Humidity-Loving Bathroom Plants

A bathroom is not normally considered a suitable place for houseplants – it is rarely a luxurious destination for most people, and in the worst case, breeding grounds for mold spores. However, there are houseplants that avidly seek moisture. 

Bathrooms are ground zero for mold, which mars surfaces with black blight and causes respiratory issues. But for some indoor houseplants, that moldy bathroom is paradise on earth. Exhaust fans or humidifiers are usually used to combat mold, but adding those will naturally help freshen the air. 

In addition, tropical houseplants create the impression of bathing in a serene pool. Situate a few near your sink or on a shower ledge, where they will help absorb moisture and mask odors. Further expand your indoor plant collection with herb planters, designed to deliver water consistently to roots. 

Here’s a list of houseplants that absorb moisture for your bathroom. 

 

1. Spider Plant 

You have a spider plant but nowhere to put it, then realize the bathroom door is wide open. Spider plants aren’t flashy enough to be displayed in a place of honor, yet are vastly utilitarian. They are marvelously resilient, seemingly built for bathroom display in hanging baskets. They also efficiently remove air pollutants and excess humidity and are easy to grow, making them ideal for beginners.  

2. Orchids (Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium)

Orchids are one of those plants that are seen as cheap fillers, but when it comes to bathroom décor, they are happily at home, adding a chic touch. Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium orchids, which originate from lush, tropical rainforests, are particularly well-suited to indoor conditions. Make sure that your bathroom gets plenty of natural light; otherwise, try grow lights. Decorative accents like a tray or smaller plants will help create a cohesive look. 

3. Tillandsia

Houseplants are overlooked for being somber and staid, but what they lack in romance, they make up for ease of maintenance. They don’t mind the muck of the bathroom and, in fact, relish in the humidity that comes from your daily showers. Requiring no soil to live, air plants are a fantastic choice for those who don’t want to get into the nitty gritty of gardening. Soak in water for a few minutes every other week. 

4. Bird’s Nest Fern  

The Bird’s Nest Fern’s preference for humid environments makes it a top candidate for permanent residence in the bathroom. Its large, floppy leaves point to an ancient lineage harkening back to the dinosaurs. In insufficient light, its fronds will gain a flattened, leggy appearance and it may become yellow. 

 

5.  Boston Fern 

Boston ferns are classic tropical plants that exalt the finer points of damp, humid environments. They require consistent watering, but the bathroom’s natural humidity reduces the need for constant monitoring. Maybe the bathroom is ironically the perfect environment for them, ending your cycle of dead Boston ferns. They are also ranked as a premier air-purifying plant, often cited as one of the most efficient indoor plants for removing formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. 

6. Chinese Money Plant    

 

With its cheerful, rotund leaves, it’s easy to see why the Chinese Money Plant has become associated with prosperity. Small cuttings of the plant can be propagated in water for casual enjoyment. In fact, gardening lore has shown that they fare better that way. Scraggly, leggy foliage is a sign that it’s not getting enough light – place it near a windowsill to remedy it.   

7. Aloe Vera  

 

You’d be excused for not finding aloe vera remarkable – it has few attributes other than its spikiness. But it is an ambitious plant, growing to impressive lengths, to the point that it can take over a windowsill. It requires little water and doesn’t benefit from a set schedule, so water it infrequently. Deemed low-maintenance, the gel from its leaves can be used for medicinal purposes. It can be used directly from the plant, though it’s recommended that you process it first to prevent the smell. 

8. Peace Lily 

Peace lilies are popular for their glossy green leaves and elegant white blooms. They are excellent air purifiers and flourish in humid, low-light conditions, making them perfect for bathrooms. Even bathrooms with no direct sunlight can support peace lilies, though they bloom more in brighter light.

9. Crocodile Fern   

Ferns are the ideal bathroom plant, especially one as fascinating as the crocodile fern. Its leaves mimic the scales of the Nile crocodile, displaying an almost serpentine grace – at times, its incandescent foliage almost seems faux. It prefers low, indirect light; a diluted water-soluble fertilizer during the growing season keeps its leaves green and fresh. 

10. Pothos 

Pothos provides the finishing touches to a bathroom, wrapping around mirrors and dangling from wall fixtures. When trailing from surfaces, they form veritable thickets of greenery, like a magical forest. Wall mounts help your plants stay securely in place.  

11. Bromeliads 

Bromeliads may seem too pretty for bathrooms, but they fit right in, as they need plenty of moisture in the air, namely the steam from your shower. They are effervescent in bloom, dialing up the jungle swagger. Though they die after flowering, they produce ‘pups’ that you can harvest and propagate, perpetuating life after death.