Plant SOS · Location & Light
Which plant to choose
for the bathroom?
The bathroom is paradoxically one of the best places in the house for some plants — and one of the worst for others. High humidity after showering, intermittent heat, and often low light create a very specific micro-environment. When chosen well, a bathroom plant thrives with almost no care. When chosen poorly, it withers in a few weeks.
The key: choose species that love high ambient humidity and tolerate low to moderate light — exactly as in their natural habitat, the floor of humid tropical forests.
Bathroom conditions
Before choosing, let's understand what makes the bathroom so special — and why some plants love living there.
- 💧 High ambient humidity — ideal for tropical plants
- 🌡️ Constant and mild temperature all year round
- 🚿 Water vapor after each shower — natural foliage hydration
- 🌿 Fewer cold drafts than the rest of the apartment
- 🌑 Often low light — especially if the window is small or absent
- 🧴 Airborne chemicals (hair spray, sprays)
- 🌡️ Temperature variations — cold when the room is unused
- 📏 Limited space — favor compact formats
"The steam from your shower is the best friend
of tropical plants that love humidity."
The 7 best plants for the bathroom
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis)
The Boston fern is probably the most suitable plant for the bathroom. It loves constant humidity, tolerates low light, and literally thrives on shower steam. Its cascading fronds create a natural spa atmosphere. In the bathroom, it needs much less watering than anywhere else — the steam compensates.
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Pothos adapts to almost everything, including the bathroom. It will appreciate the ambient humidity and will even grow in windowless bathrooms with minimal artificial light. Place it high on a shelf so its stems cascade down — the effect is spectacular. It is also the ideal plant if you sometimes forget to water.
Calathea & Maranta
Calatheas and Marantas are the big winners for the bathroom. These plants, naturally demanding of humidity — they brown at the tips in too dry air — literally transform in the bathroom: denser foliage, brighter colors, fewer brown tips. It's the ideal place to keep them without daily manual misting.
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum)
Spider plants are safe for cats and dogs — an important criterion if your pets have access to the bathroom. They tolerate humidity, low light, and forgetting to water. Their small hanging "babies" are particularly pretty when placed on a high shelf or in a hanging planter.
Tradescantia
Tradescantia (wandering jew) with its purple or striped leaves looks superb cascading from a bathroom shelf. It grows fast, loves ambient humidity, and tolerates low light well — although it will retain better colors with a little more light. Perfect for adding a touch of color to a neutral bathroom.
Asparagus setaceus (Asparagus fern)
Asparagus fern, with its very fine and feathery foliage, brings a light and airy texture, perfect for a bathroom. It loves humidity and grows well in indirect light. Its delicate foliage contrasts nicely with the smooth surfaces (tiles, glass) of modern bathrooms.
Phalaenopsis Orchid
The Phalaenopsis orchid is often described as difficult — it's much less so in the bathroom. Ambient humidity reduces the need for watering, its aerial roots breathe well, and if you have an east or north-facing window, indirect light suits it perfectly. It can bloom for several months in good conditions.
Where to place plants in the bathroom?
Ideal for trailing plants — pothos, tradescantia, spider plant. They benefit from rising steam and slightly better light than on the floor.
The best location if you have a window — natural light + humidity. Ideal for orchids or calatheas. Avoid direct sunlight.
Place the plant 30-50 cm from the shower so it benefits from the steam without getting directly wet with each use.
For upright plants like dracaena or sansevieria. The corner is often the brightest spot in small bathrooms.
Specific bathroom care tips
⚠ Beware of sprays and chemical products
Hair sprays, styling sprays, and chemical household products can deposit a film on leaves that clogs stomata and damages foliage. Move your plants if you use sprays intensively, or place them away from the usual usage area.
Plants to avoid in the bathroom
Some plants hate bathroom conditions and won't survive long there.
❌ Avoid in the bathroom
Cactus & succulents: they hate constant humidity — their roots rot quickly.
Lavender, rosemary, thyme: Mediterranean plants that need a lot of direct light and dry air — the opposite of the bathroom.
Ficus benjamina: very sensitive to temperature variations and drafts — it will lose its leaves every time a window or door is opened.
These guides might also help you
Douceur Maison · Shop
Our plants for
the bathroom
Ferns, calatheas, pothos — a selection of plants that love humidity and soft light.
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Launch diagnosis🌿 Guide written by the Douceur Maison SOS Plants team.
We write practical guides to help enthusiasts care for their indoor plants. · sosplantes@douceurmaison.fr
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