So this is an interesting subject and there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of info online or, none that I can find easily other than the floors of tropical forests are very dark and dense under tree canopies less than 2% of sun light hits the ground but yet there are all kinds of plants growing on the floors of these dark tropical forests and this is what I find interesting.

There aren't many detailed photos or videos online that shows what exactly grows on these dark tropical forest floors. I am seriously thinking about taking my research to another level and visit a tropical forest to see in person exactly what is there and to take notes and measurements of light intensity plus humidity levels on the forest floor.

I'd be interested if anybody had any knowledge at all about the dark dense grounds of the tropical forests and what plants grow there as well as a rough estimate of LUX will be there. Any info at all I can use for my research in house plants that grow in the lowest possible light.

Lichens moss tree saplings mushrooms calathea and like shrubby plants heliconia some orchids some bromeliads vines and creepers gingers musa arums and other aroids ferns

I can imagine orchids wouldn't be easy but worth a try, because they are pretty. I've tried bromeliads but I'm never successful with those and there appearance is a bit too artificial for my liking. lichens mosses sound interesting, maybe lichens mosses could be grown at the base of pothos plant pots or something. calathea plants sound interesting maybe I can try one out and see how it does. Heliconia looks like it would require lots of light. Ferns never work out for me. All very interesting tho. It be nice if orchids could work.

Before you get too excited, what are the temperatures in winter? A lot of the plants Gina has mentioned are truly tropicals. I'm not sure London qualifies. Are you growing your tropical forest indoors?

Kevin, it's estimated that only 2-5% of the light that shines onto the upper topmost story of a rainforest actually penetrate all the way to the forest floor. Likewise, only about 2-5% of all the rain that falls on a forest makes it there. The floor is dark, extremely humid and warm.
Most of the plant life associated with the rainforest occurs in the understory and the canopy.
Most of the plants in the canopy are epiphytic. Most of the orchids, bromeliads, philodendrons, anthuriums and other aroids grow in the canopy. Terrestrials like understory palms, bananas, heliconias, shrubby flowering plants etc grow on the floor where there are breaks in the upper story and canopy that permit enough light to filter down and support them

Lucy68 said: Before you get too excited, what are the temperatures in winter? A lot of the plants Gina has mentioned are truly tropicals. I'm not sure London qualifies. Are you growing your tropical forest indoors?

I have a very good heating system for winter so I can keep temperatures from getting cold. Humidity is something I am working on. Do orchids need lots of humidity?

Coming to think about the requirements for orchids, I don't think I would have the right environment for them. They need bright shade and I don't think 500 to 1000 LUX will quite cut the butter with them but I could be wrong. I guess if I ever come across a cheap orchid I could give it a try, as the saying goes... you'll never know unless you try.

Phalaenopsis are the orchids you'll see if you ever see an orchid in the grocery or big box store. They're very tolerant of average home conditions. I have several and get annual blooms, must be doing something right. For me, it is hang them under my trees for summer, until nights are cooling to 50F, then inside on a random window or maybe near plant light shelf.

Lichens/mosses, I think you're forgetting the humidity level needed for those. But maybe they'd work if you can find some, not your typical plant store item.

GIna enlightened me when I bought Calathea Mosaic, that humidity was good but soggy roots not good, as (If I understood) the rain has so many layers to penetrate, and there are so many roots sucking up water, that the root zone is drier than you'd expect.

The root zone is humus and filled with decaying matter which make it very rich media. I've had friends go on expeditions to the rainforests of several places to tour, document and, if properly licensed, collect specimens. The photos they show from the floor are largely huge trunks of tall trees, epiphytes hanging off everything, tons of ferns and vines, lots of different fungi, and many hemiepiphytes. Every thing is constantly wet, not from rain, but from extreme humidity.

You need some humidifiers. When the plaster starts rolling off the walls, you will have enough humidity.

If the question is simply which are the plants often cultivated successfully in the house - that are the most tolerant of dim lighting, that's a question that is asked often. Most people don't have any equipment to measure light levels, so that eliminates those who don't from that part of the discussion. The usual problem in the usual discussion is various interpretations of the amount of light because of that. People in tropical locations try to be helpful but are usually speaking about plants growing outside.

I have difficulty participating because I move plants around so much, from inside to outside and back, and put them in different places each winter. I'm sure you'll move your plants around occasionally even if they never go outside. As a general rule, plants grown with expectations of blooms are not good candidates for the dim spots because although those might grow beautiful leaves the blooms usually need more light to form.

For my personal use, I find it too hard to try to pre-quantify the amount of light a plant needs and just bring it home to experiment if I like it. I don't regret any plant that hasn't made the cut, or regrets about giving those away or just composting them, but do have regrets about plants that I didn't bring home for a try. If you see something you like and want to try finding a spot it will like, and you agree with the price, you should bring it home. When you compare the cost to a bouquet that lasts maybe a week, it's not unreasonable to me. Some years I buy several plants, some years none at all.

I suppose if orchids really need high humidity then maybe they are more suited to a terrarium setup, I could also have moss in there too. I'm planing on doing a terrarium setup at some point but right now I'm concentrating on the plants I do have so I'm in no rush just yet. I think moss would look very nice with orchids along with tree bark and stuff, they'd have all the humidity they need in a terrarium setup. I can also have a mini ecosystem with some insects like spring tails some woodlice etc, a little living bio-active sort of setup.

One might look at Ludisia discolor!

Lucy68 said: You need some humidifiers. When the plaster starts rolling off the walls, you will have enough humidity.

If I could have my way I would live in a giant heated greenhouse. I could have my own rain forest then.

I'll try to get some current pictures of our live tanks, they're looking really good.

Nano tanks with mourning geckos and I think a couple of bromeliads and an orchid on cork bark.

Tarantulas with plectranthus.

Fire belly toads with 3" of water and fish, waterfall, and tons of huge plectrathus like a weed, bromeliads...

AmberLeaf said: So this is an interesting subject and there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of info online or, none that I can find easily other than the floors of tropical forests are very dark and dense under tree canopies less than 2% of sun light hits the ground but yet there are all kinds of plants growing on the floors of these dark tropical forests and this is what I find interesting.

There aren't many detailed photos or videos online that shows what exactly grows on these dark tropical forest floors. I am seriously thinking about taking my research to another level and visit a tropical forest to see in person exactly what is there and to take notes and measurements of light intensity plus humidity levels on the forest floor.

I'd be interested if anybody had any knowledge at all about the dark dense grounds of the tropical forests and what plants grow there as well as a rough estimate of LUX will be there. Any info at all I can use for my research in house plants that grow in the lowest possible light.

Interesting questions.

I think others made great suggestions for plants but the thread title is misleading:) for me at least.

What grows on the ground in a tropical forest compared to what you can try at home...big canopy saplings that shade for years.

Awesome project though.

I have a giant heated greenhouse but I don't live in it

Gina's mini-Ecuador!💕💕💕

Gina1960 said: I have a giant heated greenhouse but I don't live in it

That's because if you fell asleep in it, you would wake up tied to a wall.

...or composted 🪴

I would like to live in the Palm House at Kew Gardens. I would sleep in a hammock I would also have birds in there like budgies and carnies.