15 Plants That Will Thrive in Your Bathroom
Looking for ways to spruce up your bathroom? Add a plant to bring life to a dull room and add a bit of color. While not all plants can survive the humidity in bathroom areas, there are a few that thrive in the environment. You can find both large and small species that can help improve oxygenation while adding beauty and stylishness to practically any shower/bathroom environment. Consider the 15 examples in our list of the best bathroom plants for 2022.
15. Chinese Evergreen
Apartment Therapy recommends the Chinese Evergreen for busy people who want to spice up their bathrooms. It’s a hardy plant that can tolerate occasional dry spells if you have trouble remembering to water the plants. It’s among the most forgiving, although it does have its limits. The adaptive plant will thrive if placed near a window that provides indirect or low light. If your bathroom window produces several hours of full sun, the plant will still thrive as it is highly adaptable to changing sunlight levels as the seasons’ change. Humid conditions spur its growth but beware of freezing temperatures. The Chinese Evergreen may slow its growth if there are sudden temperature changes. Try to maintain a constant air temperature for the best results. The leaves of the Chinese Evergreen are pink with green veins. The plant makes a spectacular display for any room in the house.
14. Snake Plant
The Snake Plant is among the hardiest plants for bathrooms or other rooms of the house. It’s best for people who don’t have much time or forget to water the house plants. It’s easy to grow, and you can control the growth rate by the amount of light it gets exposed to in your bathroom window. Bright light speeds its growth, but if placed in a window that receives just a few hours of sunlight, or indirect light, it will continue to thrive; however, it grows slower. The West African plant loves hot environmental conditions and requires very little water. You can forget about the Snake Plant for a few weeks at a time, and it will continue to grow and thrive. The adaptable plant does require some care, but it’s minimal.
The snake plant is nearly impossible to kill, making it a great, non-finicky option for the bathroom. It grows faster in bright light but can also tolerate less light. Its origins are in West Africa, so it can also handle desert-like conditions. “Snake plants need very little water and thrive on neglect, so they are a perfect addition for someone who is new to plants or needs a plant that doesn’t mind being forgotten from time to time,” Mast says.
13. Spider Plant
The Spider Plant is another adaptable houseplant that is ideal for placement in a bathroom. The best location is near, but not inside of a window. They cannot tolerate direct or full sun because the leaves will scorch. They love locations that receive filtered or indirect light. A little humidity from showers and baths helps the plant to thrive. Spider plants are easy to propagate; if you like them, you can create new ones from the parent. They’re tough plants that do well, even if you occasionally forget to water them.
12. Calathea “Freddie”
If your bath gets a lot of use, then the Calathea “Freddie” may be ideal. The plant loves humidity and will thrive in a warm moist environment. Indirect light in moderate amounts is ideal for Calathea. It prefers placement nearby, not inside windows. They’ll even grow if they’re a distance from sunlight. It’s one of the best bathroom plants because it can tolerate low lighting better than most other houseplants.
11. China Doll Plant
Better Homes & Gardens recommends the China Doll plant for corners that are near bathroom windows. Like many other ideal plants for this home area, the China Doll requires indirect sunlight, but the light should be bright for the best results. The house plant requires soil that is moist yet well drained. It doesn’t do well with drafts and cooler air, but it thrives on baths and showers’ warmth and high humidity. The beautiful dark green leaves brighten up a bathroom with a splash of natural color. It naturally emits oxygenation in the air.
10. Orchids
Orchids are versatile plants for nearly any room in the house, but they flourish in bathroom and shower room environments. They grow wild in regions with high humidity and warm weather. Warm baths and showers infuse the room with dampness and heat, similar to its natural habitat. Orchids require sunlight, but they must be indirect or filtered, as bright sunlight can scorch the leaves. Some orchids are easier to grow, but some will do well in a bathroom that does not receive exposure to drafts or freezing temperatures. The easiest varieties to care for include Paphiopedilums, Dendrobium, or Phalaenopsis. You’ll have your choice of colors to add vibrant stylishness to any bathroom decor. You can also grow orchids in bark, moistening them with water spray when the soil begins to dry.
9. Bromeliad
The Bromeliad is a gorgeous tropical plant that offers a choice of thousands of species from which to choose. Each type may have care recommendations, but they make exceptional house plants. It may be an exceptional choice if you have a window in the bathroom that offers bright yet filtered or indirect light. The plant thrives in high-moisture environments and warmth. The best varieties for busy people are Blushing Bromeliad, Scarlet Star, or the Um Plant, with prehistoric aesthetics. Once you browse the numerous types, you’ll find the ideal color to complement your current bathroom decor. If your bathroom window delivers several hours of bright sunlight, the best action is to set it in a spot where it either receives indirect light or hangs a sheer curtain that acts as a filtering agent.
