Bathing with stress-relieving, air-purifying indoor plants is relaxing. However, if your bathroom has a small window with little light, it may be difficult to find low-maintenance indoor plants to create that tropical retreat.
Many low-light indoor plants thrive in high-humidity bathrooms. Don’t worry if you don’t have windows—“low light” doesn’t mean your plants can survive without light. Your bathroom plants will thrive under grow lamps.
These 15 species can help you decorate with plants and turn your bathroom into a lush jungle, whether you buy them online or in a specialty store.
Calathea ‘Freddie’: Calathea concinna ‘Freddie’
Pros:
- Pet friendly
- Zebra-striped leaves
- Open their leaves during the day and close them at night
Con:
- Sensitive to drafts and swings in temperatures
Tropical rainforests are home to many of the most hygienic plants for bathrooms. These ground-level plants of forests are used to the warm, moist, and humid conditions that they thrive in because of the filtered sunlight they receive.
Common tropical houseplants, calathea thrive in high humidity. The calathea ‘Freddie’ is suited to low-light conditions, making it an ideal choice for bathrooms with narrow windows. Curling leaves on prayer plants are usually a symptom that they aren’t getting enough water or humidity.
Cast-iron plant: Aspidistra elatior
Pros:
- Adaptable to a wide range of conditions
- Air-purifying plant
- Pest and disease resistant
Cons:
- Doesn’t like full sunlight
- Won’t thank you for overwatering
A hard-to-kill cast-iron plant would be the ideal addition to your bathroom if you have a reputation for having a brown thumb. When given enough light, its glossy, green foliage expands, and it thrives in the face of considerable neglect. Don’t overwater the potting mix; you want it to be just damp, not drenched.
Chinese evergreen: Aglaonema spp.
Pros:
- Thrive in low light
- Great beginner bathroom plants
Cons:
- Toxic to pets such as dogs and cats
- Variegated varieties need sufficient light to preserve their patterns
You can’t find better plants for your bathroom. They are resilient and can handle changes in humidity and temperature. These plants are low-maintenance and feature a wide range of leaf colors and textures.
Grow yourself a whole family of plants if you want to believe the claims of those who say they are the new pets. (Before long, you’ll be making your own moss bath mat).
Never never plant: Ctenanthe setosa ‘Grey Star’
Pros:
- Easy to care for
- Impressive, striking variegation
Con:
- Doesn’t do well with sudden temperature changes
The never-never plant’s bright foliage will impress bathroom guests. Another tropical plant that likes humidity and shade. This plant attracts spider mites like calatheas.
Spider mites thrive in hot, dry settings, so placing these plants in a humid atmosphere can help manage them. These plants are easy to shower off in a bathroom, another spider mite prevention measure.
Maidenhair fern: Adiantum aethiopicum
Pros:
- Shade loving
- Air-purifying plant
- Pet friendly
Cons:
- Slow growing
- Particular about moisture and humidity levels
Despite its beauty, this fragile fern is not a medical herb. Ferns thrive in shade and high humidity. That makes them ideal bathroom plants. The delicate maidenhair fern’s lacy fronds provide elegance and abundant color.
English ivy: Hedera helix
Pros:
- Good for beginners
- Lives long
- Air-purifying plant
Con:
- Toxic to pets
Are you looking for a trailing plant to put on display in your bathroom? Due to its ability to thrive in low light, dark-leaved English ivy is a great option for bathroom hanging plants. While English ivy enjoys a moist environment, its soil should be kept on the drier side to promote growth.
Golden pothos: Epipremnum aureum
Pros:
- Easy to care for
- Air-purifying plant
Con:
- Toxic to pets
Golden pothos is another trailing houseplant favorite. This adaptable, fast-growing species is one of the greatest bathroom plants. Unless you overwater, your pothos plant will thrive in any window. These plants may clean the air in bathrooms.
Snake plant: Dracaena trifasciata
Pros:
- Great for beginners
- Upright, clean lines work well in minimalist bathrooms
Cons:
- Needs consistent warmth
- Root rot is common as a result of overwatering
Most indoor spaces, including bathrooms, support the snake plant. Their sword-shaped leaves are usually green with a golden edging. Snake plant maintenance is easy because they appreciate high humidity, low light, and infrequent watering. They are excellent bathroom plants due to their ability to absorb moisture quickly.
Lucky bamboo: Dracaena sanderiana
Pros:
- Carries interesting symbology
- Low maintenance
Cons:
- Relatively short-lived
- Toxic to pets
Although it is not a true bamboo, lucky bamboo is a tough and fast-growing plant. The inclusion of this species in your bathroom will bring both sculptural interest and positive energy. It thrives in potting soil or a vase filled with water and dislikes direct sunlight.
Moth orchid: Phalaenopsis spp.
Pros:
- One of the easiest orchids to grow as a houseplant
- Long-lasting blooms
- Pet friendly
Con:
- Not suited to bathrooms with very low light
Want beautiful bathroom flowers? Moth orchids thrive with medium to brilliant indirect light and warm temperatures. They fit narrow powder rooms (bookmark this page if you need plants for your mom, sister, or pals).
Parlor palm: Chamaedorea elegans
Pros:
- Grows in attractive clumps
- Long-lasting cut fronds are perfect for flower arrangements
- Pet friendly
Con:
- Sensitive to overwatering
Parlor palms thrive in humid, low-light showers. Though large for an indoor houseplant, this slow-growing mini palm won’t overwhelm the limited space and can endure cooler weather better than tropical species.
Peace lily: Spathiphyllum spp.
Pros:
- Fragrant blooms
- Air-purifying plant
- A positive symbol of peace, purity, healing and hope
Cons:
- Toxic to pets
- Sensitive to fluctuating temperatures
The peace lily’s thick, white, flower-like spathes and glossy green leaves absorb mold spores, cleaning humid bathroom air. To prevent plant death, supply indirect, bright light. Some peace lily fans wait until the foliage droops before watering.
Rex begonia: Begonia rex-cultorum
Pros:
- Fabulous foliage
- Easy to propagate
Cons:
- Prone to powdery mildew
- Toxic to pets
If you’re looking to make a statement in your bathroom and don’t mind a little difficulty, try a rex begonia. While their huge, variegated leaves will survive in dim light, they really flourish in constant warmth and humidity and like bright, indirect sunlight.
Spider plant: Chlorophytum comosum
Pros:
- Air-purifying plant
- Low maintenance
- Easy to propagate
Con:
- Not good for breezy locations
The variegated, grassy spider plant is a low-maintenance houseplant. It makes a great bohemian bathroom hanging plant (displayed in a macrame hanger, of course). Spider plant care is simple. For busy plant parents, these beauties tolerate poor light and sporadic watering.
Stromanthe tricolor: Stromanthe sanguinea
Pros:
- Dramatic folding foliage
- Pet friendly
Con:
- Not an ideal beginner houseplant
Stromanthe tricolor is one of the fussier plants on this list, but its vivid green-and-pink variegated leaves is worth it. It thrives in bright, indirect light, but its foliage colors diminish in low light. High-humidity lovers want a steamy, well-lit bathroom.