Did you know there are houseplants out there that would love to be in your bathroom? Not to spy, but…
…to keep you company and perhaps clean the bathroom air while they’re there.
It doesn’t matter what size bath you have. You might have a spacious bathroom where you could host many plants or the smallest closet of a bathroom where you could perhaps shoehorn one small plant into a corner by the sink.
Whatever your bath looks like, the best kind of plant to put in your bathroom are tropical plants. Tropical houseplants love bathrooms, and not just to keep you company.
Tropical plants do well in environments like what’s in the bathroom. They thrive in low light, high humidity areas. Artificial light works for them too if you have no windows.
Consider this when choosing your bathroom plants:
- It’s best to go with tropicals. They love environments like in the bathroom.
- Don’t go with succulents. The low light, high humidity, and wide temperature swings that are prevalent in the bathroom are not good for them as it’s too wet!
- And the environment is not good for evergreens: the high humidity causes powdery mildew.
So, what plants are the best for placing in your bathroom?
Read on and we’ll list some of our favorites, and the ones that truly are bathroom plants.
First: Plants Are Healthy For You
We did some research about how houseplants can clean and purify the air and wrote a post about what we found.
The EPA found that Americans spend more than 87% of our time indoors. Also, they found that indoor pollution can be way higher indoors than outside due to all the toxins that are released from cleaning products, building materials, cooking fumes, chemicals, and dust. The most common toxins in your home are ammonia, formaldehyde, and benzene.
Then NASA conducted a Clean Air Study to try to find solutions for individuals who were having health issues that were caused by spending a large amount of time indoors and exposed to these toxins.
The NASA study found that during photosynthesis, houseplants absorbed VOC (volatile organic components) emitted from building materials, carpeting, and cleaning products from the air and reduced indoor air pollution. They proved plants will help purify the air and remove toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide.
How pure is the air you breathe? Perhaps you can create your own fresh air! WITH PLANTS!
Plants remove pollutants and toxins from the air. And studies have shown that having plants around will reduce stress and promote feelings of calm and comfort.
We all need some calm and comfort in our lives today!
Houseplants That Love Bathrooms
Bathrooms are often made with hard, cold materials like tile, porcelain, linoleum, and shiny paint.
Plants can help soften the hard edges of a bathroom with their color and presence. Plants are an important facet of Feng shui as they are believed to be able to counteract the negative energy found in bathrooms.
Let’s go get some houseplants and put them around the house, especially in the bathrooms!
Here are some of the best houseplants that love bathrooms.
Houseplants That Love Bathrooms A – L
Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
This is a very versatile houseplant.
Aloe Vera can serve as an air purifier, removing benzene and formaldehyde from the air.
You can use it as medicinal relief for burns, sunburn, bug bites and cuts.
Aloe is an excellent skin moisturizer.
It can even be used to make delicious additions to smoothie and dinner recipes!
Aloe Vera likes lots of sunlight and temperatures around 70°F. A succulent, it prefers drier soil. Avoid frequent watering; therefore let the soil dry completely before watering. It grows slowly, with mature leaves 8-10 inches long.
Aloe Vera makes the perfect bathroom plant. Perhaps place it on a sunny windowsill in your bath area.
You can find Aloe Vera plants at Amazon.
Azalea (Rhododendron indicum)
Also known as a Satsuki, the Rhododendron indicum is one of the most popular azaleas for indoor planting. It prefers a warm, humid environment and will be perfectly happy as one of your bathroom plants.
Azaleas have funnel-shaped flowers and bloom between April and May in purple, white, pink, red colors.
You can find bonsai Azalea plants at Amazon.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata)
These plants love cool temperatures, indirect light, and high humidity.
Boston Fern is truly the epitome of the houseplant that loves bathrooms. You could even keep one in the shower if you have room for it.
Keep the soil damp at all times, and don’t let it dry out. If the fern dries out or the humidity isn’t high enough, the leaves will turn yellow. To help with humidity, you could set the pot on a pebble tray with water in it, and even add moisture by misting water on the leaves with a sprayer. You might want to soak the pot once a month or so to keep the potting soil moist.
You can find Boston Ferns at Amazon.