8. Tillandsia
The Tillandsia is a plant that is also known as an air plant. The genus encompasses hundreds of species. These lovely green plants do not require soil to grow and thrive. They’re resilient plants that require little care. They originate in South America, growing wild in the jungle regions. Tillandsia plants thrive in humid conditions and grow with the humidity and heat from showers and baths. It’s best to place them in a bright, sunny window to soak up the sunshine. The varieties that produce silver-colored foliage are the most drought tolerant. You can water them every two weeks or mist them every few days as part of the care regimen. They’re among the most forgiving houseplant if you forget to water them for a few weeks.
7. Asparagus Fern
The Spruce recommends the asparagus fern as a good plant to place in your bathroom. This plant requires a few hours of bright sunlight each day, and it thrives when placed in a bathroom window with the curtains pulled back. Moderate light is also acceptable, but direct is better than indirect or filtered light. The light green, lacy leaves are beautiful and complement the decor of most bathroom schemes and colors. The soft leaves of the Asparagus Fern can be deceiving, though. Be careful when handling the stems, as they’re thorny. This house plant reaches a height of two feet when mature, and the branches may extend up to six feet in diameter. It’s best to keep the Asparagus Fern well-trimmed to keep it from getting out of control unless you have a large bathroom and a configuration that allows you to set it on the floor in a large pot. It’s best for households without small children or pets as the plant contains high toxins. It would be best if you kept it out of the reach of kids and animals. If you don’t have a sunny window to set your Asparagus Fern under, you can substitute it with artificial light as long as it’s bright. Plant it in a rich potting soil mix in a pot that has excellent drainage.
6. Bamboo
Bamboo is a popular plant choice for bathrooms throughout the world. While this plant grows large in the wild or outdoors, a pot will curb the growth and prevent rapid expansion. You will have many varieties to choose from. Some grow in single lines, but others clump together and reproduce quickly. It’s a plant that will still become large over the years, even when grown in pots. Plan to report your Bamboo every two years to avoid root overgrowth and crowding. It needs a little more care than some of the other plants on our list. Weekly feeding with diluted fertilizer during the growing season and cut it back once per month in the winter is required. Bamboo comes in colors from pale to dark green with some variegated varieties. You should use a sandy potting soil mix and expose the Bamboo to either full sun or partial shade for the best results.
5. Begonia
Begonias are a common garden plant but may also be grown indoors. The plant thrives on the humidity and warmth produced by a shower or bath. Begonias are available in various foliage colors from light to dark green, with some variegated or bronze varieties available. The leaves are attractive without blooms, but if you prefer bright and vibrant blooms, place your Begonia on a bathroom windowsill that gets at least a few hours of bright sunlight each day. If you prefer foliage only, place it in an area that receives diffused or low light. Plant in all-purpose potting soil in a pot with good drainage. They’re simple o care for and only need occasional watering when the soil feels dry to the touch. Overwatering will cause the plant to develop rot at the roots.
4. Cast Iron Plant
The Cast-Iron plant is another hardy plant that is difficult to kill once it gets established. This low-maintenance plant does well in pots in most areas of the house. It’s a native of tropical regions that will thrive in areas that receive little or no sunlight. It can also thrive in full shade but does the best in indirect and low lighting conditions. The foliage is available in solid greens in various shades or variegated types that require more sunlight. It thrives in humid conditions, but it’s not a requirement. The plant does not flower often but may produce a few blooms if exposed to indirect light. Plant it in a pot with good drainage in a potting soil formulation heavy on the peat.
3. Aloe Vera
Southern Living explains that the Aloe Vera is one of the best choices for a houseplant, particularly for the bathroom area. It’s also called the “plant of immortality” due to its hardiness and amazing resilience in most climates and environmental conditions. The Aloe Vera prefers loamy and sandy soil, placed in locations that receive partial or full, direct sunlight. It requires slightly acidic soil of 6.0 for the best results. This plant can thrive on the humidity generated in the bathroom by steam from showers and baths, although you can water it occasionally with no ill effects. It’s a desert plant that can thrive in drought conditions. Aloe Vera contains medicinal/healing properties. Pinch the tip of a branch off the plant and rub the gelatinous juice on cuts and burns to soothe the skin and speed the healing process.
2. Pothos
Pothos is a favorite houseplant available in several different varieties, from shades of green to yellow and variegated types. It produces vines that cascade downward with vibrant foliage. It loves humid conditions and requires partial to full sun. Set it on a windowsill in your bathroom for the best results. The adaptable houseplant can flourish in most environments if grown in a pot with excellent drainage and planted in slightly acidic soil from 6.1 to 6.9.
1. Birds Nest Fern
The Birds Nest Fern is a lush green plant that is also adaptable to most environments. Plant in loamy soil, and keep it moist in a pot with good drainage. The tropical plant prefers shade to the partial sun to thrive in bathrooms with limited light during the day. The humidity provides the ideal climate as it loves moisture in the air. It’s a lovely houseplant that will brighten your bathroom space and help oxygenate the air.
