Best Plants for Bathrooms

INSIDE : Check out some of the best plants for bathrooms, even if you don’t have a window!  Your plants will happily thrive in these low light, high humidity locations.

This post may contain affiliate links.  See full disclosure here.

This post has been updated since it’s original December 2019 publish date.

Why have plants in the bathroom?

One of the issues many people have with their indoor plants is a lack of humidity.  So, to help counter balance that issue, a trick to keeping many lower light plants alive and healthy is to keep them in your bathroom!

Another issue is having bathroom plants but no light is available. Plants need light, even low light plants need some light. Keep reading below to see which plants are best suited to no light or low light areas.

Looking for more awesome Plant Care tips?  Check out my plant care page… your plants will thank you!

The typical low light, high humidity and warmth of the bathroom is exactly what most tropical plants are missing. So, if your houseplants are struggling – gather them up and find a perfect spot for them in your bathroom.  

16 of the Best Plants for Bathrooms without Windows or Low Light :

Air Plants

Air plants are mostly very easy growers.  The entire idea is that you don’t need any dirt to provide nutrients or moisture.  If you are a notorious plant killer, often times starting with an air plant is a great place to go.  I have two of my air plant in my kid’s bathroom and they’ve done wonderfully with that minimal light amount.

Check out my Air Plant Care tips post.

Prayer Plant

Prayer plants do well in medium indirect light, but can also tolerate low indirect light.  I have actually noticed my plant is much healthier looking when I have it in lower light.  Our New Mexico sun is very intense and if he gets too much direct light, then it’s leaves start to get scorched.  Morning sunlight is fine, but it’s best to avoid that more intense afternoon sunlight. 

Check out my Prayer Plant Care tips post.

Spider Plant

Spider plants are a great plant for a bathroom.  They don’t need much direct sunlight and when they start to wilt slightly, you can water.  However, if they are in a room with a bathtub or shower, this often will help them stay more humid and damp longer.  They make wonderful hanging plants for that dark corner in your bath.

Cast Iron Plant

Cast Iron plants get their name because they can survive a huge range of conditions, just like cast iron.  Be sure to keep them away from direct sunlight, which can burn their leaves.  It is safe to keep them away from windows in more dim, drafty spaces. They will be okay with bright indirect light, but definitely keep them out of direct sunlight.

Arrowhead Plant

Arrowhead Plants like medium to bright light, but they can tolerate low light. They however are not suited for intense, direct sun.

Heartleaf Philodendron

Heart-leaf philodendron has lovely heart shaped leaves, but any type of philodendron would be a great bathroom choice. They are fast growers, need very little light and can even be grown in a glass or jar of water.  They love all the extra moisture from a bathroom. Best of all, you can train it to happily vine along a windowsill or shelf.

Want to be a #plantlady, but need a bit of help?  You will love my KEEP PLANTS ALIVE checklist with 6 super helpful tips!  Signup below to get access to this checklist guide.

Aloe

Aloe plants love indirect light and only need a good soak every week or two, ideal if they are forgotten for a little bit in a bathroom. 

It needs little water, but it does prefer bright, but indirect sunlight, especially in cooler temperatures.  An aloe plant can grow for years in the same container.

Bamboo Plants

Bamboo plants enjoy bright indirect light, but they can tolerate lower light conditions.  The lower the light amount, the slower they will grow.  If you see your plant starting to get yellow leaves, then you know it needs just a touch more sunshine.  However, be careful because too much sunlight can give them a sunburn.

Snake Plants

Snake Plant is happiest in bright light but can tolerate low light levels indoors as well which makes them AWESOME for bathrooms!  Only 1 or 2 waterings are necessary indoors during the winter, depending on the humidity. These are long-lived, easy-care houseplants.

Check out my post about Snake Plant care.

Boston Fern

Boston ferns are the perfect indoor plant, as they thrive in lots of indirect light.   They are lovely plants with long, graceful plant fronds.   A Boston Fern is a relatively tough, easy to propagate fern that has a higher tolerance for lower light conditions – although I always have a hard time with them living in the New Mexico desert as all ferns like more humidity.

Peperomia

Peperomia plants are sweet small growing plants.  They are great for low light and come in a variety of colors and leaf shapes. Their tight size makes them perfect for small quarters, such as bathrooms. 

Check out my Peperomia Plant Care post.

Dwarf Umbrella Plant

Dwarf Umbrella plants are another plant that loves indirect sunlight, but will still function quite well with much less sunlight.  The less sunlight your plant receives, the slower it will grow.  I’ve had my Dwarf Umbrella plant in our bathroom for almost two years and he’s been doing just fine!

Pothos

Golden pothos is a fast growing plant and is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and almost impossible to kill.  These are trailing plants that just keep on growing. Pruning the plants will keep them fuller at the base and each cutting can be rooted in water to create more plants.  They are very tolerant of all types of light conditions, even artificial bathroom lights. 

Check out my Pothos Plant care post.

Marimo Moss Balls

Keep your moss balls where they will receive low to medium indirect light. You need to protect them from direct sun. Marimo balls can turn brown if they are getting direct light.  Marimo do well to even low light spaces like near a normal household light.

Check out my Marimo Moss Balls care post.

Peace Lily

Peace Lilies are one of the most common houseplants because they’re easy to grow and so pretty.   They prefer light partial shade and can even handle indoor fluorescent lights.   Some have been known to thrive in rooms with no windows at all.  Yellowing leaves indicate that the light is too strong, and brown leaves or streaks indicate scorching from direct sunlight.

ZZ Plant

The ZZ Plant or Zamioculcas zamiifolia has gorgeous thick waxy green leaves.  They do well in low-medium light and can be watered infrequently. This is a great air purifying plant for beginners. 

Check out my Black Raven ZZ care post.

Be sure to checkout my post on the Best Sunlight Levels for indoor houseplants, too.

16 Low Light Bathroom plants – 

• Spider Plant. 
• Heartleaf Philodendron. 
• Marimo Moss Balls
• Bamboo.
• Aloe Vera. 
• Snake Plant.
• Peperomia. 
• Pothos. 
• Cast Iron Plant.
• Peace Lily.
• Prayer Plant
• Arrowhead Plant
• Boston Fern.
• ZZ plant.  
• Dwarf Umbrella Plants.
• Air Plant.

Do Succulents do well in Bathrooms?

In general, most tropical succulent plants do well in bathrooms since they are more used to high humidity and lack of sunlight.

If your bathroom has lots of sunlight but is still humid, opt for succulents that can tolerate humidity, like aloe.

Need some more plant care posts?  You will love these : 

11 Hard to Kill Houseplants
Best Plants for your Bathroom
Best Sunlight Levels for your plants
Best Indoor Plant Pots
How to clean your Houseplants
Best Online Houseplant Shops
Water Propagation for Plants