Are you looking to include plants in your bathroom decor but not sure what kind of plant survives well in the bathroom? Well, we’ve got a list of 21 plants best for the bathroom.
There is nothing that brightens up your living space quite like a houseplant. Often found in kitchens, living rooms, and even bedrooms, flora makes a gorgeous aesthetic. However, homeowners are now filling their bathrooms with beautiful greenery. So whether you’re planning to put plants in your guest bathrooms, en-suite, or cloakroom we have everything you need to know below.
Most of nature’s plants thrive in low light and love humidity, and moist environments, so the bathroom is the ideal place to keep mother nature’s children.
- CAST IRON ASPIDISTRA PLANT
- BOSTON FERN BATHROOM PLANT
- SNAKE PLANT
- ALOE VERA PLANT
- SPIDER PLANT
- ORCHID
- PEACE LILY
- GARDENIA
- FICUS LYRATA, FIDDLE LEAF FIG
- IVY PLANT
- CHINESE EVERGREEN
- PHILODENDRON
- CORN PLANT
- LUCKY BAMBOO
- FITTONIA NERVE
- BEGONIA PLANT
- DUMB CANE
- ZANZIBAR GEM OR ZZ PLANT
- CYCLAMEN
- BROMELIADS
- ASPARGUS FERN ASPARAGUS
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING PLANTS IN THE BATHROOM?
Including plants in your bathroom décor has many benefits including
- They purify the air from pollution
- They help with productivity
- Reduce stress levels
- Boost your mood
Oh, magnificent plants what can’t you do – well some plants actually can’t survive in the bathroom, but we will get to that later on in the article. For now, let’s discuss what plants not only survive but are best for the bathroom.
1. CAST IRON ASPIDISTRA PLANT
Cast Iron plants are extremely hard to kill off, hence their tough guy name. Popular in the Victorian era, the cast iron, or, as some call it, the aspidistra, can handle almost any environment.
The Cast Iron is native to eastern and southeastern Asia, thriving in high humidity, and grows naturally in the shade under trees and shrubs. So, the low lighting found in a bathroom will be no challenge for the cast iron plant to thrive.
Photo Credit: Beards & Daisies
Cast Irons are on the low maintenance side and the lower light they have, the less they need watering. We recommend allowing it to dry out between watering as over-watering can cause root rot.
Aspidistras will live for many years and grow to around 2 ft tall once they have fully matured, making them the perfect plant for lazy carers and smaller bathroom spaces.
2. BOSTON FERN BATHROOM PLANT
Boston Ferns love low lighting and humid environments, which makes them a great bathroom plant. They reside in tropical regions of the world and love heat. Enjoy the gorgeous aesthetic of a Boston Fern with little effort.
To keep this plant happy, all you have to do is keep the soil damp and never let it dry out. The more humid the air the more moisture the fern will absorb. So, keep your showers hot and steamy and your fern will be a happy plant.
3. SNAKE PLANT
The snake plant is very popular amongst indoor plant lovers and it’s no wonder when they look this beautiful. Snake plants are great for purifying the air by taking in toxins through the leaves and releasing oxygen.
If you’re looking for a plant that will help reduce pollution, then make sure you have a snake plant – We love this air plant!
What makes these plants even better is their ability to adapt to most environments and still thrive. They can withstand direct sunlight and tolerate low light, a bathroom with ever-changing light and temperature is the perfect fit for the snake plant.
The snake plant can be highly poisonous if ingested by animals, so make sure if you have pets you keep this plant well out of their way.
The dark green of the leaves blended with a shot of sunshine yellow is just one of the many reasons we love a snake plant.
4. ALOE VERA PLANT
Aloe Vera is one of the favourite house plants. Similar to the snake plant, Aloe Vera also removes toxins from the air known as VOCs. The Aloe Vera plant not only looks incredible, but it also is a great natural remedy for cuts, sunburns, or bites.
The Aloe Vera plant makes a great aesthetic sat next to a countertop basin or placed on your vanity unit.
