Best bathroom plants

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 there. Plants make bathrooms more pleasant places, improving the decor and air quality. And bathrooms can be good environments for plants, too. 

Low light, high humidity, and temperature swings need to be considered when choosing plants for a bathroom. 

Consider the following when choosing bathroom plants, and check out the best great house plant suggestions for your bathroom.

LIGHTING

Many bathrooms have small windows, low levels of sunlight or some have none at all, which can be challenging when picking plants. Remember that even low light plants require some light to grow, which is why fluorescent light bulbs - which produce wavelengths plants, are a good idea in the bathroom.

HUMIDITY 

A bathroom is typically a humid room that provides the perfect environment for plants, and water to irrigate the plants is always close at hand. The bathroom environment is not perfect all the time, and not all plants are well suited for the conditions found in a bathroom. Not all plants enjoy high humidity. Succulents prefer drier conditions and will rot if kept constantly moist. And evergreens and several other plants may develop powdery mildew in high humidity.

Hot running water from showers and baths can cause humidity and temperature levels to rise quickly – conditions which don’t suit many plants, although this explains why some tropical plants do great in bathrooms!

TEMPERATURE

Even though there is plenty of warm, humid air during shower time, the room can get much colder when left empty for hours, especially at night. These wide temperature fluctuations are not ideal for many plants.

SIZE OF THE ROOM

Bathrooms tend to be smaller than other rooms in house, so space for greenery is often limited. Large or tall plants don’t often work in bathrooms for this reason. A better option is to choose plants that can hang from the ceiling, or will trail down from a high shelf. The windowsill is another great location for bathroom plants, particularly as they can enjoy maximum light exposure here.

With these points in mind, let’s look at some of the best bathroom plant choices:

ALOE VERA

The Αloe plant not only is it known as the ‘plant of immortality’ because it is so difficult to kill, it is an incredibly useful plant to have around the home. Aloe Vera juice is bursting with vitamins and minerals, while the gel can be used as a topical treatment for minor cuts and burns, insect bites, dry skin and more.

This striking and healing plant should be placed close to the bathroom window and, because of its low water requirements; the humidity alone may meet most of its water needs!

ASPARANGUS FERN

Airy, lacy asparagus fern loves the humidity of a bathroom. It does well in either moderate or bright light, so a spot by a window is best. Asparagus ferns may look soft to the touch, but the stems have thorns, so beware. Asprarangus prefers bright artificial light or window sunlight and well drained potting soil. Asparagus fern can go as long as two years before it requires re-potting.

Warning: This plant is highly toxic; keep away from pets and children.

BAMBOO

Bamboo is a fast growing plant, but you can curtail its growth by providing a physical barrier (such as a recessed shelf) or by shaping it regularly. This most Zen-like plant can grow in almost any light- even without any soil! Just place your bamboo to root in a container filled with few pebbles, then fill halfway with water. Change the water every two to four weeks. 

Feed bamboo with a diluted fertilizer high in nitrogen weekly during the growing season, cutting back to monthly in the winter. Bamboo needs 6 hours of sunlight daily. Prefers sandy potting, but tolerates most potting soil mixes.

BROMELIAD

Bromeliads produce long-lasting blooms in locations where most house plants do not blossom at all. Bromeliads flower with yellow, pink, or red blossoms in winter and the blooms last for several weeks. Bromeliads include several different plant species, many of which are epiphytic (drawing moisture from the air rather than from soil). These are ideally suited to bask in the humidity of a bathroom, but they also need good air circulation, which can be provided by running the bathroom exhaust fan or setting up a small portable fan to run for a few hours each day. 

Bromeliads love bright, indirect light; will tolerate a few hours of direct sunlight each day but don't place them in hot afternoon sun--it can burn the leaves. Depends on genus and species; those requiring soil do well in a succulent potting mix. Feed them with an orchid fertilizer. 

CHINESE EVERGREEN

These large-leaved, tropical perennials will thrive even if you forget to water and feed it. While it loves humidity, it will also tolerate dry air, provided you keep it out of cold drafts, which can damage the leaves. It grows up to 1.20m tall, depending on the variety. Chinese evergreen is one of the most durable plants you can grow, and loves low, indirect light; does not like any direct sun. Although the Chinese evergreen prefers the warm temperatures and humid conditions of the bathroom, it’s flexible enough to tolerate other environments if necessary. It needs rich, well-drained potting mix. 

