Fluorescent lights need to be very close to a plant before the benefits can be felt. How far away (in inches) is this lamp from where you would like to locate the plant?

I knew someone was going to ask that right after I posted. I failed to say that I was going to put the plant right under the lamp....the bottom of the lamp shade is about 15" above the counter. Hope this will help!

It's not going to work. You need a LOT more light than what's normally used as a reading lamp. It's just asking for trouble to try and grow something in a place with no natural light at all and no special supplementary lights. I mean you could try it, but I'd love to know what thrives there after 3-6 mos.

Oh, I don't know...I think that there might be some plants that though they may not thrive under such a low lighting situation, can survive nicely. I use the term 'languish' for something like this, as opposed to 'flourish'.

The Sansieviera family comes to mind. S. trifaciata or S. hahnii would probably do fine there, as long as you never tried to encourage them with a lot of fertilizer or water.

I have a bathroom with no natural light, too. I use the available counter space for interesting sculpture pieces or pottery.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I remember reading years ago that there were five plants that were so tolerant that you could "grow them in an unlit closet:"**

Sansevieria spp. (snake plant, mother-in-law's tongue)
Aglaonema spp. (Chinese evergreen)
Aspidistra elatior (cast-iron plant)
Philodendron scandens (heart-leaf philodendron)
Spathiphyllum spp. (peace lily)

At the time the book was written, nobody was growing Zamioculcas (ZZ plant) yet, but I think it could probably go on this list too.

HOWEVER, there are some caveats.

1) If it's really that dark, the plant is not going to grow very fast, and any new leaves it does manage to produce may not be proportional to the rest of the plant. It also won't grow new leaves to replace lost or damaged ones as quickly. (On the other hand, if space is that limited, then maybe you don't want something that's really going to thrive and grow and spread, in which case this would be fine.)

2) It won't need as much water as a normally-grown specimen. It will be more prone to rot if overwatered. This is particularly a concern for Sansevieria and Zamioculcas.

3) Choose your cultivars carefully: the more green, and the darker the green, the more easily the plant will be able to adjust.

4) You can always add more lights, or a mirror. I'm growing two Philodendron 'Moonlight' in my bathroom, on a shelf with an under-counter fluorescent light (13W), backed by a mirror, and the new growth is pretty regular, rapid, and the same size as the old growth. Plus I think they like the extra humidity in the bathroom.

So it isn't impossible to keep plants in spaces with no natural light. As with lots of things in life, a lot depends on your expectations.

**(I know these cannot actually be grown in a closet. Please do not post to tell me not to grow them in closets or I will scream.)

Well there is a huge mirror directly behind the lamp....the bathroom doors are always open because it's a "causeway" style bath that connects to both bedrooms, so some little light from the north facing window in the master bedroom does reach the bathroom (but the lamp is in the corner of the wall the door is on), but not enough to sustain plant growth. Thanks for the suggestions and I will think about it.....maybe if I can find some cheap younger plants I won't feel so bad if they croak....and I can always move them if they don't like it there.

I have a Sansevieria Golden Hahnii growing in my bathroom and there is no natural light or flourescent light. Just a few regular bulbs that are FAR away from my plant. It's quite small and looks really cute in my bathroom. I haven't watered it all winter, as you have to be careful with overwatering these plants, and I've also been removing it from the bathroom when I shower so it doesn't get all that moisture from the humid environment (when I remember to move it, that is).

If you're willing to wait till warmer weather, there is someone on ebay who is my favorite plant seller (Cowboyflowerman), and he sells them (if you can't find them in your local stores). Just do a search for that plant on ebay and he should be selling them.

I've attached a link to his current listing just so you can see a picture of it.

Here is a link that might be useful: S. Golden Hahnii

Some excellent advice nettasaura. I confess I'm with Lucy. If a plant won't thrive in a given location I don't attempt to grow one there. And I can't imagine anything thriving in your bathroom. One solution I'm fond of is buying two plants. Keep one in a good growing area and one in your bath. Every week, rotate them.