I know, we don’t see plants in bathrooms very often, and one reason for that is that the environment there is a bit freakish. Bathrooms have constant humidity, fluctuating temperatures, and little (or lots) of sunlight depending on which direction the window is and how many there are. Fortunately, there are many plants that thrive in bathrooms!
You need resilient plant babies to tolerate those kinds of variable conditions, and yes, there’s a wide range to choose from that fits the bill. I’ve spoken with some plant experts who helped me and my team create a list of some of the best indoor plants that survive in the bathroom.
You just have to pick the one (or maybe more) you like the most! Let’s get started!
1. Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
The bird’s nest fern is one of the best indoor plants that will do just fine in high humidity, so it’s great for the bathroom. It’s an epiphytic plant native to the tropical environments of Asia, Australasia, and East Africa, which means it naturally grows on other plants, drawing nutrients from its host plant.
Being a fern, this indoor plant loves full to partial shade, making it a perfect choice for low-light spots in your house (such as bathrooms). Bird’s nest ferns kept as indoor plants usually have fronds that grow only around 2 feet long. If you already have one, you’ve probably noticed that it grows very slowly. Well, it’s actually normal, so there’s no need to worry.
If your bird’s nest fern has plenty of humidity, moisture, and warmth, it will soon start growing babies. Don’t move, handle, or touch the new, delicate fronds because they are extremely fragile, and you can deform or damage them.
2. Aloe Vera
Here’s another easy indoor plant to care for that’s also lovely! Native to North Africa, this succulent plant can easily adapt to different levels of light. Known for its healing properties, aloe vera can also purify indoor air by absorbing dust and airborne bacteria.
It loves bright, indirect light and requires little watering. In fact, one of the few things that can kill this lovely plant is overwatering.
Aloe vera is also good at absorbing moisture, making it a great choice for the bathroom. Whether placed on the floor or hanging, this plant will retain water from the environment, so you won’t have to worry too much about watering it.
Similar to the spider plant, aloe vera produces baby plants, which can be transferred to another pot to create new aloe veras.
3. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
The spider plant is another great choice for your bathroom, as it’s very adaptable and easy to care for, and yes, it loves humidity. So you can take your warm baths without worrying that it may die or something like this.
From solid green to variegated, from narrow and long leaves to curly ones, this indoor plant comes in different varieties and sizes. In fact, the brighter the light, the brighter the vertical stripes are in the variegated types.
The spider plants thrive in bright, indirect light, but they can tolerate moderate light conditions. They are easy to propagate as they grow baby plants at the ends of their stalks. Carefully cut one of the spider plantlets and put it in a glass of water. When roots are around an inch long, transfer the baby spider to potting soil.
4. Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)
Also known as Golden Pothos, the devil’s ivy is one of my favorite indoor plants. You don’t need to do much to take care of it, and it’s also extremely easy to propagate.
Devil’s ivy is a carefree plant that loves humidity, does best in moderate light, doesn’t mind the heat, and is happy to be watered occasionally. The conclusion? It’s best for the bathroom. As a trailing plant, it’s a wonderful choice for creating a tropical vibe and making use of the vertical space in your bathroom.
Because devil’s ivy grows quickly, you may need to transfer it to a larger pot once a year.
5. Pinstripe Calathea (Calathea ornata)
Pinstripe calathea is a stunning indoor plant that looks as if it was painted with a brush. I mean, nature is truly amazing at creating things like this. This plant belongs to the Maranta family and is native to Venezuela and Colombia.
Calathea plants are also called living plants because they close their leaves at night and open them again in the morning when the sunlight is back. This happens due to a joint between the stem and leaf that’s activated by the changing lights. If you have a calathea in your house, you’ve probably even heard its leaves rustling as they move.
As a tropical plant, it loves a spot with plenty of humidity, so the bathroom seems like the best place to keep it.
6. African Mask (Alocasia amazonica)
The African mask plant, also known as elephant’s ear or Kris plant, is native to Southeast Asia, where the humidity is high and the climate is temperate. Similar to other plants on this list, the African mask enjoys high humidity levels, making it great for the bathroom.
If your bathroom gets a good amount of light, this indoor plant will love the steam from your hot shower; otherwise, experts recommend finding another spot that has access to a lot of bright, indirect light. Make sure your African mask plant doesn’t get direct sunlight, though.
These plants like moist, rich soil that is not too soggy. They can grow quite big, getting as tall as 4 feet indoors.
7. Orchids
Orchids are another miracle of nature. They are incredibly stunning plants that truly stand out in a room. Not all varieties of orchids prefer high humidity, and some that do are species of Miltonia, Dendrobium, Encyclia, Masdevallia, Phalaenopsis, and others.
Phalaenopsis orchids, for instance, grow in the shade in their native habitat, making them one of the best low-maintenance indoor plants you can place in your bathroom. They are also great for beginners, not to mention they are easily accessible since you can find them at supermarkets and even convenience stores.
According to experts, using ice cubes is an easy way to make sure you’re giving your orchid the right amount of water and that it absorbs the liquid evenly and slowly. Use three ice cubes for full-size orchids and just one for mini orchids, placing them at the base of the stems.
8. Snake Plant (Dracaena Trifasciata)
Not only is the snake plant one of the best humidity-loving plants, but it’s also one of the most low-maintenance and adaptable plants to have in your home. It’s no wonder why experts consider it one of the hardest indoor plants to kill. Native to tropical West Africa, this low-maintenance plant comes in many different sizes and varieties to suit your taste, needs, and home.
Snake plants can tolerate low light conditions, but they love medium to bright indirect light. Speaking of, make sure you don’t expose your snake plant to direct sunlight. You don’t need to water it very often; in fact, I have one snake plant at home, and I water it every two to three weeks, which is great because I don’t have to worry about it.
It’s always a good idea to replace the plant’s potting mix once a year, but this goes for any type of indoor plant.
9. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendrum Hederaceum)
Native to the Caribbean and Central America, this fast-growing plant is easy to care for and doesn’t need too much light. In fact, you may want to keep yours away from direct light exposure.
However, depending on how much light it gets, the heartleaf philodendron’s watering needs may change. The good news is that it’s quite forgiving if you neglect it once in a while. The interesting thing about this indoor plant is that its stems grow much faster than its roots, which means you won’t need to repot it yearly.
The heartleaf philodendron’s leaves love the shower steam, but you should wipe them down with a damp cloth at least once a month to keep dust from building up.
10. Radiator Plants (Peperomia)
Radiator plants are not-so-distant relatives of the ones that produce black pepper. They are heat-loving plants native to subtropical and tropical regions and don’t require special attention. Since peperomias love humid conditions, they make excellent bathroom plants, absorbing steam from the shower. Their leaves and stems hold water, so they should be fine if you forget about the occasional watering.
While these plants are vigorous growers on their own, they would definitely benefit from an occasional dose of fertilizer. Keep in mind that radiator plants tend to dry out faster during the growing season compared with the winter months. Some peperomia varieties make great hanging basket plants.
You may also want to read 9 Ways To Bring More Natural Light Into Your House.
