The 16 Best Bathroom Plants for a More Spa-Like Experience
These beauties will thrive in your bathroom’s high humidity levels.
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Why should every other room in the house get all the houseplant love? You may not spend as much time in here as the living room or the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean this room has to be boring and blah. Greenery is a way to add that spa feeling to your bathroom, too! In fact, it's actually the perfect environment for many different kinds of houseplants. After all, many plants are tropical natives that adore warmth and humidity. Display your plants on a window sill, mount shelving, or try a hanging pot if you have no counter space. A south-facing window is best for plants that like bright light, but east and west-facing windows work, too. But no problem if your bathroom doesn’t have wide, sunny windows; many plants will adapt to moderate or low-light conditions. One word of advice: Be careful about overwatering bathroom plants; they won’t dry out as quickly as those in other parts of your house because of the naturally higher humidity levels. Check your plants about every week to tell how dry the soil is; most prefer being somewhat dry between drinks, and none like to be waterlogged. Take a look at the best plants to brighten any bathroom.
Spider Plant
The old-fashioned spider plant has never really gone out of style because it’s so easy to grow. It does prefer bright light, but will adapt to low light levels. When the tiny plantlets develop, snip them off and place in soil to make new baby plants. They're perfect for sharing! Keep it slightly moist during spring to summer, and a little drier in winter.
Heartleaf Philodendron
With shiny, little heart-shaped leaves, this vining plant is easy to love (and grow!). Heartleaf philodendrons like moderate light best, but will also tolerate low light. Let them dry out between waterings.
Staghorn Fern
This striking plant is often mounted on a piece of wood or in a hanging basket with sphagnum moss. Its large, flat fronds resemble a stag’s horns, as you’d guess. It’s happiest in a high-humidity environment, so the bathroom is the only place it grows well in most homes. Give it moderate light.
Maidenhair Fern
The delicate, lacy fronds of maidenhair fern absolutely adore high humidity. Give this plant bright, indirect light (no direct sun or it will burn), and constant, light moisture.
English Ivy
English ivy looks great in hanging baskets or trained as a topiary. Some varieties have variegated leaf patterns. Give it moderate light, and let it dry out a bit between waterings.
Polka Dot Plant
If you want some color to dress up your bathroom, a pretty little polka dot plant, with its pink or red splashes, is the way to go. It likes bright light and constant, light moisture.
Money Tree
The money tree has an upright form and shiny green leaves. In the wild, it’s a wetland tree, so it enjoys a warm room. Give it bright light, but it will also adapt to moderate light. Let it dry out a bit between waterings.
Bird's Nest Fern
If you have a hanging pot or a shelf near a bright window, this unusual vase-shaped fern is rather eye-catching. Some types of bird’s nest ferns have wavy leaves. It can handle dry air better than other ferns, but it actually loves humidity so it’s a natural in the bathroom. Keep it moist during spring and summer, and a bit drier in winter.
Ficus
Ficus trees, also called weeping fig, like bright light and a room on the warm side because their natural habitat is the tropics. They tend to get annoyed if they’re near hot or cold drafts and will drop leaves. Keep the soil moist during spring and summer, and let it dry out slightly between waterings in winter.
Aglaonema
If you have a dark bathroom, aglaonema is for you because it tolerates low light. Its strappy leaves have splashes of silver and an upright form, so it looks striking sitting on a shelf. It prefers constant, light moisture, so it’s right at home in your bathroom.
Rex Begonia
These types of begonias are grown primarily for their flashy foliage. They’ll do well on a bathroom shelf, where they can enjoy the humidity. Give it bright light, and let it dry out slightly between waterings.
Calathea
This plant, with its pretty markings and reddish undersides, needs high humidity, typically around 60 percent. Calathea even enjoys a lukewarm shower occasionally; just use the lowest spray setting. Give it bright light and constant moisture.
Boston Fern
This typically fussy plant adores humidity, so the bathroom is actually your best bet if you want to display it indoors. Boston ferns also need high light levels, and they drop leaves often, so be prepared to pick up after them. Keep them lightly moist.
Rubber Tree
There’s a reason the rubber tree is always popular: It’s easy-peasy to grow. It likes bright light or it tends to get leggy, so keep it near a window. If it gets dusty, clean with a damp rag or a gentle spray under the shower. Let it dry out a bit; if the leaves turn yellow and drop, you may be overwatering.
Peace Lily
These old favorites work just as well in the bathroom as in any other room in your house because they’re low-maintenance. Peace lilies tolerate low light, but flower best with moderate to bright light. Let the soil dry between waterings.
Pothos
Pothos is probably one of the easiest plants of all time to grow! With long vining stems and shiny leaves, it looks smashing in a hanging pot or draping over a shelf’s edge. It likes moderate light, but adapts to low light. Let it dry out between waterings.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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