Bathrooms deserve to be decorated with lush greenery just like every other room in the house – but it can be tricky to find a plant that thrives here. Low light, high humidity, and warm temperatures mean only certain houseplants will flourish.
Let’s look at some of the best bathroom plant choices!
1.Lucky Bamboo
An inexpensive and easy to find at garden centers, grocery stores, dollar stores, convenience stores, car washes and gas stations and many other venues. It is easy to grow and enjoys a low-light setting.
You don’t even need soil to grow the lucky bamboo plant – Dracaena sanderiana. Just purchase a few shoots, take it home and pop it into a container of pebbles or marbles and filtered water (or water that has been allowed to sit out overnight to allow chemicals to dissipate). Change the water weekly to prevent mold growth.
This type of plant grows very quickly, but you can keep it the size you want by trimming it regularly or by placing it in an area that hampers its growth. For example, you might put a shelf above it.
2. Ferns
True ferns such do very well in low-light bathroom settings.
Another is the “asparagus foxtail fern” not a true fern but its look has earned it the name. They like indirect, natural light so a window is desirable but a full spectrum grow light will also work.
Ferns make great shower plants they will enjoy the humidity from your showers, but they also need regular watering and misting. Remember to check the soil and keep it lightly moist (not soggy) at all times.
3. Cast Iron Plant
Aspidistra elatior – the cast iron plant is an excellent choice if you are a notorious plant killer. This plant likes a low light setting and can tolerate a neglected watering schedule. It can tolerate extremes of temperature (50°-85° degrees Fahrenheit). Naturally, as with all living things, a consistent temperature is appreciated.
To take good care of aspidistra, place it in an area with indirect sunlight and water it thoroughly when the soil becomes bone dry.
Wipe the long, spear-like leaves with a damp cloth from time-to-time to keep them dust-free. If your bathroom is windowless, provide artificial light.
4. Chinese Evergreen
The Aglaonema is a lush, leafy plant with large leaves variegated with white or pink markings. You will often see this plant in a mall or office settings because it is tough and beautiful and it loves a controlled indoor environment. It is a tropical plant, and your bathroom is the perfect place for it!
5. Dieffenbachia
The “Dumb Cane” is similar in appearance to Chinese Evergreen and Aspidistra plant, but it much bigger. Its leaves can grow to be a foot long or more.
Dieffenbachia prefers artificial light and needs bright indirect light to thrive. It needs protection from direct sunlight. It also likes high humidity and consistently moist well-drained soil.
If you have the unusual circumstance of having a large, windowless bathroom and you want to create the illusion of a well-lit, tropical setting, this plant will do well for you.
6. Dracaena
The “Dragon Plant” comes in more than forty varieties. It’s long, spear-like leaves range in width from very fine and thin to a couple of inches wide.
Available in solid green, greenish-maroon, and variegated colorations. The leaves emerge from relatively thick, trunk-like stems.
This plant is a real workhorse as air purifying plants for bathrooms. It prefers artificial light to natural light and will scorch in bright sunlight.
This low-care plant does very well with just the high humidity levels you would expect to find in a bathroom.
7. Philodendron
The “philo” comes in many shapes and size. Large and small, medium-light, low care tropical plants with glossy green, variegated and even maroon colored leaves.
The split-leaf variety sometimes known as Monstera. Heartleaf philodendron with its heart-shaped leaf is a long-time, popular favorite.
All types of philodendron prefer consistent, moderate lighting, so artificial lighting is the best choice. They also need a consistently warm temperature, so plan to keep your bathroom between 75° to 85° degrees Fahrenheit.
8.Mother-In-Law Tongue | Snake Plant
The snake plant will do well in light levels ranging from low to bright indirect lighting. It will also do very well with fluorescent or grow lights. It is fine in most humidity levels and needs infrequent watering. A favorite plant for bathroom settings.
9. ZZ Plant
ZZ is a drought tolerant plant, but it will do best if you water it thoroughly when the top inch of the soil becomes dry. If you do forget and it begins to drop leaves, give it a good watering, and it is sure to bounce back.
ZZ has thick, glossy, dark green leaves that grow on long fronds. It is a very attractive plant that attains a maximum height of two feet.
10. Peperomia Plant aka The Radiator
The Peperomia plant with about 1,000 species has been popular as a small houseplant for decades. With all the species available only a handful are grown commercially.
One of the most popular species with many sports and cultivars is Peperomia obtusifolia (baby rubber plant). Sometimes called the baby rubber plant, Peperomias make nice additions to a bathroom.