Living in Colorado presents unique challenges for indoor gardeners, especially in spaces with no natural light. Whether you’re in a basement apartment in Denver or a windowless office in Boulder, finding plants that can thrive without sunlight might seem impossible.
Don’t worry – there are actually several plant varieties that can flourish in your Colorado home despite the absence of windows.
1. Snake Plant: The Ultimate Survivor
Snake plants are practically indestructible, making them perfect for Colorado’s dry climate and homes without windows. They can survive with just fluorescent lighting and minimal watering.
I’ve kept one in my windowless bathroom in Fort Collins for three years now. The vertical growth pattern means it takes up little space while still adding height to your décor.
During Colorado winters, when humidity drops dramatically indoors, snake plants continue to thrive while other plants struggle.
2. ZZ Plant: Drought-Tolerant Wonder
ZZ plants store water in their thick rhizomes, allowing them to go weeks without attention. Their glossy leaves remain healthy even under the poor lighting conditions common in Colorado basement apartments.
My first apartment in Denver had zero natural light, but my ZZ plant grew steadily. These plants actually prefer being left alone rather than fussed over.
The waxy leaves rarely collect dust, a helpful feature in our state’s dry, dusty climate.
3. Pothos: Versatile Trailing Beauty
Pothos adapts remarkably well to artificial lighting, making it ideal for windowless Colorado homes. The trailing vines can brighten up bookshelves or hang from ceiling hooks, creating visual interest in dark spaces.
During high-altitude winters when everything outside looks brown, these plants maintain their green color with minimal care. I’ve found the golden pothos variety to be particularly forgiving in my Boulder apartment.
Simply trim occasionally to encourage fuller growth and prevent leggy vines.
4. Chinese Evergreen: Colorful Low-Light Champion
Chinese evergreens bring color variety to dim Colorado spaces without demanding window access. Their patterned leaves come in silver, green, and pink variations that pop even under basic office lighting.
The humidity levels in most Colorado homes run low, but these plants adapt well. For best results, group several together to create a microclimate that holds moisture.
In my Denver condo’s hallway – completely without windows – my Chinese evergreens have developed into full, healthy specimens over the years.
5. Peace Lily: Air-Purifying Elegance
Peace lilies thrive in low light and help clean indoor air – particularly valuable during Colorado’s long winter months when windows stay closed. Their white blooms provide a dramatic contrast against dark green foliage.
Unlike many flowering plants, peace lilies don’t need direct sunlight to produce their distinctive spathes. The plant will clearly tell you when it needs water by drooping slightly.
For Colorado homes with forced-air heating that dries out the air, peace lilies appreciate occasional misting.
6. Cast Iron Plant: Truly Unbreakable
Cast iron plants earned their name through sheer indestructibility. They handle Colorado’s dry air and zero natural light situations better than almost anything else you could grow.
Their broad, arching leaves grow slowly but steadily, requiring minimal maintenance. When I moved to a basement apartment in Colorado Springs, this was the first plant I purchased.
Even when forgotten for weeks during ski season trips to the mountains, these plants bounce back without complaint – perfect for busy Colorado lifestyles.
7. Lucky Bamboo: Minimal Care, Maximum Style
Lucky bamboo grows in water alone, eliminating the soil moisture challenges that come with Colorado’s arid climate. Place these sculptural plants on desks or countertops in windowless rooms for instant greenery.
The spiral or straight stalks create visual interest even without flowers or colorful foliage. For Colorado homes with hard water, using filtered water prevents mineral buildup on the stems.
My collection started with one stalk from a Denver market and has multiplied into arrangements throughout my windowless home office.
8. Prayer Plant: Night-Moving Marvel
Prayer plants perform a fascinating leaf-folding ritual each evening, providing dynamic movement in your windowless Colorado space. Their patterned leaves feature striking red veins against green backgrounds.
Despite our state’s dry conditions, these plants actually prefer the consistent environment of indoor spaces. The movement happens regardless of natural light cycles, responding instead to the plant’s internal clock.
During a particularly harsh winter in my Longmont apartment, watching my prayer plant’s evening ritual became a delightful distraction from the snow outside.
9. Spider Plant: Air-Purifying Propagator
Spider plants thrive under fluorescent lights common in Colorado offices and homes. Their arching leaves and dangling babies create movement and visual interest in static spaces.
The ability to produce offspring plants makes them perfect for sharing with friends across Colorado’s Front Range. These plants actively remove formaldehyde and other toxins from indoor air.
When my Arvada apartment felt stuffy during winter months, adding several spider plants noticeably improved the air quality while requiring almost no maintenance.
10. Philodendron: Heart-Shaped Classic
Philodendrons remain one of the most reliable plants for Colorado’s windowless spaces. Their heart-shaped leaves grow steadily even under artificial lighting, with minimal care requirements.
The climbing varieties can transform blank walls in basement apartments. During my years in a ground-floor Denver condo, my philodendron thrived despite never seeing natural sunlight.
Colorado’s winter static electricity sometimes collects on their leaves – simply wiping them occasionally with a damp cloth keeps them looking fresh.
11. Dracaena: Tall Architectural Statement
Dracaenas bring height and structure to windowless Colorado rooms with their upright growth habit. The corn plant variety features striped leaves that add texture without requiring natural light.
Many Colorado homes lack humidity, but dracaenas adapt well to dry conditions. Their slow growth means they won’t quickly outgrow your space.
After moving to my current Fort Collins townhome with a windowless entryway, a dracaena immediately transformed the space from empty to welcoming.
12. Maidenhair Fern: Humidity-Loving Delicacy
Maidenhair ferns bring delicate texture to Colorado’s windowless bathrooms where shower steam provides needed humidity. Their fine, fan-like fronds create a soft contrast to other houseplants’ bolder leaves.
Regular misting helps these ferns thrive despite our state’s dry climate. Place on a pebble tray with water to increase local humidity without risking root rot.
My small windowless bathroom in Boulder became a mini sanctuary after adding a maidenhair fern that thrived in the steam from daily showers.