# Ivy that can grow in low (indoor) light conditions?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivy-that-can-grow-in-low-indoor-light-conditions/392612>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 17, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivy-that-can-grow-in-low-indoor-light-conditions/392612 "2007-02-17T14:11:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivy-that-can-grow-in-low-indoor-light-conditions/392612/1 "2007-02-17T14:11:17Z")

</div>

Is there any ivy or other type of climbing plant that can be grown indoors? Something that will tolerate low light conditions and climb up wooden walls? Seems there would be something accustomed to low light conditions under a forest canopy… ideas?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivy-that-can-grow-in-low-indoor-light-conditions/392612/2 "2007-02-17T16:32:40Z")

</div>

Ivy’s a great indoor potted plant, but then I’ve always grown it hanging from a hook over the window, not trying to get it to climb the walls. If the wall isn’t right next to a big window, maybe you could set up some track lighting or something for it?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Beaucarnea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c0e974/32.png) [@Beaucarnea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beaucarnea)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ivy-that-can-grow-in-low-indoor-light-conditions/392612/3 "2007-02-17T19:59:15Z")

</div>

A [pothos](http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&gbv=2&q=pothos+) doesn’t mind low light, but may need some help with the climb. Pothos uses a fat, stubby ariel root to stick to surfaces, or you can encourage it by stretching some strands of string in the direction you want it to grow. An [article](http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-5-82-1379,00.html) in Organic Gardening magazine refers to a study done by NASA on the effectiveness of indoor plants at absorbing air pollution- pothos won.  
Most of the [hedera family](http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&gbv=2&q=hedera%20helix&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi) have invasive roots that may damage your walls and they prefer very high humidity.