If you’ve run out of places to put plants in the living room and kitchen, it’s time to brighten up the bathroom. It’s usually not the first place we think of for plants. Natural light is often scarce, and frequent showers make the air humid and hot. But some plants thrive in those conditions! You can even buy planters for your shower walls.
Here’s a quick rundown of the best bathroom plants that will love a spot in the even the darkest bathroom.
Plants that like humidity
1. Aloe Vera
Everyone says how easy aloe vera plants are, but I’ve managed to kill not one but two now. And what I’ve learned – the succulent does not like being over watered. Humidity in the bathroom helps water it if you are forgetful, and forgetfulness may prove to be beneficial to your aloe in the end.
Care instructions: Bright indirect light; very little water is required.
2. Orchids
Orchids truly thrive in the jungle-like humidity of a showered in bathroom. Too little light and your orchid will not flower, but too much light and your orchid leaves could burn.
Pay attention to the color of its leaves. If the leaves are turning yellow then it is not happy and one of the conditions for success may be off, creating stress in your plant.
Care instructions: Bright indirect light; enjoys high humidity environments.
3. Air Plants
Air plants absorb moisture from air, and bathroom humidity helps keep this plant happy. I find air plants are harder than most to keep alive. I frequently see mixed reviews on how to water, when to water, or even if to water at all.
Sheer curiosity in the air plant is what keeps me coming back to them. They are magical and in my experience are best placed near a windowsill – but not directly against a window where they could burn.
Placing my air plant in a bathroom with a shower has been the best bet for survival as it helps keep my plant regularly misted and happily hydrated.
Care instructions: Bright indirect light; thrive in humidity.
Plants that tolerate low light
4. Lucky Bamboo
I once had a lucky bamboo plant that I bought from IKEA that lasted for years and years and eventually was left behind at my parents’ house. These are easy growers and require minimal care.
They handle low light bathrooms but this also means your plant will grow slower so don’t get upset if your lucky bamboo doesn’t change all that much in your low light bathroom. I like to rotate my lucky bamboo to a bright room once a week to give it a good dose of sunshine then put it back in my bathroom.
Care instructions: Prefers low indirect light; able to grow in water (no soil required); grows fast when in brighter light!
5. Snake Plant
I truly LOVE the snake plant. My snake plant absolutely thrives in my low light space. They are happier in sandier soils and need to completely dry out before you water it again. There are so many types of snake plants with so many different types of leaf markings and colorings that my heart yearns for every. single. one.
To keep the color markings from disappearing you will need to make sure it gets enough light. While snake plants can grow in low light you may need to give it a dose of bright sunshine here and there to keep the markings from fading and having your plant turn solid green.
Care instructions: Low light tolerant; little water required, steam from bathroom helps plant get water; low maintenance.
6. Spider Plant
Ah, the spider plant, such a beauty in its happy, healthy state with its leggy, cascading leaves. I have the most luck with this plant when it is in moderate light. It is a low light tolerant plant but that also means it may grow slower than it would in brighter light, but nevertheless, it will grow.
I also have the best luck with my spider plants when I give them their space. They don’t need a lot of attention. Water them when the soil is dry and leave them do their spidery thing. When it’s really happy it will produce little “baby plants” that can be snipped and propagated into new plants!
Care instructions: Likes low to moderate light; low maintenance.
Plants that thrive in both low light and high humidity
7. Peace Lily
Peace lilies are very resilient plants which is why they are one of my go-to plants for pretty much every room in my house, especially the bathroom. They can handle low-light bathrooms and thrive in humid environments.
I water my Peace Lily only when the leaves begin showing signs of wilting, this works for me (and my lily) or else I risk succumbing to my ever present curse of over-watering, so I wait for the wilt. If your Peace Lily leaves gather dust be sure to gently wipe it clean.
Care instructions: Bright indirect to low light; humid, steamy environments, spritz leaves with water if needed for added moisture; can be grown in water; minimal maintenance; will flower with enough light; reduces humidity in air.
8. Button Fern
I love ferns and Button Ferns are a great solution for small spaces as they only grow 12-18 inches tall unlike their larger cousin, the Boston Fern. This smaller size makes them ideal for your bathroom shelf.
They also love the humid air. Mist your plant leaves occasionally to provide that extra moisture it so loves. Soggy soil spells death for your sweet little Button, so really be careful to not over water your plant.
Care instructions: Low to moderate light; humidity-loving; mist the leaves for added moisture.
9. Pothos
The Pothos can survive in a low light bathroom. I prefer to give my bathroom-dwelling pothos a dose of bright light about once a week in another room in order to keep the markings looking vibrant on my plant. They do not need a lot of maintenance or water.
At one point I did not think my Pothos was growing, but then I realized I had not “groomed” my plant, which means I needed to gently untangle its leafy tendrils so that the plant could hang loosely down. Ta-da! My plant had been growing all along, just into a tangled mess.
Care instructions: Tolerates low to moderate light; bright indirect light helps leaves grow larger; high humidity; enjoys warm temps.
10. Ivy / English Ivy
Ivy grows pretty much everywhere, which is why I love it. It will even grow in a very low light space. Ivy plants prefer to dry out almost completely between waterings.
The humid environment of your bathroom helps keep it hydrated and looking lovely. As it grows I place little hooks on the wall to help it spread all around my shower walls and mirror making it oh so spa-like in there.
Care instructions: Moderate to low light; enjoys humidity; helps remove mold spores from air; minimal maintenance.
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