Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 2/2/2006

Question
What type of plants can a person grow in a basement.I would like to add some live plants to my family room  but don't have a clue to any plants that will take the absence of much light.  

Answer
All plants need light in order to grow properly. Some plants (philadendron, some ferns, etc) can handle low lights and should be a good choice indoors. Most of these plants are green plants without flowers.

However, no matter which plants you choose, they all need some light. If you are willing to consider various sources of artificial light, then your options are better.

The normal indoor indacescent lights (pear shaped light bulbs) are not very good for plants.

Better options are flouresent lights. However, to still provide enough light for such plants, you would need to have the flourescent lights very close to the plants (inches away from the leaves) in order to be strong enough.

E.g. a regular light fixture at the ceiling with a pear shaped light bulb will not be enough light for plants.

One way to provide enough light for the plants do this is to buy the new "compact flourescent" lightbulbs (flourescent lights which are snaked and shaped into a regular looking light bulb and then fits in a normal lamp socket). Place 1-2 such lights close to plants, which still should be low light plants. Make sure the lights are no more than 4-6" away from the leaves. E.g. the best choice is to put up a few free standing spot lights, but make sure the bulb is a flourescent. The "halogen" spot bulbs or regular incadescent spots wont be good enough.

It should be flourescent lights (compact flourescents) unless you want to take the step and buy professional high intensity grow light (MH or Sodium).

Here is a list of low light plants to consider:
http://www.mrs.umn.edu/pyg/tips/houseplants/tip_1111.shtml