Mk, I don't know how many types of Spearment there are, but I've got tons growing outside..I keep plucking and it keeps growin..the problem is, you're looking for a smaller type plant.spearment can grow pretty tall, not counting flowers in fall..
How about Ficus pumila? They come in green and variegated..I believe Accents and Worldplant sells both. How tall a grower are you looking for? Toni

The biggest problem I have is light. I want it to grow inside and I don't want to have to carry it outside during the day to get light. It ABSOLUTELY HAS to live off 30 watts of light. The spearmint that I have now seems happyish but I'm not sure if something else would do better.

As far as height, something that grows to about 2 feet tall would be okay. I can trim it if it gets up to the light fixtures.

Ficus? I never considered a vine type plant. I'll have to think on that one.

mkiker,

What about an african violet? They are fairly inexpensive and many grocery stores and hardware stores sell them. An A.V. may need to be raised up closer to the light in order to get it to bloom. There are a number of web sites where you can get more specific cultural info on growing A.V.s
Good luck with what ever plant you try.

I never considered African Violet's. I see food for them everywhere. I always assumed they were hard to grow.

I may still go with Baby's Tears even though I can't find any solid info on them. One website says they practically grow in the dark and another will say they will only live in hot direct sunlight. I have no idea what to believe but if they are used in aquariums and terrariums then I must assume they will live under my aquarium style lighting. I'm going to go to a few local pet stores and see what they think of it before deciding.

If I got and African Violet I wouldn't be too concerned about blooming or growth rate. I like living greenery but flowers are optional and thriving growth in the end just means pruning, discarding, and fertilizing more often.

I was going to suggest just what Toni suggested - variegated ficus pumila! Its so attractive and cute.

There are a few plants I love for low light. My favorite is the mandarin plant. I posted a link that might help you with other low light plants.

Here is a link that might be useful: Low Light Plants

What about corsican mint or pennyroyal if you like spearmint so much, they are both low growing mints that don't take too much light to grow.

I don't know what to suggest.

I would however caution that Ficus pumila doesn't seem to be a low light plant. I've been growing one for abt 6-8 months now, 1st one I've been able to keep alive. Not only do I keep it moist, but mine gets a lot of bright indirect light. In the very same spot where an AV once bloomed (near west window).

Variegated plants require even more sun & better light than their all green versions. I don't think that would work, sorry.

What about trying Selaginella pallescens? Or another member of the Selaginella family? They take part to full shade, and are ground covers in their native habitat. They need extra humidity and like to stay moist.

I have had a Baby's Tears under 40 watts for about four months and it is doing fine. I also have several lucky bamboo with very small stalks that are doing well. My asparagus fern (which started out small) really did well, but is outgrowing the 15 gal (open) aquarium it is in.

I have 5 AV's under 40 watts (different tank!) and they bloom periodically and profusely. I think AV's are a good choice, as they are usually small(I have a semi mini which has two beautiful white flowers right now) and can grow under lights well. Good luck!

is the plant you saw at HD a nepthytis? i believe they will grow viney given time, but i don't believe they do well in low light.

i tried one in a low light situation and it started wilting fast. moved it to a better lighted situation and it's doing much better.

Hi Blutarski,

Is that another (or the older) name for Syngonium (arrowhead plants)? If so, I suspect the wilting was abt lack of water, not insufficient light.

You could put several different types of sanseveria in there. Also know as "mother in law's tongue" or "snake plant". They do really well in lower light and even neglect. There are many varieties that never get tall.

i have a couple of snake plants that i don't do anything with. its almost like they don't even need me. except to get water occasionally. i have a nice one that i keep in a corner where it gets little light and it is very happy!

pirate girl, syngonium = nepthytis. I hate it when they start changing names!!

Thanks Watergal, I knew it was ringing a bell in my head!

But I think that's an old name, it's been Syngonium for most of the 10 yrs. I think I've actively been collecting. I think I'd seen the older name in reading materials maybe?

I too was thinking a sanseveria would do well but ground coverish made me think a birdsnest would be best but would that do OK under a light bulb. How about a pothos or philodendron.

Some web researched turned up the following - I can't vouch for the source one way or the other, but the info sounds reasonable enough:

'Since the 1850s, the plant has had at least twenty-five botanical names, botanists finding the plant under varying conditions and at different stages of maturity. Heinrich Wilhelm Schott was the first to name it. Syngonium podophyllum was published in Botanische Zeitung in 1851. He later (1857) published the name Nephthytis in Oesterreichisches Botanisches Wochenblatt.

'Nephthytis' was the name picked up by the horticultural trade. Not a bad name being derived from Nephthys, the Egyptian goddess of households. But by botanical rules, a plant's name reverts to the first correctly published name.'

Here is a link that might be useful: here's the full web page about it

Maranta might work.

I was thinking about trying this with a St.John's wort. The Brigadoon variety is supposed to be very adaptive and I bet it would have that nice orange color inside. Anyone ever try to grow that indoors?