6 Best Bathroom Plants (and the One Thing They All Need)
A bathroom can be one of the best rooms in the house for plants. Every shower adds a little humidity, and a lot of tropical plants love that. Ferns and calatheas especially.
But there's a catch, and it's the reason a lot of bathroom plants slowly fade out.
The one thing they all need: a window
Humidity is great. Light is still the main thing. If your bathroom has no window and the light is only on for 20 minutes a day, no plant on this list will be happy there long term.
- Bathroom with a window: great. Most of these plants want bright, indirect light, so a frosted or north-facing window is often perfect.
- Tiny window or very dim: go with the most forgiving picks (pothos, heartleaf philodendron).
- No window at all: a small grow light on a timer can make it work. Or keep the plant in another room and give it "spa days" in the bathroom.
1. Heart fern
Small, with thick, heart-shaped fronds. It stays compact, so it fits on a counter or windowsill. Like most ferns, it wants bright, indirect light and steady moisture.
Shop: Fern 'Heart'.
2. Bird's nest fern
Bright green fronds that grow up and out from a center rosette, like a nest. It looks great on a shelf above the tub. Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Shop: Bird's Nest 'Leslie' Fern. Our winter fern care post covers how to keep ferns going when the air gets dry.
3. Calathea 'Rattlesnake'
Calatheas are humidity divas. In a dry living room they get crispy edges. In a bright bathroom they often look their best. The Rattlesnake has long, wavy leaves with dark green spots.
Shop: Calathea Lancifolia 'Rattlesnake'. More in our Calathea care guide.
4. Prayer plant
A cousin of the calathea, with the same love for humidity. The leaves fold up at night and open in the morning, which is fun to watch while you brush your teeth.
Shop: Maranta Red Prayer Plant.
5. Pothos
Not a humidity plant, but it does fine with it, and it's the most forgiving pick here. Let it trail off a shelf or the top of a cabinet. It handles lower light better than the ferns.
Shop: Pothos 'Marble Queen'. Want it fuller? Read our pothos post.
6. Heartleaf philodendron
Same easygoing vibe as pothos, with soft, heart-shaped leaves. A good backup for a darker bathroom.
Shop: Philodendron Cordatum 'Heartleaf'.
How to care for bathroom plants
Light: bright, indirect is best. Keep ferns and calatheas out of harsh direct sun, which scorches their leaves.
Water: - Ferns: keep the soil consistently moist, not soggy. Don't let them dry out. - Calathea and prayer plants: keep moist, letting the top inch dry before watering again. - Pothos and philodendron: let the top 1-2 inches dry first.
Bathroom humidity means the soil may dry out slower than in other rooms. Check with your finger before you water, don't just go by the calendar.
Water quality: calatheas and prayer plants are sensitive to salts in tap water, which can cause brown edges. Filtered, distilled or rainwater helps if your tap water is hard.
Temperature: bathrooms can swing from steamy to cold, especially in winter. Keep plants away from a drafty window or an exhaust fan blowing right on them.
Skip the misting. It doesn't do much. The shower does more. Our humidity guide has better options for the rest of the house.
Common bathroom plant problems
- Crispy brown fronds or edges → usually low humidity or dry soil. Check the soil more often.
- Yellow leaves and soggy soil → too much water, or a pot with no drainage hole.
- Pale, stretched growth → not enough light. Move it closer to the window.
- Fine webbing under leaves → spider mites, which like dry plants. Wipe the leaves and treat early.
A note on pets
If you have pets, check your exact plant on the ASPCA list before it goes on a low shelf.
Shop bathroom plants
Our Fern collection and Calathea and Maranta collection are full of plants that like a steamy room. For care on each, check out our Plant Care Guide. Let us know if you have any questions!
Happy growing,
Alex
Chief Leaf Officer, Austin Jungle Co.
