When a plant is kept in a dark room, it will be unable to perform photosynthesis. Without photosynthesis, the plant will not be able to make its own food and the plant will slowly die.

Plants cannot survive in total darkness. All plants, with the exception of a few that live on other organisms, use a process called photosynthesis to obtain the energy they need. The vast majority of plants are autotrophs—they are self-feeding and require sunlight to survive.

All plants can survive for short periods without light. Obviously, they need to be able to last through the night, but they can also cope with a longer darkness in an emergency. No plant can live without sunlight forever.

Learn about the most popular bathroom plants that don’t need sunlight below:

• Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
• Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
• Philodendron (several varieties)
• Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
• Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
• English Ivy (Hedera helix)
• Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Choosing Plants for a Windowless Room Plants need sunlight to photosynthesize, produce flowers and fruit and for overall health. That being said, plants are also uniquely adaptable, and many vigorous specimens are perfect windowless houseplants. Windowless houseplants are suitable for fully shaded or semi-shady areas.

20 Can’t-Kill Flowers for Beginners

• Zinnia. Look for zinnias in almost every color except blue; they’re also available in a variety of heights.
• Marigolds. Cheerful marigolds are easy to grow in sunny spots, brightening your garden with shades of yellow, red and gold as they bloom all summer long.
• Pansies.
• Impatiens.
• Begonias.
• Snapdragons.
• Daffodils.
• Cosmos.

I’m talking so low-maintenance that they’ll laugh in the face of your neglect.

• Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
• ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
• Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
• Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
• Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior)
• Succulents (multiple families)
• Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Top 10 Low Maintenance Perennials

• Shasta Daisy. Shasta Daisies are easy to grow.
• Coneflower. Coneflower is a mid-summer bloomer that’s a great cut flower.
• Hardy Hibiscus. Hardy hibiscus loves full sun and attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies.
• Perennial Geranium. Perennial Geranium is a great border plant.
• Hosta.
• Ferns.
• Catmint.
• Coreopsis.

21 Best Patio Plants to Grow

• 01 of 21. Croton. jaboticaba / Getty Images.
• 02 of 21. Pentas. LagunaticPhoto / Getty Images.
• 03 of 21. Lantana. emer1940 / Getty Images.
• 04 of 21. Coleus. sakhorn38 / Getty Images.
• 05 of 21. Bromeliad. IKvyatkovskaya / Getty Images.
• 06 of 21. Caladium. mspoli / Getty Images.
• 07 of 21. New Guinea Impatiens.
• 08 of 21. Heliotrope.

4 Outdoor Plants And Flowers That Are Almost Impossible To Kill

1. Geraniums. We see them everywhere we go, from garden nurseries to local drugstores: geraniums.
2. Begonias. Not only are begonias super easy to grow, but there’s also a ton of different kinds out there — over 6,000 varieties.
3. Lavender.
4. Snapdragons.

17 Low-Maintenance Plants and Dwarf Shrubs

• Agapanthus.
• Fountain Grass.
• Chrysanthemum.
• Rhapsody Blue Hydrangea.
• Bird’s Nest Spruce.
• Superstar Spirea.
• Bobo Hydrangea.
• Coneflower. Purple coneflower boasts striking blooms with reflexed purple petals that surround a spiky orange-gold cone.

20 Plants that Grow Without Sunlight

• Dracaena. This is a plant that does not require a lot of light, but it does like humidity, which is why it grows best outdoors in zones 10 through 12.
• Parlor Palm.
• Snake Plant.
• Calathea.
• Bromeliads.
• Spider Plant.
• Peace Lily.
• Maidenhair Fern.

• Double Play® Gold Spiraea. Double Play® Gold spirea shines in the landscape from spring to fall with little to no pruning needed.
• Gatsby Gal® Hydrangea. Native oakleaf hydrangeas like Gatsby Gal® are easy to grow in sun or part shade.
• Oso Easy® Cherry Pie Rosa.
• North Pole® Arborvitae.
• Spilled Wine® Weigela.

10 Hardy Shrubs You Can’t Kill

1. Red Twig Dogwood. Dogwoods are some of the best trees and shrubs around (yes, they are considered both trees and shrubs, depending on the variety).
2. Crape Myrtle. Bees adore it, butterflies love it, and it’s a staple in the south.
3. Forsythia.
4. Hydrangea.
5. Juniper.
6. Yew.
7. Serviceberry.
8. Rose of Sharon.

10 Best Low-Maintenance Bushes and Shrubs to Plant in Your Garden

• of 10. Dwarf Alberta Spruce.
• of 10. Heather.
• of 10. Stewartstonian Azalea.
• of 10. Skyrocket Juniper.
• of 10. Flower Carpet® Roses.
• of 10. Forsythia.
• of 10. Franklin’s Gem Boxwood.
• of 10. Blue Star Juniper.

Most new growth hydrangeas put on buds in early summer to bloom in the following spring, summer and early fall seasons. In hot climates, hydrangeas may stop blooming in the heat of summer, but will rebloom in the fall.

How to Get More Smooth Hydrangea Flowers:

1. Plant smooth hydrangeas in full sun if the soil stays moist.
2. Water them during times of drought, especially during the heat of summer.
3. Amend the soil with organic matter (such as compost).
4. Prune stems back in early spring, just before new growth emerges.

Where to plant hydrangeas:

• The best location is one that receives morning sun and afternoon shade.
• Consider mature size, give it plenty of room to grow.
• Choose an area with excellent drainage.
• Don’t plant beneath a tree—the root competition and lack of sunlight will prevent them from thriving.