Low light plants for windowless offices
Low light plants can live in a windowless office too, as long as the light from the ceiling lamps at least reaches them, but how much light that is makes a real difference. We'll show you roughly how many lux counts as low, which species cope with it, and what is worth doing where even the lamplight isn't enough.
How many lux do low light plants need?
Our eyes compensate a great deal, so we see an office as bright even when the light is already too little for plants. It is better to measure it: light levels are given in lux, and you can take a rough reading yourself with a light meter app on your phone.
As a guide, ceiling lights typically give around 300-500 lux on a desk, a few metres from a large window you are already in the medium range, and right next to the window you are in the strong range. These ranges are rounded, indicative values, because phone sensors are imprecise and the light also depends on the time of day and the season.
In a windowless space, time matters too. The lights are only on during working hours and not at all at the weekend, so there the lower end of the low light range can be tight even for the toughest species.
- Low light, roughly 300-1,000 lux
- Medium light, about 1,000-3,000 lux
- Strong, indirect light, about 3,000-10,000 lux
- Direct sun, above 10,000 lux
These plants cope with low light
All four are toxic, so in an office with pets, put them somewhere the dog can't reach them.
ZZ plant
Low light is enough for it, and in office conditions it needs water every 2-3 weeks. It is one of the most reliable choices for a windowless meeting room or a corridor.
Snake plant
It grows almost anywhere from low to strong light, and watering every 2-4 weeks is enough. Its narrow, upright shape means it fits into tight spots too.
Chinese evergreen
It stays attractive in low to medium light with watering every 1-2 weeks, and its patterned leaves bring colour to the greyer parts of the office.
Pothos
A trailing plant that is happy with low to medium light and needs water every 1-2 weeks. It belongs on a shelf, on top of a cabinet or in a hanging pot, where its vines can hang down.
Kentia palm and peace lily for partial shade
If there is no window but some natural light filters in through a glass wall or from the next room, species that like partial shade are an option too. The kentia palm does well in partial shade, needs water every 1-2 weeks and is non-toxic, so you can put it in a dog-friendly office as well.
The peace lily likes indirect light or partial shade and wants water every week, but at least it tells you when it is thirsty, because it droops. It is toxic, though, so in an office with pets, think carefully about where it goes.
Moss walls and grow lights when lamplight isn't enough
In some places even the ceiling lighting doesn't give enough light, for example in an inner meeting room where the lights are only switched on for meetings. Here a preserved moss wall is the most reliable solution, because it needs no watering and no light, and it can even be made in the shape of your company logo.
If you would still like living plants, a grow light can make up for the missing light. At the free on-site survey we check how much light reaches each spot, and we tell you where a shade-tolerant plant can go, where a lamp is needed, and where a moss wall is the better choice.
Frequently asked questions
What plants can live in a windowless office?
If the lights stay on throughout working hours, the ZZ plant and the snake plant cope best. Where even the lamplight is low, we recommend a preserved moss wall, because it needs no light.
How many lux does a houseplant need?
It depends on the species, so there is no single right number. For shade-tolerant species, roughly under 1,000 lux can be enough if they get it for many hours every day, while the fiddle leaf fig or the bird of paradise needs several times that. These are rounded, indicative values, and it is worth measuring the actual situation on site.
How can I measure light with my phone?
Download a light meter app and hold your phone where the plant stands, at leaf height, facing the light. Measure several times during the day, because the light changes from hour to hour. A phone isn't a precision instrument, but it is good enough to show whether you are in the low or the medium range.
Is office lighting enough for plants?
For shade-tolerant species it is often enough, as long as the plant isn't standing in the darkest corner of the room. Weekends and holidays pass without any light, though, so in a windowless space lamplight is often only just enough. Where it falls short, a grow light can help.
Which low light plant is not toxic to cats and dogs?
Among the species that tolerate low light, the kentia palm is non-toxic and does well in partial shade. The calathea is non-toxic too, but it wants partial shade and humid air, so it is less suited to a completely windowless space.
Request a free on-site survey for your office
Tell us how many rooms are involved and whether they have windows. We will call you back within one working day.
Or email: hello@viragbirodalom.huCall: +36 20 944 3464
