In your eagerness to add warmth to your interiors during the quarantine gardening boom, don’t forget about one humidity-filled haven: the bathroom.
“Bathrooms are a fun category,” said Annette Gutierrez of the Los Angeles plant store Potted. “I’ve got a whole hoya thing happening in mine. I love how they hang. Hanging plants are great in the bathroom where counter space is at a premium, and since most houseplants are tropicals, they love the humidity.”
Filled with moisture, bathrooms are an ideal environment for humidity-loving houseplants, but don’t substitute humidity for watering. “You still have to water your plants,” Gutierrez added.
Here are five houseplants that should do well in the bathroom.
1. Fern
Many ferns, such as Kimberly queen fern, bird’s nest fern and blue star fern thrive in extra moisture and will grow beautifully in a bathroom habitat according to Mast. Although many ferns grow at the base of trees in their natural habitat, it’s a good idea to give them medium light or bright filtered light indoors to encourage growth.
2. Gardenia
Gardenias are beautiful plants that do best in bright light but love the high humidity environment of a bathroom. “If you have a window in your bathroom that gets at least four hours of sun, for example, south- or west-facing, this would be a perfect spot to add a gardenia,” Mast said.
3. Spider plant
Chlorophytum comosum, or spider plants, are fun, easy houseplants that would make a great addition to a bathroom as they are tolerant of low light and love extra humidity. “Spider plants would be great as a hanging plant above a bathtub for a dramatic effect,” Mast said. “Take advantage of overlooked surfaces like behind the toilet or over a vanity if you’re low on shelf space.” Spider plants are easy to propagate because they produce plantlets at the ends of their stalks. Simply cut one of the plantlets and place it in water. When roots are about an inch long, transfer the plant to potting soil.
4. Monstera
Monstera deliciosa, also called swiss cheese plant, is trendy (check out #MonsteraMonday on Instagram) and for good reason: It’s a dramatic, low-maintenance houseplant that is easy for beginners. Monstera does best in bright filtered light and on pebble trays. A small plant is a good choice for the bathroom as monstera is a fast grower. If it grows too fast, train it with a moss-covered pole.
5. Orchid
Phalaenopsis from Trader Joe’s will do well if the bathroom has a window, said Huntington orchid specialist Brandon Tam. “The higher humidity is a definite plus but not mandatory,” he said. “I recommend having a few orchids in the bathroom if you have space. People will have higher success with the more observations that they make. The bathroom is one of the more visited rooms. That’s why I tell people to put them where they will be able to check on them throughout the day.”
