Top Ten Houseplants that Grow Best in Bathrooms

Plants are a go-to decorating tool. Whether it’s an erupting Schefflera that offsets a boxy sofa or an English Ivy that softens the doldrums of a desk, they bring much-needed life into your home’s décor. You can extend that soul-soothing effect of houseplant foliage to the bathroom. Bathrooms are particularly hospitable to houseplants. The added humidity makes it the most greenhouse-like space in your home. Tropical plants known as epiphytes – orchids, ferns and air plants – are well-suited to thrive in a loo. In the forest, these plants grow hanging in tree canopies. They gather nutrients and drink water droplets directly from the air.

Shampoo and soap suds strip a plant’s protective wax coating, so it is best to leave plants out of the shower directly.

Philodendrons and Peace Lilies grow in the shade of other plants. These houseplants thrive in low natural light, the conditions that tiny bathroom windows and frosted privacy glass provide.

Design idea: layer these privy practical plants in the same bathroom: a Fiddle Leaf Fig on the floor with a Schefflera on the bath shelf and a Golden Pothos on a plant stand. These three plants add designer magic to any space, especially spacious bathrooms.

Whether you are looking to liven up a small powder room or refresh the shared family bathroom with some greenery, a handful of plants thrive in a bathroom setting. Here are the Top 10 Houseplants best used in a bathroom.

• Asparagus Fern, or the foxtail fern, thrives in bathrooms thanks to its love of shade and humidity. They are so happy growing in bathrooms that they often flower. The plant produces white buds when happy.
• Boston Fern is a standard accent plant in outdoor spaces, like covered patios and the front door. They grow right at home in your bathroom. Ferns often look like they climbed out of a primitive jungle. They are trendy in marble surroundings with brushed nickel fixtures that complement any bathroom.
• Maidenhair Fern is another that fits right into your bathroom space. The lace leaves look perfect with many different décor options. They like indirect sunlight and plenty of moisture, so mist your thirsty ferns to keep them hydrated.
• Painted Nettle offers small green and red leaves with rippled edges that grow on tall stems. This easygoing plant grows in bathrooms regardless of the light and humidity.
• Pothos is one of the easiest plants to grow. A good starter plant for those new to houseplants and need help. This vine hangs from shower rods and trails across mirrors and vanities. The luscious green leaves get pretty big, putting on a tropical show in your bathroom.
• Snake Plant is a bathroom favorite, requiring little attention or light. Place your snake plant in frequently used bathroom spaces and those that only see the occasional visitor. Water once every 10-14 days for a healthy, happy Snake Plant.
• Spider Plants have long, skinny leaves, creating a mounding effect with baby spider plants that drape from the mother plant. Spider plants require low to moderate amounts of light. They like humid environments, so bathrooms are a great location.
• Succulents like Aloe Vera and Elephant Bush are great for bathrooms. You could leave them for long periods without thinking about them, and they flourish. Perfect for less frequently used bathrooms, like your first-floor powder room.
• For more houseplant ideas, visit my Top 9 Plants that Love the Bedroom as Much as You: https://wattersgardencenter.com/9-plants-that-love-the-bedroom-as-much-as-you/.

Until next month, I’ll be helping gardeners grow better houseplants in their bathrooms here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10HousePlants.com.