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
A member of the lily family, it’s also known as iron plant and ballroom plant. The cast iron plant is one of the toughest plants you can grow indoors. You could call it your bathroom plant!
I heard that because they can thrive almost anywhere regardless of being neglected, they got their name “cast iron.” And they love living in low light, low humidity, and a wide range of temperatures.
From way back in the day, the Cast Iron plants have been popular off and on since the Victorian times when they were used as decoration in the parlors.
Most Cast Iron plants have large, dark green leaves. If you look, you can find some that have white or yellow variegation on their leaves. They grow very slowly up to 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide at maturity.
You can find Cast Iron plants at Amazon.
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
The Chinese evergreen tolerates neglect, poor light, dry air, and drought. You can fool everyone and look like a true plant expert with the resilience of this plant in your home!
This is a beautiful houseplant that loves bathrooms too.
Cinese Evergreens will grow up to a maximum of 3 feet tall. They require moderate watering in a well-drained pot. Place in an area with medium to low light or indirect sunlight.
You can find Chinese Evergreen plants at Amazon.
Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’)
These are easy to care for and are really the perfect houseplant for the bathroom.
Looking a bit like a tree of canes, the corn plant has sword-shaped leaves growing out of the top. Your new plant might lose some of its lower leaves right after you bring it home. It’s going through shock after moving. This is a normal stage. The plant will start growing new leaves once it gets acclimated.
Corn plants or dracaena like indirect light and slightly moist soil. Be sure to plant it in a well-drained container. Don’t overwater or over-fertilize the plant.
You can cut the top of the cane if it gets too tall, and replant the cutting to propagate new ones.
Corn plants were used in the NASA clean air study and were shown to purify the air and remove indoor air toxins like formaldehyde, ammonia, xylene, and toluene.
You can find Corn Dracaena plants at Amazon.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum)
The Cyclamen that are sold for indoor plantings are tropical plants and will thrive in cool, humid environments. They will love being one of your bathroom plants.
Be sure to plant in a pot that has drainage, and use a potting soil that holds water.
Water when the soil is dry to the touch on top, but keep the rest of the soil moist. Water so the leaves don’t get wet.
The plant will go into dormancy once the flowers fade. Let the leaves die and stop watering. Store in a dark place for two months. Bring it out and resume regular care. It’ll bloom again in a few months.
Cyclamen are popular as a houseplant. They have interesting foliage and beautiful flowers that smell good and add brilliant color to their surroundings. They will last for years if you take care of it.
You can find Cyclamen plants at Amazon.
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
This is a large, showy houseplant. Adaptable to almost any conditions and lighting that you can put them in. Dieffenbachia can grow to 6 feet high.
I remember my step-mom had a mid-century home with a brick planter in the middle of the living room. She had planted dieffenbachia in it. They had grown up to the ceiling! Amazing to look at!
The plant is called “dumb cane.” If the sap or leaves are ingested, they can cause severe swelling in the tongue, throat, and vocal cords. Don’t eat this plant! Keep it away from kids and pets!
Place the plant in an area that has medium or low light conditions. It prefers normal room temperatures, but not colder than mid-60°F.
Do not overwater the dieffenbachia! Keep the soil evenly moist and well-drained, and mist the leaves daily.
You can find Dieffenbachia plants at Amazon.
Dwarf Citrus Plant
One of my favorite things about having a citrus tree around is that it smells nice and clean, and perfumes the air. You can just imagine what it would be like to have one of these as your bathroom plant. The bathroom would smell so good all the time.
Citrus trees have shiny dark green foliage, fragrant flowers, and colorful, delicious fruit.
Dwarf citrus trees are the perfect size to keep in a container. You can easily move them from the patio during the summer to the inside of your house during the fall and winter.
Dwarf Meyer lemon trees will grow to about 4 feet tall in a pot and indoors. The lemons you get from the dwarf tree is about the same size that you would harvest from a regular-sized tree that is growing outside.
You can find dwarf citrus plants at Amazon. Here’s a link to a Meyer Lemon dwarf tree. You can also find Limes, Clementine oranges, and kumquats available on dwarf stock.
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
When I was a little kid, I remember that there was ivy everywhere. There was even a plant growing into our old brick house from outside, into the bathroom. But, that’s another story for another time!
