High humidity levels make bathrooms an ideal environment for growing many tropical houseplants. The moisture from hot showers creates steam that keeps the air humid, allowing moisture-loving plants to thrive. Here are five key takeaways for selecting plants for your bathroom:
- Choose plants that naturally grow in humid rainforests, like ferns, orchids, and begonias. They will appreciate the humidity from your shower.
- Consider hanging plants or trailing vines to save space. Options like pothos and philodendrons work well.
- Place plants near (but not directly in) the shower spray for the highest humidity. Near sinks work too.
- Make sure plants still get adequate light from windows or grow lights if needed.
- Group multiple humidity-loving plants together to create a moisture-rich environment.
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
The Boston fern is one of the most popular bathroom plants thanks to its elegantly arching fronds and preference for steamy conditions reminiscent of its native habitat in the rainforests of Florida. Provide this fern with bright, indirect light for best growth.
- Sun Exposure: Bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Peat moss-based potting mix
- Soil pH: 5.5-6.5
Kimberly Queen Fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
With deep green foliage and an upright, vase-shaped growth habit, the Kimberly queen fern brings a tropical look well-suited for bathroom spaces. Its relatively slow growth rate makes it an easy-to-manage choice. Place it in a spot with moderate to bright, indirect light.
- Sun Exposure: Moderate to bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Rich, organic potting mix
- Soil pH: 5.5-6.5
Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
The lady palm features graceful, dark green fronds atop bamboo-like stems. It does well in steamy bathroom environments and is quite adaptable to various light levels. Provide this petite palm with bright indirect light to partial shade.
- Sun Exposure: Bright indirect light to partial shade
- Soil Type: Light, quick-draining potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.1-7.8
Rex Begonia (Begonia rex)
With their beautifully patterned, colorfully variegated leaves, Rex begonias bring unique visual interest to bathrooms. Their lush foliage prefers the same warm, humid conditions found in tropical rainforests. Place Rex begonias in a bathroom window with bright, filtered light.
- Sun Exposure: Bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Rich, humus potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.0-6.5
Neanthe Bella Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
The easy-to-grow Neanthe Bella palm features graceful, cascading foliage. It stays compact enough to grow in a small bathroom while still creating a lush, tropical look. Provide this moisture-loving palm with moderate to bright indirect light or partial shade.
- Sun Exposure: Moderate to bright indirect light or partial shade
- Soil Type: Light, quick-draining mix
- Soil pH: 6.1-7.5
Air Plants (Tillandsia species)
Air plants are epiphytic plants that absorb moisture and nutrients from the air, making them perfect for humid bathroom environments. Their sculptural shapes and textures make them great display plants. Attach air plants to pieces of driftwood or mounting boards to create living works of art.
- Sun Exposure: Bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Can be grown without soil
- Soil pH: N/A
Peacock Plant (Calathea makoyana)
The peacock plant, also known as Calathea makoyana, is treasured for its vivid green leaves marked with feather-shaped pale green and dark green splotches. It thrives in humid conditions like those found in steamy bathrooms. Place peacock plants in bright, filtered light.
- Sun Exposure: Bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Rich, organic soil mix
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
Parlor palms feature graceful, arching green fronds atop slender stems. As a tropical plant that enjoys regular moisture, parlor palms make excellent bathroom plants. They adapt well to various light levels from low to bright indirect light.
- Sun Exposure: Low to bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Rich, organic potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.1-7.8
Orchids (Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium)
Many orchid varieties hail from warm, humid tropical regions where conditions stay consistently moist. Oncidiums, Phalaenopsis, and Dendrobiums orchids will all appreciate the humidity offered in bathroom environments when paired with adequate bright, indirect light from a window.
- Sun Exposure: Bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Specialized orchid potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.0-6.5
Nerve Plant (Fittonia albivenis)
The eye-catching nerve plant, also known as Fittonia albivenis, is loved for its gorgeous pink, red, and white veined foliage. As a tropical rainforest native, nerve plants need consistent moisture much like that found in humid bathrooms. Provide plenty of bright, filtered light as well.
- Sun Exposure: Bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Rich, peaty potting soil
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Conclusion
Bathroom environments already offer many of the warm, humid conditions that tropical plants love. By selecting moisture-loving varieties suited to grow in these steamy spaces, adding humidity-loving plants to your bathroom creates a lush, spa-like atmosphere that needs minimal effort. With proper care, these plants let you bring the ambiance of a tropical greenhouse right into your own home.
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