The Low-Maintenance Houseplant That Lives Happily With Little Light On Bookshelves

You might think that only artificial plants can thrive with little maintenance and put up with low-light conditions. Lucky for those of us who prefer living greenery, you'd be wrong — the dream houseplant is out there, and it has a peppery name. Peperomias (Peperomia spp.), also known as radiator plants, can live in low light, making them perfect for sprucing up a dim bookshelf in your home with eye-catching vegetation. Plus, you can easily propagate a peperomia in a few quick steps, creating more indoor plants for your shelves.

Peperomias are non-toxic and low-maintenance members of the black pepper family. They make beautiful, small to medium-sized indoor plants that rarely reach more than a foot tall and wide. One of the most commonly grown radiator plants is watermelon peperomia (P. argyraea), a unique tropical houseplant that stays small and is easy to maintain. For this — or any other member of this genus — to flourish in low light conditions, you'll need to be sure to adjust your care approach.

Nonetheless, you don't need a green thumb to care for radiator plants. They need good drainage, and their soil can be allowed to dry out in between waterings. Peperomias are adapted to a wide range of conditions, preferring bright, indirect luminosity. However, they can also tolerate dimmer conditions. When growing peperomia in low light, they will need less water than in medium or bright light. Keep in mind that these easy-to-care-for plants are already slow-growing, and if you place one of them in a dim location, its growth will be even slower.

If your radiator plant is starting to look leggy, it's probably not getting enough light. The very minimum amount of brightness that peperomias can survive on is 25-foot candles, so if you aren't sure about your space, use a light meter to check the levels. A brightness range of 75 to 200-foot candles is even better if you can provide it. If luminosity from your windows simply isn't reaching the bookshelf where your peperomia lives, consider adding a grow light to keep it healthier and happier.