Make sure you water Aloe Vera generously. Once watered deeply, it can last a week or so without a drink, making it the perfect plant for forgetful plant parents.
5. SPIDER PLANT
Spider plants hate direct and hot sunlight, so a bathroom that has low-level lighting and doesn’t get too warm is great for this type of house plant. If they have too much direct sunlight their leaves will blacken.
This gorgeous plant only needs water once or twice, maximum per week, and will sprout new buds that you can plant in other rooms of your home!
6. ORCHID
Orchids are beautiful light plants. Available in many vibrant colours and fragrances, this gorgeous botanical has a shade to suit every style of bathroom.
Orchids are humidity-loving plants, as we know bathrooms are humid rooms so they’re sure to flourish.
Orchids need ample watering. We would recommend letting them dry out between watering to avoid a drowning situation. Check for when the soil feels dry and that’s your sign to give them a drink.
7. PEACE LILY
Peace Lilies are a beautiful and classy type of plant. They welcome higher humidity levels such as bathrooms. These delicate plants will tell you when they need a drink by ‘sagging’.
Try and water them once a week and make sure their soil is always moist.
8. GARDENIA
Gardenias are on the harder-to-maintain side but look fabulous. If you have a bathroom with a window, we would advise you to place the Gardenia on the window sill if possible.
They grow best from the morning sun and then should spend the afternoon in the shade, a bit like taking your child to the beach.
Another great reason to include Gardenia’s in your bathroom is they give off a beautiful scent, leaving your bathroom fresh all day long.
9. FICUS LYRATA, FIDDLE LEAF FIG
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is the perfect plant for the bathroom. This plant loves bright indirect light and thrives in warm and wet conditions – it was a bathroom and plant match made in heaven!
Photo credit: GardenGoodDirect
10. IVY PLANT
Ivy is a beautiful plant but grows at an excessive rate. However, a houseplant Ivy will not grow aggressively. Keep your ivy in a hanging basket or container for the most beautiful drooping effect.
Vining plants will always let you know when it’s ready for a drink by touching the soil with the top of your fingers. If the soil is dry, this indicates the plant needs a drink. The key is to keep the soil moist but not overly soggy.
11. CHINESE EVERGREEN
Chinese evergreen plants are relatively carefree when it comes to TLC. Native to tropical regions, this plant is no stranger to dry and humid air.
These large-leaved plants are best in low-light-level conditions. Make sure you keep the soil moist and water when it begins to look and feel a little dry.
A good tip for these plants is to spray mist the large leaves with lukewarm water. This will keep it looking nice and fresh.
12. PHILODENDRON PLANT
To care for a Philodendron is simple because they adapt to any indoor environment that they are placed in – great, right?
They also look pretty good, with their huge leaves and bright fresh green colour. They make the perfect plant for some fresh pops of colour and feel-good décor.
Photo Credit: The Rare Plant Shop
The only rule of the Philodendron is to water them when the first inch of soil dries out, medium light but note that if more than one leaf starts to turn yellow that it is getting too much sunlight, and finally, misting the plant regularly will help the plant thrive.
We recommend watering once a week.
13. CORN PLANT
Corn plants or Dracaena fragrans, are one of the best bathroom plants because they are so easy to grow and maintain. This gorgeous botanical requires watering every 7- to ten days – the key is to keep the soil moist and not wet.
Photo Credit: Hunker.com
Corn plants also need filtered sunlight to keep them happy and healthy. They keep best by being placed where they will have shade and light throughout the day. Warmth and humidity is their best friend.
14. LUCKY BAMBOO
The lucky bamboo plant is said to bring good luck and prosperity to the place where it is grown. The ‘Lucky’ concept of the plant, derives from Chinese culture.
Photo Credit: Plants.com
Lucky Bamboo loves lots of natural light, they also need to be watered once a week and their roots should always be in a few inches of water.
15. FITTONIA NERVE
The Fittonia Nerve or more commonly known as, the nerve plant because of its bright vein patterns, makes a beautiful addition to your bathroom space.
