The 10 best plants for bathrooms

Plants are an easy and inexpensive way to spruce up any room in a home, and this rings especially true in the bathroom where design choices typically don’t involve much more than the color of one’s bathmat. However, keeping greenery alive and flourishing in a room where temperatures can shift from cool and comfortable to hot and steamy in just minutes can be difficult. But don’t be deterred from growing a green canopy above your shower. Ahead, 6sqft rounds up 10 robust plants that enjoy high humidity, warm temperatures, and bright or low light.

All of these products have been hand-selected by team 6sqft. We may receive a commission for purchases made through affiliate links. All prices reflect those at the time of publishing. 

1. ZZ plant

Image by 6sqft

We’ll kick off our list with the Zamioculcas zamiifolia, a glossy-leaf plant that is near impossible to kill. The ZZ thrives in both low and direct light and is extremely tolerant to damp conditions—not surprising considering it’s native to Zanzibar where humidity is high and temps swing from 30°-90° throughout the year.

ZZ Plant, from $39 at The Sill

2. Peace Lily

Photo via Wiki Commons 

Dark bathrooms are a welcome environment for the peace lily which requires—and wants—little light but loves steamy tropical conditions. This plant also blooms beautiful flowers that will add a bit of elegance to your bathroom.

Costa Farms Peace Lily Spathiphyllum, Three-foot in white-natural seagrass basket, $54.27 on Amazon

3. Golden Pothos

This climbing plant is perfect for small bathrooms with limited space, as it can be hung high or draped across even the most awkward of angles. The golden pothos can also survive a variety of lighting situations and it loves warm temperatures. Pothos will also root readily from cuttings, meaning if you want to propagate this plant throughout your home, simply snip a stem to include 3-5 nodes (points where roots and leaves grow) and you can place the vine in nothing more than a container water with a bit of fertilizer.

	Pothos Plant, Hanging Jute Basket, $88 from Terrain
	Costa Farms Golden Pothos Devil’s Ivy Live Indoor Plant, 6-Inch, $17.99 on Amazon

4. Boston Fern

Photo via Needpix

The Boston fern hails from the sub-tropical and tropical rainforest, making it an ideal plant for a warm and wet bathroom. Ferns do, however, need a good amount of indirect or filtered light; too much direct light will burn the leaves, while no light will retard growth and cause the plant to yellow. Give it a mist on days that are especially dry.

Costa Farm, set of 2 Boston Fern hanging baskets. $46.99 on Amazon

5. Lucky Bamboo

Photo via Pxhere

This easy indoor plant does well in low, indirect light and can even be grown in a simple container of water. Just be sure to change the water monthly if you forgo soil.

Costa Farms, tabletop bamboo plant in 5-inch white ceramic planter, $33.99 on Amazon

6. Cast Iron Plant

Photo via rrei320’s Flickr

The cast iron plant lives up to its name, boasting high tolerance to extreme heat, low light, lack of water, and even poor soil conditions. Keep it out of direct sunlight and allow its soil to dry out between waterings to keep it its happiest.

Cast Iron Plant, 6-inch pot, $38.97 on Amazon

7. Air Plants

Image via Pixbay

No fuss, no muss. It doesn’t get much easier than air plants. These lithe beauties come in more than 700 varieties and don’t need soil to survive. You can also hang them, place them in a container, or just use them to fill voids and corners in your bathroom. They’ll get most of their water from your steamy showers, but if they’re feeling dry simply give them a quick soak or mist them with water.

Giant Tillandsia, $60 at Terrain

8. Orchids

Photo courtesy of The Sill

Orchids love high humidity environments and their beautiful flowers are a great way to add a pop of color to a lackluster bathroom. Indirect light is a must for this sometimes fussy flora that burns under harsh rays.

	Petite purple orchid in earthenware planter. $75 at The Sill
	Single-stem orchid in ceramic pot, 20″-24″ tall. $25.03 on Amazon.

9. Snake Plant

Image via Wiki Commons

Cheekily referred to as “Mother-in-Law’s Tongue,” the snake plant is one that almost thrives on neglect and tolerates pretty much any condition you throw it in. They are also one of the best air-purifying plants that you can add to your home.

Snake Plant, from $57 at The Sill

10. Spider Plant

Photo via Edward Webb’s Flickr

This low-light plant is extremely easy to care for and loves moisture, making it the perfect bathroom companion. Just keep in mind that the plant shoots off “spiderettes” which dangle down from the mother plant like spiders. Spider plants will grow abundantly, particularly when exposed to a lot of light, so some light pruning may be required if you want to keep this plant compact.

Costas Farms 10-inch spider plant, $26.99 on Amazon

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Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on May 16, 2017, and has been updated.

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