FERN

Many ferns make great houseplants. Most can handle the temperature fluctuations in a bathroom, and they love the humidity. Some can even be grown right in a shower stall, where they are regularly soaked. Some recommended ferns for the bathroom include Boston fern, Maidenhair fern, Bird's nest fern, and Button fern. Ferns naturally grow in the filtered light and high humidity conditions of tropical forests. Luckily, the average bathroom can simulate this environment perfectly. Situate a low-maintenance fern in a corner of your bathroom and enjoy

It grows best when placed on a windowsill or in a position which receives lots of indirect light. Humidity and temperatures of between 13 and 25 degrees are also important for your fern to thrive. In the growing months, the soil should be kept moist, but not saturated.

ORCHID

Give your bathroom a luxury touch with the addition of an elegant orchid plant. Some species are planted in soil, while others are epiphytes (air plants) that absorb moisture from the air. Place your orchid on the bathroom windowsill, where the indirect sunlight will provide adequate light but won’t cause leaf scorch; while the high humidity mirrors the flower’s natural environment. It’s also a relatively compact flower making it perfect for smaller rooms, where it can be perched on the corner of the bathtub or next to the sink.

Soil needs: Depends on type, but generally a bark mix designed for orchids.

PEACE LILY (SPATHIPHYLLUM)

Peace lilies are elegant plants that require minimal care. They do best with regular watering and appreciate the humidity in the bathroom. Do not allow the soil to remain dry for extended periods of time. Peace lilies do well in limited light; however, if your plant is not flowering, it may need a slightly brighter location. When feeding, use a diluted fertilizer mix. Peace lilies are wonderfully low-maintenance and filter household impurities from the air. It’s another of NASA’s best plants for air purity, as it helps to filter out harmful benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde toxins.

PHILODENDRON

Philodendrons are truly tropical plants that love bathroom conditions. There are varieties that vine or trail with stems as much as 20 feet long, and others that grow upright several feet. Both types are relatively easy to grow. If you water this plant too much or too little, the plant will let you know by dropping its leaves. It prefers consistently moist soil. Philodendrons prefer the medium light intensity they would have on the jungle floor. If the light is too intense, its leaves will turn yellow; but if the leaves are widely spaced, it may need more light so you should consider installing fluorescent bulbs. Although this hardy plant can tolerate average humidity, high levels promote lush, shiny foliage. Ideal growing temperatures are between 22 and 30 degrees C.

SANSIVERIA (SNAKE PLANT)

Sansiveria (snake plant) is also known as Mother-in-law's tongue is one of the most low-maintenance plants you can grow, which makes it the perfect choice for a bathroom. It is an easy growing plant that makes a nice alternative to hanging plants. Snake plants prefer bright warm light; avoid direct sunlight. Potted plants are often moved to shady outdoor locations in the summer. Water when top of soil is dry.

This low-light plant also filters some nasty household toxins from the bathroom air – including formaldehyde which can be found in cleaning products, tile grout, adhesives, and even some cosmetics!

SPIDER PLANT

Spider plants like growing in tight quarters so do not use a container much larger than the root ball. They form little plantlets along their perimeter that can be cut off and grown on their own once roots are formed. These undemanding plants can handle bright light, but the leaves will scorch in full sun. They prefer relatively cool (but not cold) temperatures. Spider plant typically grows 50cm wide and 60cm to 1m long in containers.

This hardworking houseplant prefers medium light to work its magic, that is, removing impurities like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide from the air. Water it once or twice a week and you'll be rewarded with new buds that you can re-pot or gift to friends. Soil needs: Loose, fast-draining potting mix

WEEPING FIG PLANT (FICUS BENJAMINA)

If you have the space for a small tree Weeping fig plant is a nice plant to dress up your bathroom. However, it does not like sudden temperature changes. Cold drafts can cause it to drop its leaves, but it should recover. Although it likes humidity, it does not like being over-watered and sitting in wet soil. Wait to water until the top of soil feels dry. Weeping figs prefer bright, indirect light and need more light indoors than when grown outside. Use rich, fast-draining potting mix.

IVY

Ivy, particularly English Ivy, is one of NASA’s top air purifying plants. It can even help you keep the bathroom clean and hygienic by removing mould from the surrounding air! Ivy can climb and scale walls, trellises, or metal pipes framing a tub. Hang it high by the window to save space and let sunlight filter through the leaves. Needing just moderate exposure to sunlight, this evergreen vine enjoys the high humidity levels commonly found in bathrooms.

CAUTION: However, if you have pets or small children be wary of the plants you choose to decorate your space as some houseplants can be toxic to pets and kids. 

When it's time to buy a plant for your bathroom or any room of your house find at anthemionflowers.com the best green and flowering indoor and outdoor plants. Same day delivery of plants that your loved ones will love in their home and office today.