Low-Light Hydroponic Plants You Are Most Likely to Succeed in Growing
Kale, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, and some herbs are examples of low-light hydroponic plants. These plants can survive with little light or need far less artificial lighting. Other plants, like lettuces, can grow in low light conditions but don’t give you a decent yield or quality. For them, install reflectors and grow lights.
Light is everything in gardening.
Most plants need at least 10-12 hours of light and naturally avoid shade. Because of this, plants grow taller and thinner in low-light environments in a desperate attempt to find light. The thin stems cannot support the plant’s weight or transport water and essential nutrients, and eventually, the plant will wither and die.
However, some plants thrive in low light. For example, the houseplant in your living room grows well even with mild sunlight from your windows. Some of these plants are also the favorites among hydroponic growers.
Of course, you can use a grow light to ensure your plants get enough light to do their best. But knowing which plants are good to grow under a shade will help you in many ways.
Before getting into a list of plants you can grow in hydroponics under low light, here’s what we mean by low light conditions.
Low light conditions that can still grow plants
Every plant needs light for photosynthesis. That’s what makes them plants. What do we really mean we can grow plants in low light?
Although most plants need at least 10 hours of light, some plants can be okay with just 4-6 hours of sunlight. These are plants you can grow in seasons where sunlight is scarce. These are plants you may grow with a regular light and not a grow light. If you’re still using a grow light, these are plants that requires fewer than 10 hours of lighting.
Related: Comparing Grow Light vs Sunlight for Optimal Growth.
Most of the plants we categorize as low light friendly may still benefit from more light. So, low light plants doesn’t have to be strictly in the shade. However, some strictly need darker conditions.
Hydroponic vegetables that thrive in low light conditions.
Most hydroponic growers are doing it to grow vegetables. Indoor growers and vertical farms use grow lights and hydroponics to grow veggies in low-light conditions. Most hydroponics growers’ favorites, like lettuce, tomatoes, and pepper, need ample light. But if you still want to grow veggies indoors and don’t want to spend money on grow lights, here are some options.
Kale
Kale is a member of the Brassica family of plants. It can be grown for its leaves, sprouts, or even microgreens. Although it grows well under full sun, Kale can tolerate shade too. Since Kale is a relatively easygoing crop, you can grow it in almost any hydroponic system.
Spinach
Spinach is another shade-tolerant veggie you can grow in hydroponics. Spinach, too, likes sunlight, although they can tolerate shade. Spinach is even a favorite among commercial hydroponic growers.
Mushrooms
Yes, you can grow mushrooms in hydroponics. When we say hydroponics, the first thing that comes to mind is some NFT channels or DWC containers. But technically, mushrooms are grown in hydroponics everywhere. Growers use substrate blocks or logs to grow mushrooms, not the soil. Mushrooms are not only shade tolerant; they love darkness.
Asparagus
Asparagus is another plant that loves a bit of shade. It’s a tricky one. Extreme low light conditions may hinder the plant’s growth. But too much light is often not given to this plant. They are a good choice for hydroponic growers. Although they could grow in any hydroponic system, you may try it with a flood and drain system that offers excellent water drainage.
Microgreens (& seedlings)
I’ve already mentioned microgreens when talking about Kale. But you can grow very much any microgreen under relatively low lighting conditions. Microgreens don’t need full-bright lights. If your grow lights are at full intensity, they may even burn the seedlings. Thus, microgreens can grow with low light or using the regular T5 lights instead of proper grow lights.
Related: Why Do You Need Grow Lights [Not Regular Lights]
Shade loving herbs you can grow in hydroponics
Just like veggies, there is a handful of herbs that grow well under low lighting conditions. Here are a two hydroponic favorites.
Mint
Mint is a popular companion plant for other herbs like basil. That’s because mint can thrive in the shade and basil can provide the shade it needs. Indeed, shade is a must for mint during hotter seasons of the year.
Cilantro
Cilantro shares a lot in common with mint as far as climate requirement is concerned. Both plants prefer shade and goes very well with basil as a companion plant. And that too for the same good reason as mint’s. Cilantro prefers shade and grows well in hydroponics. You can use NFT, DWC, Kratky, or any hydroponic system of your choice to grow cilantro.
Related: Basil As A Companion Plant: 5 Plants You Can Grow With Basil For Best Results.
Fruits that grow well in low light hydroponics
Hydroponic growers do grow fruiting plants. Good examples are tomatoes and peppers. Unfortunately, most of these don’t grow in low light conditions. Fruiting essentially requires a lot of light. Very specifically, the red spectrum of the white light induces fruiting and any reproductive behaviors in the plant.
Yet, one well known fruit that grow in relatively low light is strawberry. Strawberries are also popular among hydroponic growers too.
The catch here is that even though strawberries can produce fruit under shade, their yield is significantly lower compared to one that gets ample light.
Flowers that grow in low light conditions in hydroponics
Flowers are generally grown in partial shade. Growers don’t want them to wither soon. Here are a few hydroponic growers who would love to grow.
Orchids
Orchids have many varieties. Some grow well under low light conditions. Besides, orchids are generally grown without soil. If you’re growing orchids in darker areas, you should target varieties like Miltonia orchids (Pansy orchids), Phalaenopsis (Moth orchids), and Paphiopedilum (Lady Slipper orchid).
Roses
Roses love partial shade or indirect sun. They also grow well in hydroponics. Growers usually prefer drip irrigation-style hydroponics for roses. The good part is with roses, you don’t have to worry too much about the light they get. If they get some sunlight, they should be fine.
Misconceptions about low-light-friendly plants
Many sources on the Internet claim that lettuce, root vegetables, and even herbs like basil grow in low light. Of course, they do, but they barely survive in low-light conditions.
For instance, lettuce heads don’t form if there isn’t enough sunlight. Instead, they grow high like trees, the plant’s natural response to finding light.
Root vegetables like carrots and beat roots may grow in their early stages. If you’re growing baby carrots, you may succeed.
Another misconception is that low-light plants strictly need low light. This isn’t true. Only certain plants, such as mushrooms and asparagus, can grow well in a dark environment. For other plants, more light generally means better growth.
How to improve lighting conditions in a low-light environment
If you have insufficient sunlight, you should consider ways to improve them. You can do a few things to improve the lighting.
If you already have sunlight but not enough, you can improve it with reflectors. This is cost-effective and sustainable. Because sunlight has everything the plant needs for photosynthesis, there isn’t a better source for your plants.
But you may find yourself in lack of sunlight. For instance, you may live in a country where sunlight is scarce during certain seasons. Or your indoor hydroponics system has limited natural light coming through the windows. Or your balcony garden gets sunlight only for a short time of the day.
In these situations, artificial lighting can be used as the only energy source or to supplement sunlight. While a regular light may be enough in some cases, for proper growth, you should use a grow light—even better, an LED grow light.
Related: How Many Plants Can a 100W Led Light Grow?
Summary
Not getting enough sunlight isn’t the end of the road in gardening. Also, you don’t have to immediately jump into expensive solutions like using a grow light.
You may be okay with growing many vegetables and herbs if you have some natural light. Some plants have evolved to tolerate low light, and some, like mushrooms, have grown predominantly in darker environments.
Although technically, you can grow anything in hydroponics; some are favorites among hydroponic growers. This post has discussed these hydroponic-friendly plants that are also low-light-friendly.
