What are some indoor plants that don't need sunlight or indirect light to thrive?
The first thing to understand is that all plants need some form of light to thrive.
If you think that light can be defined by "sunlight" or "indirect light," you're asking whether there are any indoor plants that don't need light to thrive—and the answer, quite simply and unequivocally, is no, there are no plants that don't need light to thrive. Some will live without light for a certain period of time, but survival for a short time will be a different kind of prosperity. You already know that plants need light to survive. Are you thinking that sunlight and indirect light mean light from windows and that electric light is "the other kind", and you hear about plants that are happy with electric light, but no window light around?
The answer is yes, there are many indoor plants that can survive under electric light. You have to be careful to provide enough bright electric light to support them or you will have plants that can survive in the brightness of the light you have. Here's an answer I wrote a while back about indoor lighting for plants and how common houseplants do best in different light conditions.
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And I thought I'd add some more thoughts on the different words people use to talk about light -
From a horticulturist's point of view, "sunshine" refers to the sun shining outside. "full sun (or "direct sun", but that's not the preferred term), unobstructed sunlight, "partial sun" for part of the day, the full sun only part of the day, "dappled sun" or "light shade" under trees and through leaves, There is seldom any sun except the setting, and "deep shade" refers to areas under trees and shrubs.
The sunlight coming through the window glass is reduced many times over - nowhere near as bright as the sunlight outside. Measured with a light meter, outdoor full sun can measure 10,000FC (footcandles,) 2000 - 5000FC in deep shade, but the indoor sun coming through a large south window average only 1000FC 5000. Therefore, it is incorrect to talk about the full sun for indoor plants sitting in front of windows.
Indirect light
"Indirect light" is a term for interior light coming through a window, but it is not strong light. "Direct light" refers to light in front of a window (rather than to the side) and within 2′ of the glass, although the direction the window faces is also a factor, so a large south-facing window with the sun shining through it for several hours may be classified as "high direct light", the same A small north-facing window where the sun never shines at times can be called "indirect" or "medium" light. When sunlight comes through a window, the area just beyond where it falls can be called "mid-light," while areas farther away—but still bright enough to read by—are called "low light." Measuring with FC, bright direct light, also known as high light, averages 1000FC. Bright indirect light is around 500FC. Medium-light is 100 - 500FC. The low light is 25 -200FC. (These are measurements accepted by the interior landscaping industry.)
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Plant Species –
Now that you know a little more about calculating the light levels in your home, here are some common plants suited to those light conditions. Remember, while you can grow any of them at a higher level than listed, they won't do well at a lower level than their classification. Also, I list the botanical names and what I consider to be the common name - in different parts of the world, different plants have different common names, but the botanical name is the same everywhere. (Spp. means 'species' - there are several commonly sold species or varieties, any of which will do.) Also, they are listed from lowest to highest within the light category. Be aware that any low-light plant in low light will not do much growth, but will survive, while high-light plants in low light will die. Also, these are estimates - while you're unlikely to get a high-light plant to survive in low light, many medium-light plants will work if the low light isn't too low.
Low - Sanseveria spp. (snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue); Zamioculcus zamifolia (ZZ plant); Aspidistra (cast iron plant); Chamatoria elegans (Parlor Palm); Dracaena massangeana (corn plant, mass cane); Epipremnum aureum (pothos, devil's ivy).
medium - Spathiphyllum spp (peace lily); Hoya spp. (wax plant); Aglaonema spp (Chinese evergreen); Dracaena ‘janet craig; Dracaena warnecki; Dracaena marginata (Madagascar dragon tree); Pleomele reflexa (song of India, song of Jamaica); Dieffenbachia spp. (dumb cane); Schefflera arboricola (dwarf umbrella tree); Philodendron scandens (heartleaf philodendron); Chamadorea sefrizii (bamboo palm); Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (areca palm, butterfly palm); Howea fosteriana (kentia palm); Rhapis excelsa (lady palm); Beaucarnea recurvata (pony tail palm, elephant foot); Schefflera actinophylla (umbrella tree); Chlorophytum comosum (spider plant); Ficus decora (rubber plant).
high -Ficus lyrata (fiddle leaf fig); Ficus Benjamina (weeping fig); Nephrolepsis exaltata (Boston fern); Crassula ovata (jade tree);
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