The bathroom might seem like a weird place for plants at first but it really works. They have more humidity than most rooms and add in the natural light from a window and you’ve got the equivalent of a mini greenhouse.
But not all bathrooms are the same. Some have huge windows with bright light streaming in while others have tiny ones that you could barely call a window. And it’s thing like this that will play a big part in which plants will be happiest there.
So, I’m going to go through the 15 best plants that will not only survive but really do well in your bathroom with windows. I’ll cover everything from care tips to common issues, plus some unexpected benefits these plants can bring to your home.
The 15 Best Plants for Bathrooms with Windows
1. Boston Fern
If you want your bathroom to have a spa feel to it then a Boston Fern is perfect. They absolutely love the steam from your shower.
They grow best in high humidity (70% or higher is perfect) and indirect light, so they’re great for bathrooms with north or east facing windows. They don’t need direct sunlight and it would in fact burn their leaves.
Water your Boston fern when the top inch of soil feels dry. In the bathroom this might mean be less often than in other parts of your home as the humidity helps keep them happy.
But you have to keep their care consistent. When I went on vacation for a week I came back to a crispy fern that took months to recover. You could use a small pebble tray with water underneath to boost humidity if your bathroom gets dry.
2. Peace Lily
Peace lilies are excellent choices as they look great, don’t need much care and will even purify the air.
They like medium to low light conditions. This makes them perfect for bathrooms that don’t get lots of direct sunlight.
The green leaves and occasional white flowers look wonderful in any bathroom.
I water mine when they start to droop a little. Thankfully peace lilies will show you when they need watering without suffering any permanent damage. Just don’t let them stay droopy for too long.
The soil should be kept consistently moist but not soggy. I use a potting mix that drains well and make sure the pot has lots of drainage holes. Fun fact: peace lilies are on NASA’s list of top air purifying plants, so they’re cleaning your bathroom air while looking pretty.
3. Spider Plant
Spider plants are very hard to kill which makes them perfect for beginners or those of you who forget to look after your plants.
They like bright, indirect light best but will also grow in lower light conditions, so can adapt to most bathroom windows.
Water them when the top inch of soil is dry which might be less often when they’re growing in a humid bathroom. Spider plants don’t mind about their soil much but I use a standard potting mix with good drainage.
I’ve had my spider plant for over five years now and it’s survived me moving it around, neglecting more than I should and even a brief period where my cat took a dislike to it. They’re just very tough and will forgive almost any mistake.
4. Snake Plant
Also called mother in law’s tongue, snake plants are another plants that’s very difficult to kill and perfect for low light bathrooms.
They grow tall leaves and they have patterns of green and yellow. As they grow very vertically it makes them perfect for narrow spaces or in the corner of your bathroom. They don’t mind little light but will grow faster with more of it.
The best thing about snake plants? They’re extremely tolerant of a lack of water.
You should only water them when the soil is very dry. When they’re in a bathroom this might mean once every 2 to 3 weeks. If you overwater that’s the only time you’re likely to kill them, so be careful.
5. Pothos
Pothos are a fantastic vine for bathrooms. They come in golden, marble queen, neon and other varieties. They adapt and grow well in medium to low light conditions and their vines look great when growing over a shower rod or hanging from a high shelf.
Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feel dry. Pothos will forgive you if you miss watering them from time to time though. When they’re not happy they’ll show you be getting droopy leaves but will bounce back quickly once you water.
I’ve propagated dozens of pothos plants from my original one. It’s so easy, just cut a part of vine with a few leaves, stick it in water, wait for roots to grow and then plant it.
6. Aloe Vera
Aloe isn’t just pretty, it’s practical too. The leaves are filled with gel and known for being able to soothe burns.
Aloe vera needs bright indirect light, so it works best in bathrooms with larger, south or west facing windows.
Unlike many bathroom plants aloe prefers to dry out completely between waterings. In a humid bathroom you might only need to water it once every 3 to 4 weeks.
Use a cactus or succulent soil mix so you don’t get root rot. I keep mine in a terracotta pot which helps any extra moisture evaporate.
And if you get sunburnt or minor kitchen burn you can break off a small piece of leaf and use the gel on your skin.
7. Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreens are some of the most colorful plants you can grow in lower light conditions.
They don’t mind low to medium light and are perfect for bathrooms with small or frosted windows.
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry and slow down how often you water in the winter. They enjoy humidity but don’t need as much as ferns do, so they should be fin in most bathrooms.
8. Orchids
I know what you’re thinking – aren’t orchids known for being super difficult? Not bathroom orchids! Phalaenopsis orchids actually love growing in a bathroom.
They do well in the humid, bright, indirect light that many bathrooms have. They like the temperature to be between 65 to 80°F, which is usual for bathrooms.
Rather than growing in soil, orchids need a special orchid mix or sphagnum moss. Water them by soaking the pot for 15 minutes once a week then let it drain completely.
I had a bathroom orchid that rebloomed three times in two years which I thought of as a huge success. What worked was placing it near (but not directly in) a window and letting it enjoy the shower steam.
9. Air Plants
If you want to for really low maintenance then look no further. Air plants don’t even need soil!
They absorb water and nutrients through their leaves instead of roots. They come in many shapes and sizes.
The bathroom is perfect for air plants because they love humidity. Put them near (but not in) a window for bright, indirect light. To water them they like to be misted a lot 2 or 3 times a week. Or alternatively soak them in water for 20 to 30 minutes once a week. Make sure you shake off excess water afterwards though and let them dry completely.
