Low-Maintenance Plant Ideas for Bathrooms
Plants help to soften the cold, hard space of bathrooms and do a good job of cleaning the air too. Green thumbs not required, we promise!
A spot of greenery can do wonders for your bathroom and it’s not just because plants bring colour and life to the space. Houseplants are natural air purifiers, removing harmful chemical compounds found in emissions from paint, plastics, carpet, cleaning solutions and building materials.
How well your bathroom garden grows comes down to the selection of plants – those that thrive in low light and high humidity do best. As a general guide, flowering plants and those with lighter-coloured leaves need more light than those with dark green leaves. Here are some indoor greenies for vanity counters, shower stalls and even cisterns.
How well your bathroom garden grows comes down to the selection of plants – those that thrive in low light and high humidity do best. As a general guide, flowering plants and those with lighter-coloured leaves need more light than those with dark green leaves. Here are some indoor greenies for vanity counters, shower stalls and even cisterns.
Organised chaos
The wild and chaotic stems of foliage add energy to this symmetrical and formally designed bathroom by Mong Design Studio.
The wild and chaotic stems of foliage add energy to this symmetrical and formally designed bathroom by Mong Design Studio.
Containment units
Terrariums are self-contained and self-watering, making them tops for commitment-phobe gardeners. Check once a week that the top 2cm of soil is moist and pour in some water if it’s not. When placed in front of the vanity mirror, these low-lying mini gardens bring life to the bathroom without taking up too much space.
Terrariums are self-contained and self-watering, making them tops for commitment-phobe gardeners. Check once a week that the top 2cm of soil is moist and pour in some water if it’s not. When placed in front of the vanity mirror, these low-lying mini gardens bring life to the bathroom without taking up too much space.
Wet rooms
Tree ferns prefer a cool, moist and shady habitat – conditions found in most showers! Regular misting and the use of slow-release fertiliser will encourage healthy growth.
Tree ferns prefer a cool, moist and shady habitat – conditions found in most showers! Regular misting and the use of slow-release fertiliser will encourage healthy growth.
Strong lines
Even the most lax gardener couldn’t kill the Sansevieria trifasciata. Otherwise known as the ‘snake plant’ or ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’, this hardy ornamental plant looks stunning and thrives in spite of neglect.
Even the most lax gardener couldn’t kill the Sansevieria trifasciata. Otherwise known as the ‘snake plant’ or ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’, this hardy ornamental plant looks stunning and thrives in spite of neglect.
Go with the flow
The good ol’ money plant (Epipremnum aureum) is a snap to maintain and it even grows in just a bowl of water. It is also one of the best air-cleaning plants according to NASA research in the 1970s. Leave it to trail or coil it around a support for a vertical oasis.
The good ol’ money plant (Epipremnum aureum) is a snap to maintain and it even grows in just a bowl of water. It is also one of the best air-cleaning plants according to NASA research in the 1970s. Leave it to trail or coil it around a support for a vertical oasis.
Pick a wildling
The sketchy trails of dark green cascading down the tiled wall is the one thing that keeps this all-white bathroom from looking clinical. This succulent (Senecio radicans) is nicknamed String of Fishhooks and it is easy to see why. All it needs is a splash from the shower once a week, and a trim when it gets too long. Easy-peasy!
The sketchy trails of dark green cascading down the tiled wall is the one thing that keeps this all-white bathroom from looking clinical. This succulent (Senecio radicans) is nicknamed String of Fishhooks and it is easy to see why. All it needs is a splash from the shower once a week, and a trim when it gets too long. Easy-peasy!
Floral power
Nothing softens and brightens a room quite like fresh flowers. Potted orchids like the Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) lasts for months, beating freshly cut flowers hands-down. Here, the ethereal blooms bring elegance and luxury to a dark bathroom.
Nothing softens and brightens a room quite like fresh flowers. Potted orchids like the Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) lasts for months, beating freshly cut flowers hands-down. Here, the ethereal blooms bring elegance and luxury to a dark bathroom.
Amazing aloe
Aloe vera doesn’t just rescue sunburns, insect stings and other skin irritations; it also saves bland bathrooms by adding height and drama. Its distinctive spiky form and bold shape says a lot in a small room.
Aloe vera doesn’t just rescue sunburns, insect stings and other skin irritations; it also saves bland bathrooms by adding height and drama. Its distinctive spiky form and bold shape says a lot in a small room.
Lighten the load
Use glass containers in minimalist bathrooms if ceramic, terracotta, plastic and even metal pots add too much ‘weight’ and look cumbersome.
Use glass containers in minimalist bathrooms if ceramic, terracotta, plastic and even metal pots add too much ‘weight’ and look cumbersome.
Transient garden
Stuck with a windowless bathroom where no plant will survive? Consider foliage arrangements instead. You can explore different leaf shapes, colours and combinations each week.
Stuck with a windowless bathroom where no plant will survive? Consider foliage arrangements instead. You can explore different leaf shapes, colours and combinations each week.
Juicy goodness
Even those without green thumbs can maintain succulents. These plump posies are drought-tolerant and extremely hardy. The sculptural plants look great on their own or grouped together. It’s best to buy them from nurseries rather than homeware or furniture stores as those may not come with care instructions. For cacti and succulents, re-pot them in potting mix and use a container with drainage holes so they don’t drown. Then sit back and admire.
Keep Your Plants Alive!
Even low maintenance plants will benefit from a bit of housekeeping every now and then. You can:
• Gently wipe dust off the leaves. Dust encourages insects and filters out the light that leaves receive.
• Remove dead, brown or yellow leaves.
• Remove spent blooms.
• Rotate plants to help them receive light evenly. Paler foliage or lanky growth may be a sign of insufficient sunlight. Move the plant closer to the window or to a different room but do not expose it to direct sunlight as the drastic change can do more harm.
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What do you think about plants in the bathroom – yay or nay? Share in the Comments section.
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Dreamy Bathroom Ideas
Bring the Outdoors Into Your Apartment
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Even those without green thumbs can maintain succulents. These plump posies are drought-tolerant and extremely hardy. The sculptural plants look great on their own or grouped together. It’s best to buy them from nurseries rather than homeware or furniture stores as those may not come with care instructions. For cacti and succulents, re-pot them in potting mix and use a container with drainage holes so they don’t drown. Then sit back and admire.
Keep Your Plants Alive!
Even low maintenance plants will benefit from a bit of housekeeping every now and then. You can:
• Gently wipe dust off the leaves. Dust encourages insects and filters out the light that leaves receive.
• Remove dead, brown or yellow leaves.
• Remove spent blooms.
• Rotate plants to help them receive light evenly. Paler foliage or lanky growth may be a sign of insufficient sunlight. Move the plant closer to the window or to a different room but do not expose it to direct sunlight as the drastic change can do more harm.
TELL US
What do you think about plants in the bathroom – yay or nay? Share in the Comments section.
MORE
Dreamy Bathroom Ideas
Bring the Outdoors Into Your Apartment
Showers Bring the Outside In
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Having high water needs, the umbrella palm or umbrella papyrus (Cyperus alternifolius) is ideal for bathrooms. In fact, it is an aquatic plant so don’t worry about overwatering it. The palm copes with a range of light conditions and grows quickly, reaching up to 1.5m tall. That height, coupled with the plant’s fullness, will give bathing beauties their privacy.