11 Bathroom Plants That Thrive in Low Light and Humid Conditions

Orchids

Orchids, though they can be a tad bit temperamental, are worth the extra effort to grow in your bathroom; after all, they keep their gorgeous flowers for months. The damp, warm conditions in most bathrooms are a perfect environment for these high-humidity plants, which grow in bark instead of soil and prefer it to be moist but not wet. Some easier-care varieties of orchids include Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, and Paphiopedilums, which will all do well with bright, filtered bathroom window light.

Buy It: Potted Pink Orchid Plant ($38, The Home Depot)

Golden Pothos

One of the most popular indoor vining plants is pothos, or Epipremnum aureum. It comes in a variety of leaf sizes, colors, and variegations. Keep pothos out of direct sunlight, and don't let its soil dry out (but it doesn't care for overwatering). pothos is a low-maintenance beauty that is exceptionally pretty in a bathroom hanging basket or on a high shelf where it can trail to its heart's content. Golden pothos can develop beautifully variegated leaves with streaks and flecks of gold among the green.

Test Garden Tip: All types of pothos can be toxic if ingested to both children and pets.

Buy It: Costa Farms Golden Pothos ($23, The Home Depot)

Neon Pothos

This variety of Epipremnum aureum has bold neon leaves that will add color and life to your bathroom. It's just as easy to care for as golden pothos, but it has brighter, even more eye-catching foliage.

Buy It: Neon Pothos Plant ($22, Lowe's)

Spider Plant

Houseplants don't get easier than the no-fuss spider plant (Chlorophytumcomosum). They tolerate low light like champs, enjoy a little humidity, and their baby shoots (which can be detached and propagated) are so cute. You can also let them dry out between waterings, and established plants can usually go up to two weeks without a drink.

China Doll Plant

A dark green China doll plant (Radermachera sinica) is perfect for sliding into a bathroom corner near a window. China doll plants need bright, indirect sunlight and moist, well-drained soil, and must be protected from drafts. Since they're high humidity plants, they'll thrive in the warmth of your bathroom.

Bromeliad

These bright tropicals are in a family of plants that consists of thousands of different species. Though they vary in care depending on the specific species, most bromeliads grown as houseplants will have similar needs: Bright, filtered light, plenty of moisture in the air, and a temperate indoor climate. Most are prized for their incredibly colorful, variegated foliage and long-lasting color.

Some common, easy-to-care-for varieties include Scarlet Star (Guzmania lingulata), Blushing Bromeliad (Neoregelia carolinae, shown), and the incredibly prehistoric-looking Urn Plant (Aechmea fasciata).

Buy It: Costa Farms Bromeliad Plant ($25, The Home Depot)

Tillandsia

Also part of the bromeliad family, these beauties are commonly referred to as air plants. The specimens that fall into the Tillandsia genus (we're talking hundreds and hundreds of species) are beloved for their ability to grow without soil, or without necessarily being planted at all. In the right environment, they hardly need any care whatsoever. What's the right environment beyond the jungles of South America? You guessed it, the bathroom. If you have a shower with a bright window, even better. They'll love to have occasional shower overspray and soak up all that trapped humidity.

If your air plant doesn't quite get enough moisture from the air, you can mist it, or give it a good soak every few weeks (depending on how dry your climate is). Some common varieties include Tillandsia xerographica, Tillandsia bergeri, and Tillandsia ionantha.

Test Garden Tip: The more silvery the foliage, the more drought-tolerant it is.

Buy It: Tillandsia Air Plant Variety ($23, Walmart)

Peperomia

This small-growing, low-light-loving plant comes in various colors and adorable leaf shapes. Its compact size makes it perfect for tight quarters, such as narrow shelves or terrariums (but it doesn't like direct sun, so keep it away from the windowsill). This particular striped variety is watermelon peperomia, or Peperomia argyreia. Peperomia is super easy to care for, loves humidity, and only needs watering when the top of the soil feels dry.

Tropical Pitcher Plant

Nepenthes are a widely diverse genus of tropical plants that all display some type of pitcher blooms (filled with a liquid that attracts and helps digest insects as food). They're also known as monkey cups. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to "feed'" insects to these plants; the average household has enough to tide one specimen over.

Pitcher plants like their soil to be kept moist; since they're high-humidity plants, they'll be at home in the bathroom. They'll also tolerate low humidity but will produce fewer pitchers under those circumstances. Their vining habit makes them a stunning windowsill addition.

Buy It: Nepenthes Alata Pitcher Plant (from $30, Etsy)

Snake Plant

This plant, also known as mother-in-law's tongue, viper's bowstring hemp, or St. George's sword, is nearly impossible to kill. Sansevieria varieties tolerate almost any growing condition, from almost no light to bright light to direct light. They need little to no water, and if you keep them in a humid bathroom, you might never have to water these hardy West African natives.

Editor's Tip: This plant is considered mildly toxic to people and animals when ingested.

Buy It: Snake Plant ($46, The Home Depot)

Heartleaf Philodendron

Philodendron scandens is a South American native that doesn't require much light to thrive. It likes its soil to be kept damp, and while it will tolerate dry conditions, it's a high-humidity plant, making it perfect to keep in a low-light bathroom. Best of all, you can train it to happily vine along a windowsill or shelf.

Editor's Tip: Philodendrons are toxic to pets and children if ingested.

Buy It: Heartleaf Philodendron ($39, Bloomscape)