Houseplants that thrive in your bathroom

Bring new energy to your bathroom with humidity-loving plants

An injection of foliage is the perfect way to breathe life into a functional and sterile bathroom – and with its low light and high humidity, the bathroom makes the perfect home for many houseplants. But while those very conditions might be a tropical paradise for some, other plants could barely last the duration of a shower without wilting and withering – so choosing the right plant to suit the environment is essential.

Earlier in the year we hosted a Red Magazine event where the bathroom was a fabulous key feature! Here are a few photographs from the event, and some things you need to bear in mind when shopping for a bathroom plant – with some of our humidity-loving favourites to get you started.

Light

Bathrooms tend to have low-level light with either a small frosted window or no window at all so be sure to look for a plant that can thrive with minimum sunlight.

TIP: If you have a windowless bathroom, boost the light with fluorescent lighting. This is more cost efficient and being cooler it means your plants can be placed closer to the light source.

Water

Showers, baths and running hot water make bathrooms a naturally humid environment so look for plants that need these conditions to thrive. Beware of some plants that tick the ‘low light’ box, such as succulents, but also need dry conditions so wouldn’t necessarily be suitable for bathroom life.

Bathrooms tend to be smaller spaces with less space on the floor so think about plants that will fit onto a windowsill or shelf. Or, if your toiletries have claimed all the shelf-space, why not try hanging a plant from the ceiling or wall in a hanging planter?

Add some excitement with a carnivorous plant, they flourish in a humid climate! Be warned, these hungry plants need a good amount of light and bathrooms are often the most poorly lit rooms in the house - so make sure there is a good light source and it will keep your bathroom free of creepy crawlies!

The best bathroom plants

Here are our top options for a botanical bathroom:

  • Orchid: Want to give your bathroom that luxury spa feel? Look no further than the orchid. Not only will it look serenely beautiful beside your sink or on your window ledge, the orchid thrives in warm and humid conditions.
  • Mother-in-law’s tongue: The Mother-in-law’s tongue, also known as the snake plant, is a great choice for the bathroom. Loving steamy, humid conditions, and able to thrive in low light, it is also a great air purifier, known for filtering out formaldehyde, commonly found in bathroom products. Plus, its long, vertical leaves mean it won’t be vying for space on your bathroom shelf.
  • Peace lily: With its rich green, glossy leaves and beautiful white flowers, the peace lily would make an attractive addition to any bathroom. Thriving in low light conditions, the peace lily won’t thank you for being over-watered so the natural humidity of the bathroom will help to keep it moist without the need to water it too often.
  • Fern: You can see from our photos that ferns are a happy inhabitant of any bathroom. With their wonderful leaves which make you smile, their ability to purify the air and being able to create a healthy air humidity ferns are the perfect companion for a relaxing soak in the tub. 
  • Ivy: One of the easiest houseplants to keep, Ivy enjoys warm and humid conditions making it perfect for greening up the bathroom. For a display with added drama the aerial roots of the ivy can easily be trained to climb a moss stick or trellis. Make sure your ivy has a good light source to keep it's lovely leaves photosynthesising.

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