Freshen Up the Bath With Lush and Healthy Plants

The organic forms and oxygen-boosting properties of plants make them a welcome addition to the bathroom. But keeping houseplants healthy in the often humid, low-light conditions of the bath is not always straightforward. To make things easier, here are seven good plant choices for the bathroom — plus ideas for placing and styling them.

Assess conditions before picking plants. Taking the conditions in your space into account is vital if you want healthy, long-lived plants. Ask yourself these questions before visiting the nursery:

Which direction does your bathroom window face? (Pull up a compass app on your phone if you’re not sure.)
Is the sunlight direct or indirect?How is the ventilation?How much space do you have for planters?



Good Plants for the Bath

Tillandsia. Tillandsias, better known as air plants, require no soil to grow — just bright, indirect light and air. These petite plants have sculptural forms that make them a natural choice for modern spaces. To care for your tillandsia, either use a spray bottle to mist it twice a week or submerge it in water once every two weeks for an hour or so.


Snake plant. Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plants are sturdy, easy-to-care-for plants that can thrive in low light and need watering only every two weeks or so. If you’ve been having trouble keeping any plant alive in your bathroom, this could be the plant for you.


Aloe vera. Its beautifully architectural leaves and natural healing powers (use the inside of a cut leaf to soothe minor burns) make aloe vera a worthy plant for any room. Aloe does well with a bit of steam from showers, but these plants do need bright, indirect light to thrive — so it’s not the best plant for bathrooms with little natural light.


Split-leaf philodendron. Searching for a plant that looks like it belongs in a steamy jungle? A split-leaf philodendron might be just the ticket. These large-leaved beauties do well in the warm, humid environment of a bathroom and like bright, indirect light. Just remember that like all philodendrons, split-leaf philodendrons are toxic if ingested by pets or young children.


Orchids. These elegant blooms are a natural choice for the bathroom, where they should thrive in the warm, moist air. The American Orchid Society recommends placing your orchid near a south- or east-facing window. Too much direct sun in a west-facing window can burn the leaves, and a north-facing window can be too dim. Allow the soil to become fairly dry between watering, as overwatering will cause the roots to rot.


Ferns. Delicate maidenhair ferns, like the one shown here, are notoriously finicky to grow — but they can do quite well in a humid bathroom. Maidenhair ferns love moisture, so keep a mister on hand and mist daily, and water often enough to keep the soil moist but not overly wet. For a lower-maintenance fern, try Boston ferns, which don’t need misting.


Succulents. The world of succulents is quite diverse, from cacti (not a good choice for the bath) to jade plants (a better choice). Not all succulents will be happy in the bathroom, but some will thrive here — the best way to know for sure is by asking a knowledgeable staff member at the nursery when you are choosing your plants. Succulents are desert plants, with leaves designed to hold water, so avoid overwatering.


Placement Ideas

Near the sink. Placing a potted plant near the sink may be your first inclination — and it can be a fine spot, but only if light from the window reaches your sink. If the pot is small, you could try keeping it on the sink and move it near the window occasionally if it’s looking a bit sad.


Wall mounted. Staghorn ferns (shown here) and tillandsias can be mounted directly to a piece of wood, since their root systems do not need to be in a pot of soil. For other types of plants, look for a wall-mounted or hanging planter that can be filled with soil — and make sure you have a stepstool on hand to reach them for watering.


Tillandsias, thanks to the fact that they don’t need soil, can be placed just about anywhere. There are many petite planters made especially for air plants, from bubble-like glass forms that hang from the ceiling to mini ceramic planters.


Window shelf. Less expected than a row of plants on the windowsill, but nearly as easy, a simple shelf mounted across a window makes a great place to keep potted plants in the bath. If your window is tall and they won’t interfere with opening the shades, you could even put up two or three shelves.


Under a skylight. Have a skylight in the bathroom? Set a sun-loving plant on a little stool under it. The plant will love it, and the rooftop window will act like a spotlight, drawing the eye to the spot of greenery. It’s not likely that the plant will become “sunburned,” but do keep an eye on it and move the pot to a less sunny spot if you notice any unhappy leaves.


Atop the shower stall. If your bathroom has a partial wall separating the shower from the rest of the space, consider positioning a vine-like or trailing plant on top, where it can drape down the wall. Try a spider plant or the more unusual-looking Crescent succulent vine, shown here.


Living walls. Mossy plants and succulents are natural choices to fill a green living wall like the one shown here. For the best results, hire a garden pro who specializes in living walls to design a planter to fit the space and light conditions of your bathroom.

Tell us: Do you keep houseplants in the bathroom? Share a photo in the Comments!

More:
10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors
8 Essentials for Healthy Indoor Plants

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