These Are the Best Houseplants for a Spa-Like Bathroom
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You’ve added houseplants to every room of your home: A handsome indoor tree in the living room, an indoor herb garden on the kitchen counter, and a beautiful succulent on your windowsill. But why not include plants in your bathroom, too? Even a few bathroom plants can transform the space into an oasis of greenery.
The best part is—some plants actually thrive in bathrooms due to the higher humidity. When shopping for your new bathroom plant, consider the lighting in your space. Even plants that tolerate low-light need some light to thrive. If you don’t have a window in your bathroom, consider using a small grow light to help your plant flourish.
When it comes to caring for your bathroom plants, there are a couple of things to keep in mind: make sure your pot has a hole in the bottom for drainage and don’t overwater! More houseplants die from overwatering than under-watering. If you’re unsure whether your plant needs a drink, poke your finger into the soil. If it's really wet, wait and check again in a few days. If it’s damp, wait and recheck the next day. Totally dry? Time to water. You can also fertilize your bathroom plant with half-strength, all-purpose fertilizer during its growing season (from spring to the end of summer). Houseplant growth slows in winter, so it’s not necessary to feed them during the winter months.
Whether you're looking to give your bathroom a soothing spa feeling or you just want to brighten up the space, these bathroom plants will do well in even the trickiest (and most humid) spots in your home.
Pothos
One of the easiest plants to grow, pothos has shiny leaves and a vining form that looks amazing tumbling out of a hanging basket or over the edges of a shelf. They will tolerate low light but grow faster in medium light. Water when the top few inches feel dry because they don’t like to stay soggy.
Snake Plant
This sturdy plant has a strong architectural form. It’s extremely easy to care for and will tolerate low light, if necessary. Keep your snake plant on the dry side, watering only when the first few inches of soil feel dry.
Aglaonema
The colorful foliage of these plants make them worth adding to your collection. You’ll see silver or pink and white variegated types. They tolerage low light and like to dry out between waterings.
Pilea
The cute coin-shaped leaves hold onto water, so it doesn’t need to be watered frequently. Give them bright indirect light and water only when the top few inches are dry.
Rattlesnake Calathea
With its striped or spotted foliage and burgundy undersides, this plant is a stunner! Give it bright indirect light, and keep the soil slightly (not sopping) wet. There are many varieties of calathea, but Rattlesnake is especially lovely.
Air Plant
Air plants, also called tillandsia, are fun to display in hanging baskets or mounted on pieces of bark. There are different types, like “mesic” air plants which typically have dark green curled leaves; they like bright indirect light and will burn in direct sunlight. Then, there's “xeric” air plants which have silver, flat leaves with a fuzzy appearance. They like bright light, even direct sunlight. Roughly once a week, soak mesic types for 20-30 minutes in a sink or bowl of water, then let dry before placing back in its display.
Hurricane Fern
A type of bird’s nest fern, this one has whirling fronds with a beautiful twist to them. They like medium to bright light and evenly moist soil. You can tell it needs to be watered if the fronds start to look dull.
ZZ Plant
This houseplant has pretty, shiny foliage and an upright form. It will tolerate low light but prefers medium. Let it dry out completely between waterings, about every 2 to 3 weeks. A new type with black foliage, called 'Raven,' is especially striking.
Aloe Vera
This great-for-beginners succulent has thick, fleshy leaves that contain a gel-like substance that’s been studied to heal wounds. Snap off an outer leaf and apply the gel to minor burns. Give aloe vera bright indirect light and water when mostly dry, every few weeks.
Lucky Bamboo
This plant is often grown in water only, so it’s hard to kill! It likes moderate light but can adapt to low light levels. If grown in water, keep the roots submerged in water and change the water every week or so. If grown in soil, keep it slightly moist.
Spider Plant
This plant is an old standby; your grandmother probably had one. With its long arching foliage and tiny baby “spiders,” from which you can grow new plants, it’s a great addition to your bathroom. It prefers bright indirect light. Water when the soil feels slightly dry. The curly variety, Bonnie, is especially pretty.
Cast Iron Plant
Cast iron plant survives almost any abuse, thus, it’s name! It has long, strappy dark green leaves. Give it low to medium light, and water when the soil feels slightly dry.
Heartleaf Philodendron
Philodendrons are sturdy plants, and this variety has pretty heart-shaped leaves you won’t be able to resist. Its vining form looks great draped over a shelf. It tolerates low light. Water only when the soil is slightly dry.
Parlor Palm
If you’re looking for a bit of the tropics, this sturdy palm is one of the less fussy palms to grow indoors. It likes moderate light but will tolerate low light levels. Water to keep soil lightly moist, though it will tolerate your occasionally forgetting to water.
String of Pearls
String of pearls looks exactly like beads, and it’s fabulous dangling out of a hanging basket or on a high shelf. It needs bright indirect light and should be watered every few weeks when mostly dry.
Brasil Philodendron
This variegated type of heartleaf philodendron is easy to grow. It has dark green heart-shaped leaves with a chartreuse center, so it’s quite eye-catching. It needs bright indirect light, though it will adapt to low light. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Haworthia
Haworthia is a cute little succulent with white stripes on its upright green foliage. It’s a great window sill plant as it doesn’t get larger than about 6 to 8 inches. It likes bright light, but water only when it’s mostly dry, every few weeks.
Birkin Philodendron
With creamy white markings on lush green leaves, this philodendron is irresistible for a splash of color and sophistication. It likes bright indirect light. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Ric Rac Cactus
How cute is this cactus? It looks exactly like ric rac trim! Give it bright indirect light, and water when soil dries out a bit. If you're lucky, it may bloom once it's a few years old.
Money Tree
The upright form and shiny green leaves make this a handsome addition to your houseplant collection. It’s a fast grower in bright indirect light, but it will also tolerate low to medium light. Turn it every week so that it grows more evenly. Let it dry out between waterings.
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