Requesting assistance in houseplant plan

Originally I posted this on my NE gardening thread; however, I am thinking that these questions are better suited here.
So here I go:

Decided to share my overall plan for plants (indoors) at this time.
There are 5 areas I would
like beautified with 'shade' plants. They are:

1. The stairway from the ground floor to the main floor to have plants
on each step (over to the side so that the stairs can still be used in the case of a
fire.) - This area gets no sunlight and is not a good canidate for grow lights.

2. The entryway on the ground floor to have plants there, when the
weather permits. (This area is bricked with a very small circular window looking
out into a shaded area and a door, also facing another shaded area.)
Possibly placing smaller plants on tables narrow enough that they do not block the doorway
into the main part of the bottom floor or larger plants that sit on the ground.
(This area definitely needs grow lights wired in there
so plants there can have a fair chance to thrive.)

3. Outside the entryway (on the main floor) on either side of the door
Would like them to be possibly as tall as the door knob and Evergreen in nature.
(This is outside the house.)

4. Inside the first set of doors to the left of the entryway (on the
main floor) (Would like this to be a tall, full evergreen bush:
however, it will have to find another place to live during the winter
when salt and shovel is needed there.) I am at a bit of a loss for
what would thrive there as there does not seem to be much light that
gets in there. (Possibly another grow light there?)

5. To add additional plants to the area directly to the left of the
top of the second floor stairs.
(This area gets I little light from a sky light.)
6. To add additional plants in a room with one tall/slim window on 3rd level).

Look forward to your suggestions.
Isabelle

Not sure what you are truly asking Isabelle, I understand you have some lighting concerns, but some of thie plants oare outdoors? You quesions for th outdoor ones might best be posed in the container forum. Am I correct in assuming where you say not light you mean no sunlight and that there is artificial light in these areas? If thats the case I would buy whatever plant you like and rotate them in and out of the artificial light area, say every 1 or 2 monthes move them to a place where they can get more natural light, remeber watering is going to be the biggest factor on whether or not they survive. Very little light means they will not dry up as fast as your other house plants an may not need weekly watering. Hope that helps.

Mean
Queen
Nadine

I am also a bit confused re your layout and lack of light, you will find the cost rather high in the conditions you have described indoors, I would envisage that the plants required for the areas inside would be greenery as I cant imagine many flowering plants doing well in such dark conditions, some ivy's might be OK and you can get hanging, as well as climbing of those, also caster oil plants, dont know the Latin name off hand, why dont you go along to a good artificial plant supplier and have a good look at some of those, I know that these have come a long way from the old plastic things that used to be in vogue years ago, a few more expensive ones might be better than what you are trying to do with dozens of indoor plant that I feel you will be having to replace every few months due to lack of light, plants look really sad when they are all flopping and discoloured hanging over the pots because they are not happy in the conditions they cant thrive in, If you do end up with artificial plants, I would be inclined to use Uplighters which are more atractive for the large area you are speaking about,and will give nice shaddows instead of your idea of grow lights which in my experience are not the most atractive, they would perhaps cause problems due to them having to hang down so close to the plants.
As regards the plants for outside the front door, you have a lot of options, first I would look for the right size/shape container that you require, then choose the plants to go in it, I feel you might want to go for a taller container, ( you dont have to fill it with soil) you can place bricks or even old packageing in the bottom to fill up some of the space, then take the pot to the plant department and sit some plants in it, this way you will know if you want tall slim, small but bush like of more open with flower,remember the plant will look the same once the flowers have gone, the container in the position you are looking for should always marry up with the plant as it is the first thing you see as you come to the entry on your home, perhaps BOX into topery shaped cones, Varigated Conifer, maybe even Holly that you can shape yourself, if they grow too big, you can put in the garden and start again with a change, you have countless options for the outside doors but less for the area with lack of light for the indoors area, but maybe I am wrong, good luck anyway.

ICLove,

I can only tell you of some plants that would do well in lower light areas. These are/can grow to be on the tall side and are often used in offices.

Shefflera "Amate" (the one with the big leaves). My favorite!
Dracena "Jeanette Craig"--This one has big, broad leaves and grows
slowly to a pretty tall plant.
Any variety of Spathyphylum (Peace Lilies)
Sansiveria (sp?)--aka "Snake Plant..."Mother in law Tongue". NOT
bushy. Stiff, upright growth.
Dracena marginata--this may need a bit more light.
The "Corn Plant"--big fat trunks--variegated leaves on the top.
Some of the "Pleomeles" (Malaysian Dracena (?).
Caladiums--grown as houseplants.
Some of the "Cissus" vines--eg "Grape Ivy".

Running out of suggestions here. I am sure there are many more.

Please go and buy a simple houseplant book with good pictures and descriptions of all the plants and their needs. If you have a HD near you, they sell small booklets for .99 cents. It is a pretty inclusive book with color photos and it, usually has all the plants in it that HD normally carries. While you are there--check out their Houseplant department and ask a lot of questions. See what you may like and then learn all you can about that plant. DG is great for that kind of education!

Not that you asked--but my opinion is that you might want to start with fewer plants here and there and see how they do. If you like them--buy more. If not--try something different. Your plan, as you described it, seems a bit grandiose for a beginner with Houseplants. Also, VERY expensive!!!

Please don't mind me saying that. I just want you to have my honest opinion.

Good luck, Gita