Plant pairings for low-light apartments

If your apartment has north-facing windows or just isn’t bright, you can still build gorgeous terrariums. Here are five plant combinations designed for low light.

Combination 1: “Forest floor”

• Cushion moss (ground cover)
• Selaginella kraussiana (low texture)
• Small button fern (height)

A classic. All three thrive in low light and high humidity. Looks like a tiny forest.

Combination 2: “Color in the dark”

• Fittonia ‘Red Anne’ (color)
• Fittonia ‘White Anne’ (more color)
• Sheet moss (ground cover)

Fittonias are some of the most colorful low-light plants. Pair two varieties for contrast, fill in with moss.

Combination 3: “Soft and trailing”

• Pilea glauca (cascading)
• Selaginella (ground cover)
• Small maidenhair fern (delicate height)

Textural contrast: tiny round leaves, moss-like spikes, and feathery fronds.

Combination 4: “All green, all textures”

• Pilea glauca (small round leaves)
• Small fern (feathery)
• Cushion moss (puffy)
• Sheet moss (flat)

Same color, four different textures. Looks sophisticated and natural.

Combination 5: “Succulents? No — but kinda”

• Small peperomia (thick leaves)
• Pilea (round leaves)
• Sheet moss (green ground cover)

For people who like the succulent look but need humidity-tolerant plants.

Light requirements recap

All plants above tolerate:

• North windows
• 3-5 feet from east/west windows
• Rooms with only overhead lighting (with grow light supplement)

When to add a grow light

If your plants are getting leggy (stretching toward light), it’s time for a grow light. For low-light setups:

• Small full-spectrum LED (15-25W equivalent)
• 8-12 inches above the terrarium
• 8-10 hours per day
• Use a smart plug with timer

Cost: $15-30, lasts years.

The full low-light plant list

• Fittonia (any variety)
• Pilea glauca
• Selaginella (most varieties)
• Small ferns (button, lemon button, holly)
• Sheet moss, cushion moss
• Small peperomias (with monitoring)

Browse all plant profiles for more details on each.