Written by
Bente
The bathroom is often overlooked when we think about bringing greenery into our homes. Yet its typically more humid atmosphere can offer excellent conditions for certain plants. The key is to choose the right varieties for the light, temperature and space available. Here are ten plants that could feel right at home in your bathroom.
How to choose the perfect plant for your bathroom
Before choosing a plant for your bathroom, take a good look at the conditions in the room.
- Light: some plants tolerate moderate light levels, but none can survive in darkness in the long term. Whether you have a window and which way it faces are therefore key.
- Humidity: the steam from showers and baths suits many tropical plants particularly well. You’ll still need to adjust your watering according to how moist the potting compost actually is.
- Temperature: some plants enjoy warmth all year round, while others cope better in a slightly cooler room. Watch out for sudden changes in temperature and draughts in particular.
- Space: in a small bathroom, consider trailing or hanging plants. In a larger room, a Monstera or an Alocasia can have a little more room to spread out.
1
Spider plant
Spider plants have graceful, striped leaves in a fresh, green colour. They grow quite fast and, because of their long, drooping leaves, work wonderfully as a hanging plant in a bathroom. Spider plants are ideal for bathrooms as they love high humidity and can tolerate low temperatures. They'll thrive in a bright spot or a shady one.
2
Boston fern
With their striking, lush leaves, Boston ferns add a nice green feel to your bathroom. These plants like high humidity and thrive in a warm, steamy bathroom. They need indirect light and are ideal for placing on a shelf or in a hanging pot.
3
Peace lily
With its dark green leaves and elegant white flowers, the Peace Lily is a stylish addition to your bathroom. This an air-purifying plant that likes high humidity and thrives in low-light spaces such as the bathroom.
4
Aloe vera
Strong and steady Aloe Vera does well in a bathroom. Although it likes dry conditions, the plant can handle humidity surprisingly well. Place your Aloe in a well-drained pot and in a place with plenty of light (sadly this isn't the choice for you if your bathroom is on the darker side). A big benefit of keeping this plant is the moisturising, soothing leaf gel, which has medicinal benefits.
5
Monstera
Monstera is another popular bathroom plant. The most popular varieties, Monstera deliciosa and the smaller Monstera adansonii (Monkey Mask), are both suitable for the smallest room in the house. Monstera likes high humidity and a warm environment. The plant can be placed in a spot with lot or a little light without issues, but avoid drafts.
6
Alocasia Zebrina
Tropical Alocasia Zebrina (Elephant's Ear), has dark green leaves with zebra-patterned stems. This plant needs a humid spote, so the bathroom is a good place for it. Alocasia Zebrina needs quite a lot of indirect light, so only place it in a bathroom with sufficient daylight.
7
Philodendron
With its large, deep green leaves, Philodendron is a beautiful plant to green up your bathroom with. It likes a humid and warm environment, which makes it perfect as a bathroom plant. Philodendron needs little light and prefers a spot in the semi-shade, such as near a small bathroom window.
8
Calathea
Calathea is a true beauty. While there are lots of different varietes - wavy leaves, ribbed leaves, flamed patterns and stripes - all Calatheas like high humidity and low light. This makes them the ideal candidate for a bathroom. Caution: Calatheas are not very resistant to draughts and cold (temperatures <15°C)..
9
Orchid
Orchid is a tropical, flowering plant that loves a humid environment. Note that your bathroom does need to stay warm enough for Orchid's blooms to thrive (at least 16°C). This plant prefers to be in a place with filtered daylight, such as an east- or west-facing bathroom window where the light falls through slats or blinds.
10
Pothos
Pothos loves damp spaces. This air-purifying climbing plant bring a nice green vibe to any bathroom. This plant is also suitable for smaller bathrooms, as it can be displayed as a hanging plant. It thrives in high or low light levels but the less light, the darker the leaves of this plant will be.
Which plants are best for a bathroom with limited light?
If your bathroom gets little natural light but still has a window, some plants in this selection will cope better than others. Calathea enjoys gentle, filtered light and a warm, humid atmosphere. Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), certain Philodendrons and Chlorophytum (spider plant) can also tolerate lower light levels.
However, “limited light” doesn’t mean “dark”: even these plants need light to photosynthesise and grow properly. Calathea is also fairly demanding when it comes to watering, humidity and temperature, so it’s best suited to someone who’s happy to keep a close eye on its needs.
Can you keep plants in a bathroom without a window?
A bathroom with no window or suitable artificial light won’t support houseplants in the long term. Even plants often described as “shade-tolerant” need light to photosynthesise. Without natural light or suitable grow lights, they will eventually decline.
More inspiration
Keen to bring more greenery into your home? Discover these 10 extra-special eye-catching houseplants. And if space is tight, consider hanging plants: a great wat to add greenery from floor to ceiling without cluttering your furniture.
