Nothing breathes fresh life into a bathroom like real plants. However, the wide humidity swings and limited natural light of the average bathroom aren’t conducive to all kinds of greenery. Pick the wrong plants, and they’ll be unable to thrive in that environment. When you’re looking for an appropriate bathroom plant, you need foliage that can handle both the high humidity of a shower and cool overnight temperatures.
With that in mind, look at the list below of plants perfect for the job and the benefits of adding a plant to your bathroom.
Good Plants for the Bathroom Environment
Think about the conditions of your bathroom space. Does it get little natural light? Is it a half bath without a shower/tub or a fully equipped bath you use daily? What’s the average temperature in the room? Understanding your specific environment gives you a good place to start when choosing bathroom plants. Generally speaking, here are some good choices:
Bamboo
Able to grow in low or indirect light, bamboo is an easy plant to propagate, so it’s good to contain in a pot. As an added benefit, bamboo doesn’t need soil to grow; it just needs stones and water.
Aloe vera
Consider aloe if you want a bathroom plant that provides medicinal and aesthetic benefits. Its gel can soothe dry skin, cuts, and bruises.
Cast iron plant
Named for its durability, it is the perfect low-maintenance bathroom plant. It grows well in little or indirect light and can survive almost anywhere.
Snake plant
Easy to grow and happiest in bright light, the snake plant is a good option for bathrooms with big windows.
Fern
If your bathroom doesn’t get too cold, it can be a great environment for ferns. These popular houseplants handle temperature changes well, love humidity, and can do well in low light, depending on the type of fern you choose. Aim to keep the soil moist for best results.
Orchid
Also happy in bathrooms that don’t get too cold, orchids are flowering plants that thrive in humidity. Different varieties crave different light levels, so check to see which best suits your bathroom.
Begonia
These pretty flowers cheer up the room. They thrive in fluorescent lighting and can be a great choice in spaces where natural light is limited.
Gardenia
If your bathroom gets bright but indirect natural light, you may be able to grow a gardenia successfully. A tropical plant that likes humidity, gardenias do well in a warm, moist environment. Just keep the plant away from sudden blasts of heat or cold.
Pothos
A key feature of the pothos plant is that it’s almost impossible to kill. Virtually indestructible, this plant does well in low light or bright, indirect light.
Benefits of Adding Plants to the Bathroom
Beyond the obvious visual appeal of greenery in the bathroom, there are many other benefits to using plants in that space. Here are some of the potential advantages you can enjoy when you add plants to your home bathroom:
- Purified air for a fresher, cleaner environment
- Medicinal benefits, such as those offered by aloe vera
- The invigorating and energizing impact of a natural element
- Improved concentration and/or productivity
- A positive influence on your mental health
- Relief from stress and anxiety
Plants can be a wonderful addition to the bathroom—aesthetically, emotionally, and physically. So, look for varieties that do well in this environment and begin enjoying all the benefits that can ensue.
