry throughout. Water thoroughly until it drains, then let the pot drip in the sink before rehanging. Hanging baskets near the ceiling can dry faster because warm air rises, so check them a little more often. See our complete watering guide.
Soil and Pots
Use a light, free-draining mix: houseplant compost with 20–30% perlite for most trailers, a grittier mix for string of hearts and other semi-succulents, and a moisture-holding mix for ferns. Choose hanging pots with drainage holes and a removable drip tray. See our best soil mix guide.
Feeding
Low light hanging plants grow slowly, so feed lightly: a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength every 4–8 weeks in spring and summer, and none in winter. See our guide to fertilizing indoor vs outdoor plants.
Pruning and Propagation
Trim long or bare stems just above a leaf node to encourage bushier growth, ideally in spring and summer. Most trimmings of pothos, philodendron, tradescantia and ivy root easily in water, and can be planted back into the same pot to fill it out. See our propagation guide.
Styling and Hanging Plants Safely
- High shelves and bookcases: place trailers at the front edge so vines can cascade; see our guide to trailing plants for shelves and bookcases.
- Near windows: hang plants that need more light closest to the glass, and low-light plants further back.
- Layering: combine trailing plants up high with mid-height plants and a floor plant such as a snake plant or ZZ plant for depth.
- Turn baskets a quarter turn every week or two so they grow evenly.
Hanging safely: a watered hanging plant can weigh much more than it looks. Fix ceiling hooks into a joist, or use anchors rated for the weight in plasterboard, and choose hooks rated well above the plant’s wet weight. Swivel hooks or pulley hangers make watering easier. For more room-by-room ideas, see how to style indoor plants by room.
Common Problems With Low Light Hanging Plants
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Long, bare stems with small leaves | Too little light | Move closer to a window or add a grow light; prune and replant cuttings |
| Yellow leaves throughout | Overwatering | Let the soil dry more; check drainage and roots |
| Occasional yellow lower leaves | Normal ageing | Remove them |
| Brown, crispy tips | Dry air, dry soil or salt build-up | Water more evenly, flush the soil, raise humidity |
| Fading variegation or colour | Low light | Brighter indirect light |
| Fine webbing, speckled leaves | Spider mites in dry air | Rinse leaves, raise humidity, treat with insecticidal soap |
See our guides to why leaves turn yellow, humidity hacks and how to revive a dying plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hanging plant for low light?
Pothos, especially the solid green ‘Jade’ variety, is the most reliable hanging plant for low light, followed by heartleaf philodendron. Both trail beautifully and tolerate dim rooms, although they grow faster in bright indirect light.
Can hanging plants survive in a bathroom with no window?
Not long-term without a light source. Ordinary bathroom lights switched on briefly are not enough. Use an LED grow light on a timer, or swap plants with ones from a brighter room every few weeks.
How often should you water low light hanging plants?
Check the soil rather than following a schedule. Most trailing foliage plants need water when the top 2–5 cm is dry, often every 7–14 days in low light. Ferns need it more often; trailing succulents less often.
Which hanging plants are safe for cats and dogs?
Spider plants and Boston ferns are pet-safe, and string of hearts and hoyas are generally considered non-toxic. Pothos, philodendron and English ivy are toxic, so hang them well out of reach. Our cat-friendly plants guide lists more options.
How do you hang a plant from the ceiling safely?
Screw a hook into a ceiling joist, or use an anchor rated for the load in plasterboard. Allow for the weight of wet soil and water, and use a pot with a drip tray so water doesn’t fall on floors or furniture.
Final Thoughts
The best low light hanging plants turn dim corners, high shelves and bathrooms into green, layered spaces. Start with tough trailers such as pothos, heartleaf philodendron and spider plant, keep brighter spots for string of hearts, hoya and flowering trailers, and water only when the soil tells you to. For more ideas, browse our guides to low-light houseplants, small low-light plants and office plants that survive fluorescent lighting.
