6 Best Small Low-Light Succulents Indoors + Caring Points

One of my friends works in an office and seeks ways to add colours to her lifeless room. A while ago, she asked me to introduce small low-maintenance indoor plants that can grow in her dim room. I suggested several small low-light succulents indoors such as Cylindrical Snake Plant and Ox Tongue. However, almost all succulents are happier in bright indirect sunlight.

Hi, I’m a horticultural consultant with a Ph.D. in plant protection science. I decided to share with you 6 small succulents that don’t need sun along with my knowledge and experiences in this post. If you have a dim room and cannot use growing lights, I hope this post helps you to add liveness to your low-light house or office.

➡ You can also hear the audio version of this article.

Can Succulents Grow Indoors in Low Light?

Before introducing small low-light succulents indoors, let me tell you a fact about them:

 ➡ Based on my experiences, almost all low-light succulents for growing indoors love to thrive in bright indirect sunlight, however, they can tolerate low-light conditions too.

Hence, the following succulents can add some beauty to your dim office or house but they will be happy if you sometimes place them in a bright place with indirect sunlight. Plants produce food through a process called Photosynthesis. One of the critical factors in Photosynthesis is light. Hence, low-light conditions mean low food production and slow or stopped growth.

In addition, a low-light place differs from a room without light. four types of natural light may be in your rooms:

1. Direct sunlight
2. Medium (or filtered) sunlight
3. Bright indirect sunlight
4. low-light

If you consider the sun as your lighting source and your plant receives its Photons from a window, a low-light place is a location in your house without any direct light such as several feet away from a South-facing window, as you can see below.

➡ Another thing you must consider about small low-light succulents indoors is their watering. As a general role, succulents don’t need too much watering due to storage water in their leaves. In low light conditions, it is more important because the soil stays wet longer in dim. 

Perfect Small Low-Light Succulents Indoors with Images

And now is the time to find small succulents that don’t need sun. Below, I provided a list of 6 small low-light succulents indoors that I found well for growing in dim rooms.

Desert Rose

Scientific Name: Echeveria lilacina

First, let’s start with one of my favourite small low-light succulents indoors: the beautiful Desert Rose plant with the scientific name Echeveria lilacina. I love its rosette-forming appearance and its pale lilac or silver-grey leaves. This is one of the succulents with pink flowers.

As I told you before, Echeveria lilacina loves to thrive in bright sunlight, however can tolerant low light conditions. This lovely succulent is a slow-growing plant and requires minimal water making it my popular choice for rock gardens, container gardens, and as a houseplant.

I also think Echeveria lilacina is an ideal choice for those who are busy due to its drought-tolerance characteristics.

Bear Paw

Scientific Name: Cotyledon tomentosa

If you love fuzzy succulents with green leaves, I think Cotyledon tomentosa is one of the best. As you can see in the picture the leaves resemble bear paws. Although this is a small low-light succulent indoors, if you put it in bright sunlight, each leaf will show reddish-brown tips that look like claws.

My lovely Bear Paw plant prefers well-draining soil and can tolerate partial shade to full sun. like other succulents, you must avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.

Cylindrical Snake Plant

Scientific Name: Sansevieria cylindrica

Come on to show you a different snake plant: the Cylindrical Snake Plant, it is a distinct small low-light succulent that, unlike the more common flat-leaved snake plants, Sansevieria cylindrica has round, stiff leaves with eye-catching patterns.

Although its leaves can grow several feet long, it is a very slow-growing plant that can be considered a small indoor plant. As you can see in this picture, the leaves grow upright and may occasionally branch. Sansevieria cylindrica is extremely easy to care for, tolerating low light and infrequent watering, making it an excellent indoor plant.

Snake plants not only clean the air but also can produce oxygen during the night, hence they are perfect low-light indoor plants for bedrooms.

Ox Tongue

Scientific Name: Gasteria spp.

It is another small low-light succulent indoors with a strange name: Ox Tongue. I think this plant is named for its thick, rough leaves that resemble an ox’s tongue. I found Gasteria species vary in leaf colour from green to almost black which lets us match them easily with our indoor décor. This plant has also interesting patterns or markings on its leaves that add to its beauty.

About caring for the Ox Tongue plant, you must know although it can be tolerant of dim rooms but prefers indirect light. I strongly recommend watering it sparingly, as their leaves store water.

Gasteria spp. is one of the low-light indoor plants that is safe for cats too.

Zebra Plant

 

Scientific Name: Haworthia attenuata

This is a small low-light succulent indoors with thick, pointy, and rosette-forming leaves. I think its name (Zebra Plant) is due to its leaves that are adorned with white, zebra-like stripes or tubercles.

Let’s give you some tips for its caring. I think the Zebra plant (Haworthia attenuate) is perfect for growing indoors due to it can tolerate low-light conditions, however prefers indirect light. About its watering manner, Haworthia attenuata needs minimal water.

In addition, it can thrive in the same pot for years. So, I think it is a low-maintenance choice for succulent enthusiasts who are busy.

Panda Plant

Scientific Name: Kalanchoe tomentosa

And finally, come on to add a lovely small low light indoor to our dim room: the Panda Plant with the scientific name Kalanchoe tomentosa.  I love the plush appearance of this beautiful succulent with its soft, fuzzy grey-green leaves and brownish-red margins.

The things that make it perfect for beginners is that the Panda Plant is a relatively easy succulent to care for. I grow it easily by providing a bright light and well-draining soil, however, it can tolerate low light conditions too.

I must tell you another point about its watering requirements. This plant like many succulents, prefers minimal and infrequent watering to prevent root rot.

Conclusion

Succulents are beautiful easy-growing houseplants in variegated shapes and colors which can add a touch of beauty to your indoor décor. In this post, I tried to introduce 6 of the best small low-light succulents indoors that don’t need sun for growing including Desert Rose, Bear Paw, Cylindrical Snake Plant, Ox Tongue, Zebra Plant, and Panda Plant.

Which one of these plants is best for your dim room? Do you know other small low-light succulents indoors? Please tell me about your ideas below this page. You can also ask me your questions about caring for succulents. I will answer as soon as possible.