10. Lucky Bamboo
Lucky bamboo can grow in water alone (with some pebbles for support) or in soil. It likes indirect light and good humidity, making the bathroom ideal. If you grow it in water change it every 2 to 3 weeks so algae doesn’t buildup.
11. Fittonia (Nerve Plant)
These plants are beautiful and have green leaves with the veins coming in white, pink or red. They like medium to low light and high humidity so another that’s great for bathrooms.
If you let them dry out though then they’ll completely collapse. But they usually recover quickly once you water them. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
12. Begonia
Begonias have gorgeous leaves in green, silver, red, pink and purple. They like bright, indirect light and high humidity, so bathrooms with east or west facing windows are perfect.
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry and don’t get the water on the leaves, as it can cause powdery mildew. I use room temperature water and water from below when possible.
Begonias can be a bit pickier than some other bathroom plants but how they look makes the extra effort worth it.
13. English Ivy
English Ivy can be grown in hanging baskets, trained up trellises or grown down from high shelves. It likes medium light and consistent humidity.
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry and mist occasionally if your bathroom gets dry. English ivy likes good air flow to stop spider mites which are its main pest problem.
14. Bird’s Nest Fern
If you love the look of ferns but a Boston fern is a bit too much work then bird’s nest ferns are a more forgiving alternative.
They like medium to low light and high humidity. Water them when the soil begins to get dry and don’t get water in the nest part in the middle as it can lead to rot. Unlike other ferns they don’t need to be constantly moist.
15. ZZ Plant
Last but not least the ZZ plant is possibly the most forgiving bathroom plant on this list. It does well in very low light conditions, though it grows better with more light.
Water it only when the soil is completely dry – in a bathroom this might mean once a month or even less often. ZZ plants store water in their stems and roots, which makes them great at dealing with droughts and lack of water.
Common Challenges (And How to Handle Them)
Even with the right plants you can still run in to issues with growing them in your bathroom. These are the most common ones you’re likely to come across:
Inconsistent Humidity
Problem: Your bathroom might be humid right after showers but dry the rest of the time.
Solution: Group any plants you have together as they’ll increase the humidity for each other. Also use pebble trays filled with water beneath the pots. You can try using a small humidifier for your bathroom plants if you live somewhere that’s very dry.
Limited Light
Problem: Many bathrooms have small windows or frosted glass ones that reduces the light.
Solution: Rotate your plants regularly so all every side of them get the same amount of light. You could also install LED grow lights or just choose plants from the list that do well in less light (like snake plants, ZZ plants and pothos).
Temperature Fluctuations
Problem: Bathroom temperatures can swing from hot to cool overnight.
Solution: Don’t put your sensitive plants right next to windows that might get cold or in the way of heating/cooling vents. Most of the plants on this list can handle normal bathroom temperature fluctuations, but big swings (below 55°F or above 85°F) will cause problems for them.
Mold and Mildew
Problem: The same conditions that plants love can help mold growth.
Solution: Make sure there is good air flow in your bathroom by using a small fan or opening the door/window often. Remove any dead or yellowing leaves quickly. You could also try adding some charcoal to the bottom of pots or as a top dressing to reduce any mold.
Tips for Keeping Bathroom Plants Healthy
These are some tips to help your plants grow in your bathroom:
- Clean your plant leaves regularly with a cloth to remove the dust as it can block light from being absorbed.
- Use fertilizers that work for bathrooms. I recommend a diluted fertilizer at half the recommended strength during the spring and summer.
- Think about the water you use – some plants are sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals you find in tap water. If your plants seem unhappy try letting the water sit out overnight before using it or use filtered water.
- Rotate the plants every 3 or 4 months to make sure the growth is even, especially if your bathroom window only gives light from one direction.
- Repot your bathroom plants every 1 to 2 years with fresh soil to give it nutrients that may have been exhausted and stop the roots from binding.
Something I do is check on my bathroom plants while brushing my teeth. It’s a great way to do some quick plant care as part of my daily routine. Just a quick look each day helps me catch any issues before they become bigger problems.
FAQ
Can I put plants in a bathroom with no windows?
Yes, but you’ll need to give them artificial light and choose the right plans. ZZ plants, snake plants and pothos can survive with just artificial bathroom lighting.
How often should I water bathroom plants?
It varies by plant and the conditions they’re in but for the most part less often is better than for the same plants elsewhere in your home. The higher humidity means evaporation happens much slower. But always check the top inch of the soil. If it’s still moist wait a few more days before watering.
Will plants help reduce bathroom humidity problems?
Somewhat, but don’t expect miracles. Plants do absorb some moisture from the air but not enough to fix any serious issues you have. They can help moderate the humidity levels a little but you’ll still need proper ventilation to stop mold and mildew problems.
Can bathroom plants survive with just artificial light?
Some can. Plants like ZZ plants, snake plants and pothos can survive with just the artificial light from bathrooms if they’re kept on regularly. For most other plants you’ll need to supplement them with a grow light or move them to brighter spots occasionally.
Are bathroom plants safe around children and pets?
Not all of them. Peace lilies, pothos and English ivy are toxic if you eat them. If you have pets or small children it’s better to choose plants like spider plants, Boston ferns and air plants as they’re not going to cause problems. Alternatively put toxic plants on high shelves out of reach.
Final Thoughts
I started with just one small pothos in my bathroom and now I have so many I can barley cope with them all. It’s weirdly addictive and I enjoy brushing my teeth or having a shower with them around me.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different plants to find what works best in your bathroom. Plants are tougher than we often give them credit for and even if you lose one along the way the ones that succeed will more than make up for it.