They are usually found outdoors but can thrive well indoors and sometimes even bloom red and yellow spikes. Unlike most bathroom plants the nerve can be quite tricky to take care of but worth the effort.
Photo Credit: jojotastic
The nerve loves bright indirect sunlight and thrives with regular water (always keep the soil moist, you can maintain luscious leaves with a midst ever day).
16. BEGONIA PLANT
When it comes to taking care of a begonia always avoid over-watering or even wet soil. These beautiful greens love slightly moist soil, so it’s best to let them dry out between waterings.
Begonias also require, when fully grown, fertilizer fluid at half the strength. This helps maintain a healthy, full plant.
Photo Credit: Plants Company
Like you, they love hot and steamy showers and can thrive well in a bathroom environment. Allow them to have filtered sunlight.
17. DUMB CANE
The Dumb cane has many other names, such as the Dieffenbachia or leopard Lily. But our preferred name for this gorgeous plant has to be the Dumb Cane!
Photo Credit: Plants Care Company
Fabulous for creating a tropical look, the Dumb Cane is another plant that will purify your air. If placed in the bathroom the cane will work to remove any harmful toxins from the air. Providing you with a clear and nontoxic environment to unwind in.
Remember, to keep this plant happy they need gentle sunlight and humid temperatures, as they belong to the tropical plants family.
Water them on a regular basis, but make sure the soil is never left to dry out. Fertiliser should only be included in the plant’s diet once it has started growing new leaves.
18. ZANZIBAR GEM OR ZZ PLANT
The ZZ plant is the perfect plant for bohemian décor. They have a unique look that grows and hangs in such a graceful way, you’ll never not want to water it again!
ZZ plants thrive in indirect sunlight and even under fluorescent lighting. It can happily survive with watering every 7-14 days, so even the most forgetful plant lovers can enjoy this plant!
ZZ are lovings plants, that require little looking after.
19. CYCLAMEN
Cyclamens are beautiful additions to your bathroom if you’re seeking pops of colour. They are available from pinks to bright reds and are sure to brighten up your day just by looking at them.
Cyclamens are easy and reliable plants to look after. They will thrive in the bathroom if they are positioned in diffused light and watering is all about keeping them moist and not wet -They couldn’t be easier!
20. BROMELIADS
Bromeliads are great indoor plants and perfect to keep in the bathroom. They are colourful, smell beautiful, and have gorgeous heads surrounded by relaxing greenery.
You should provide your bromeliad with bright indirect light, and make sure you keep the plant moist and in a humid environment. It will help the plant thrive if you fertilise it every once in a while.
FAQ’S
Is Iit good to keep plants in a bathroom?
It is a good idea to keep plants in the bathroom as they help produce productivity, positive mental well being and can purify the air for a relaxingly clean bathroom. Bathroom plants will also make your space look more aesthetically pleasing.
What plant is best for a bathroom with no windows?
Plants that work best in bathrooms without windows include Chinese evergreens, cast iron plants or the spider plant. These plants work well in bathrooms with little natural light because they do not require direct sunlight to thrive.
Do spider plants like bathrooms?
Spider plants thrive in bathrooms as they don’t need a lot of sunlight or watering. They also adapt to humid environments such as the bathroom well.
What bathroom plants absorb moisture the best?
Bathroom plants that absorb moisture include the Peace Lily, Boston Fern and English Ivy. The bathroom naturally holds a lot of moisture because of amount of water and steam it produces. These plants should help soak up some of the moisture.
Plants that are not good for the bathroom
We thought it would be useful to also inform you about the plants that do not cope well in humid bathroom conditions. Any plant that requires a cool living environment, plenty of direct light and dry conditions will not survive well in a bathroom.
Click on the link to find out more about plants that are not good for the bathroom.
And don’t forget, garden centres or online shops should give each plant instructions about how to take care of them.
Rikki has a passion for interior design and an even bigger passion for writing about it. When she isn’t writing about gorgeous bathroom interiors, you’ll find her discovering all of the latest trends.