6 Plants That Would Love To Live In Your Bathroom

Your bathrooms is a challenging space on many fronts, but not necessarily when it comes to livening it up with a plant or two. The bathroom tends to mimic a temperate climate and can be downright tropical if long, hot showers or baths are standard. Couple that steady warmth and humidity with low to moderate light in most bathrooms and a more welcoming spot is hard to come by for numerous houseplants found in the wild in similar conditions.

Here are six plants that will thank you for choosing a place that’s more like home than your dry, sunny living room.

6 Plants That Would Love To Live In Your Bathroom

1. Lucky Bamboo

Dracaena sanderiana is its name and all it requires is indirect light, water, and temperatures between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Lucky bamboo doesn’t even need soil, just a vase with some attractive pebbles or glass beads for decoration. Change the water weekly to thwart algae and it should reward you with a long-term splash of green. Pet Caution: It can make your dog or cat ill if ingested.

2. Orchid

These epiphytes range from big, bold blooms to small, demure blossoms and can add a sophisticated spray of color when flowering. The more commonly available orchids are those that grow in the understory of rainforests, thriving in low light and moisture-rich conditions. The variety Phalaenopsis, aka the moth orchid, is a good start, often available at the grocery store, and can be potted in bark instead of a potting mix.

Speaking of epiphytes …

3. Air Plant

Tillandsia is a curious genus of plants that come in a host of shapes and colors and seem to need nothing but air to grow. While that’s not entirely true, these epiphytes have minimal care requirements and can even be glued to a rock or shell or bit of bark and set on a shelf. They do require bright, indirect light and the amount of watering depends on the variety and how it is displayed. The display? Because air plants can be showcased in a host of creative, arty ways, it affects how to water. Misting and dunking are the two usual methods, although it’s best to follow instructions for the specific variety.

4. Moss

Picture it…  in a frame on the wall, that is! A great option for even the smallest of bathrooms. Moss needs even less care than air plants, loving low light and getting surface-misted a couple of times a week. Put it in a terrarium, fashion it into a ball, or grow it in a teacup; moss will adapt nicely as long you don’t set it in direct sun or fertilize. That’s right, you don’t need to fertilize it. Ever.

5. Peace Lily

Got a dull corner that cries out for a lushly elegant plant? Add a peace lily. Spathiphyllum looks like it requires more attention than it does. This flowering plant does its best work in low light with moist soil. The rich green leaves help showcase the white blossoms that nearly look fake in their perfection. But be warned, a happy peace lily will grow gracefully large with flower spikes nearing a couple of feet tall.

6. Begonia

Want color that goes on and on? Try a tuberous begonia. These beauties flower, flower, and flower some more in indirect light. The Non-Stop variety is one of the most forgiving plants when it comes to flowering, hence the name. They can be started from seed, making them inexpensive to start. Plus, any extras can be planted in the garden and the tubers dug up in the fall for the next season.

Bonus Bath Plants

You may already have a few houseplants that would like a move to the bathroom. Philodendron, pothos, spider plant and ferns lend themselves to hanging baskets while dieffenbachia can fill a corner in a big pot. All like the warmth, moisture and light conditions, with variegated pothos and dieffenbachia developing more white with less light.

What’s taking up residence in your bathroom?