This plant has trailing vines that can grow to 15 feet! Plan on placing in a hanging basket or allow to run across a bookcase or table.
Ivy is pretty when combined with other plants together in a pot. It would also look nice cascading down the windowsill when you choose it as a houseplant for your bathroom.
Keep the soil evenly moist and not dry. Water lightly on a regular basis. Fertilize it with a portion of indoor non-flowering plant food once every month.
Place the pot in an area that receives bright light or indirect sun conditions. It likes cooler temperatures from mid-50 to 70°F.
You can find English Ivy plants at Amazon.
Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus lyrata)
Growing to 6 feet or taller, the plant fits well into almost any decorating schemes with its tall, columnar form and dark green leaves.
Keep the plant in an area that remains between 65°F-75°F with bright, filtered light. It likes moist, humid air and you can mist the leaves to help. You might want to keep a humidifier next to it. Let the surface of the soil dry out slightly between watering.
If you have a large bathroom area and want a specimen to fill it, choose the Fiddle Leaf Fig as your bathroom plant.
You can find Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees at Amazon.
Guzmania Bromeliad
Bromeliads add a tropical flourish to your home, porch, or office and are available in a wide variety of colors.
They make an excellent houseplant and would light up a corner of the bathroom. They grow slowly, so there’s no need to prune or shape the plant and the blooms last for weeks.
Bromeliads require minimal care to thrive. Place in medium to bright light. They prefer bright, indirect light or morning sun. They would love to be your bathroom plant!
Water the top inch of the potting soil once the soil feels dry. Never allow the soil to become saturated. Bromeliads are fairly drought tolerant.
Studies have shown that raising plants such as Bromeliad indoors can help clear indoor air of pollutants. And having plants in your home improves your mood, sparks your creativity, and reduces stress.
You can find Guzmania Bromeliad plants at Amazon.
Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
You’ve met lucky bamboo before. It seems to be everywhere: on office desks, homes, bathrooms, and available at the grocery store. A three-stalk plant will cost around $10 or so.
Lucky bamboo is an important part of feng shui. It’s thought to bring good luck and good fortune, especially so if one is the recipient of lucky bamboo as a gift.
This plant is popular and easy to care for. It has a reputation as being almost indestructible. It will survive in all lighting conditions, even indirect light. You’ll see some planted in water and some in soil.
Place your Lucky Bamboo plant in an area that gets bright, filtered sunlight. It likes temperature ranges of 65°F – 90°F.
You can plant it in water or in well-drained potting soil. Keep the soil moist, not soaking.
You can find Lucky Bamboo at Amazon.
Houseplants That Love Bathrooms N – ZZ
Nerve Plant (Fittonia verschaffel)
This is also called “nerve plant” or “mosaic plant.” Fittonia features beautiful red, pink, or white veins that contrast nicely with the dark green foliage.
I love this plant in the bathroom because I think it’s so sweet in any surroundings.
An easy to grow house plant, Fittonia prefers bright, indirect light. You might have this kind of light in your bath areas and should consider the Fittonia as a houseplant for your bathroom.
Keep the potting soil evenly moist, not too wet or too dry.
To keep the shape you prefer, trim the plant as needed.
You can find Fittonia plants at Amazon.
Orchid (Orchidaceae)
There are over 22,000 species of orchids, and care requirements might vary depending on the variety.
Orchids are tropical plants. They like a heavy, humid environment with indirect sunlight.
Sounds like it would be perfect for your bathroom! It’s one of the houseplants that love bathrooms after all.
Most of the orchids that you will be getting are Phalaenopsis or moth orchids. They will thrive under the same conditions that African violets do, requiring moist, well-draining conditions. Choose the soil medium based on which orchid you get. They require shallow planting. Avoid overwatering.
Orchids prefer bright, indirect light. Too much light, the leaves will scorch. Too little light, they won’t flower.
The Phalaenopsis will rebloom on its old bloom spike.
Beyond all that, they’re really very easy to grow! You can find a variety of Orchids at Amazon.
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
The beautiful, attractive, and delicate appearance of the parlor palm is made up of light green fronds about 8in long. They have a dainty like texture which is loved by interior Designers.
This is a great plant to start with for the beginner or the seasoned houseplant collector.
Popular since Victorian times, it has continued to be popular due to its easy-going adaptive attitude to low light and humidity levels.
Bonus! The parlor palm is on NASA’s list of 50 indoor plants that clean the air because it is so effective at improving air quality.
Parlor palms are slow growers. It should reach 2 feet in height. You might get blooms if it has good light, but it is rare for a parlor palm that is indoors to bloom.
Fingers crossed you get some flowers!
You can find Parlor Palms at Amazon.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
This is another plant that was used in the NASA clean air study. Peace lilies were found to efficiently purify the air and filter out benzene.
This is a beautiful plant with bright green leaves and interesting flowers. The white flower resembles a flag of surrender, hence its name.
It makes a delightful bathroom plant and goes with almost any choice of decor.
The peace lily will grow to four feet tall. It prefers filtered light but can tolerate artificial light.
Water once a week when the plant’s leaves begin to droop. It likes low humidity. Place in an area with regular temperatures up to 85°F.
You can find Peace Lilies at Amazon.
Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum)
Philodendrons are one of the most common houseplants there is and it ‘s one houseplant that loves bathrooms!
They are trailing indoor plants and can be planted for hanging planters, placed on a bookshelf and allowed to trail down, or trained to grow up a post.
Place your philodendron in an area with lighting conditions that range from low to sunny, preferring indirect light. Keep them in standard room temps. Let the soil dry out between watering. Do not overwater or let sit in water.
You can find Philodendrons at Amazon. The Heart Leaf Philodendron is a very popular variety, along with the Split Leaf or Monstera.
Snake Plant (Sansaveria trifasciate)
These were used in the NASA clean air study too. Snake plants filter out the formaldehyde found in cleaning products, building materials, and toilet paper. Hm, perfect plant for the bathroom!
Also called mother in law’s tongue, snake plants can be grown by even those with the brownest thumbs. It’s one of the easiest houseplants and tolerates neglect, low light, and drought conditions. Just don’t overwater them.
They’re available in several varieties from tall forms to birds’ nest forms. The most popular varieties have tall, architectural sword-shaped leaves that can grow to eight feet tall. They can be used to add structure to your décor.
Place them in an area with bright indirect light, normal room temperatures, and somewhat dry air. Keep the soil slightly moist and don’t let them stand in water.
You can find Snake Plants at Amazon.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
These were in the NASA clean air study and found to eliminate carbon dioxide from the air.
One of the most popular houseplants, spider plants are very adaptable and very prolific. Able to adapt to almost any condition, they are tough, low maintenance, and easy to propagate, making them one of the easiest house plants to grow. They look really good as a bathroom plant.
Several varieties are available, and you mostly see them displayed as hanging plants. The plants form grass-like clumps with long slender stems hanging two to three feet below the container.
Spider plants are named for the baby plantlets, or spiderettes, that form on their dangling stems. You can propagate the spider plants by putting the spiderettes into potting soil for rooting. Pretty soon, you’ll have quite a few spider plants and could give them to friends and family!
They like evenly moist soil, and bright to medium light. Their favorite room temperature is between 60°F-75°F.
You can find Spider Plants at Amazon.
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
This is also known as eternity plant. The ZZ plant is very easy to grow and one of the easiest houseplants out there to maintain. In fact, they can tolerate months and months of neglect and still look great. It is the perfect bathroom plant for you!
The ZZ plant leaves have a waxy, shiny coating. The stems grow in a graceful shape that starts thick and tapers to a point on the end.
They will thrive in almost any type of environment but really like bright to moderate indirect light. Just don’t overwater the plant or let stand in water.
In fact, you can almost leave it alone. This is definitely one houseplant that loves bathrooms!
You can find ZZ Plants at Amazon.
Houseplants That Love Bathrooms
Houseplants that love bathrooms can thrive in the low light, higher humidity atmosphere that is found in the bathroom.
They naturally absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful compounds from the air, acting as living air purifiers, absorbing chemical pollutants.
Plants look great and as an added bonus, also produce oxygen and naturally add humidity to the air.
Plants are natural air purifiers that remove pollutants and toxins from the air, providing a simple way to help keep your bathroom air healthy.