:strip_icc()/GettyImages-1443232167-2af8f2f5024445949a1c89c79cfd94a2.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1075&ssl=1 "Shower Plants: A New Trend or a Bad Idea? Here’s What Experts Say")
Shower plants are a thing. You’ve seen online lists of tropical plants to keep in the shower and Instagram feeds of walk-in showers that are so full of tropical plants they look like large terrariums with room for you to bathe. The thinking is that putting plants in the shower brings a biophilic design and a spa-like vibe to your bathroom while taking advantage of the humid air and wet conditions many tropical plants love.
But before jumping on this trend, keep in mind that not all showers are plant-friendly, and not all plants like living in a shower. We asked plant experts how to successfully keep plants in a shower, and which plants are best for this situation.
- Carlie Paluzzi is co-founder of BWH Plant Co. in Orlando, Florida.
- Paris Lalicata is a plant education and community engagement associate at The Sill, an online plant shop based in New York.
What Plants in a Shower Need
So is your shower compatible with plant life? “Plants can work in the shower, but it has to be the right plant, and you have to make sure that your shower is set up to provide the right environment,” says Carlie Paluzzi, co-founder of BWH Plant Co. in Orlando, Florida.
“There are so many factors that tie into whether you can keep a plant alive in the shower,” says Paris Lalicata, plant education and community engagement associate at The Sill, an online plant seller based in New York. “I’ve had plants in my shower for four years, so if you have the correct setup, plants definitely can do well in a shower.”
Two key factors to consider are light levels and air circulation.
Light Sources
Shower plants need at least some light to thrive, much like any houseplant. “You’re not going to be able to keep any plant alive in a shower unless they can get some sunlight,” Lalicata says.
The best setup would be a shower with a window or skylight that lets in some sun. If your shower is windowless and there’s no skylight—which is probably the case with most showers—consider putting a clip-on grow lamp with a flexible neck outside the shower that can deliver light through the glass doors to the plants inside the shower.
Air Circulation
Your plants can get too much humidity in the shower, so you might need a bathroom fan or a window you can crack. “Air circulation is just as important as light because your plants dry out a little faster,” Lalicata says. “If there’s too much moisture on your plants’ foliage for too long, they could develop a fungus or water-soaked lesions.”
If plants are in a shower used by more than one person, several showers a day may be too much for even the most humidity-loving plants, Lalicata says. She has seen problems with shower plants in New York apartments where small and cramped is the norm.
Paluzzi says that bigger showers that aren’t used by a family of six multiple times a day should be OK without ventilation. “You don’t need massive ventilation, or you are defeating the purpose of putting plants in a shower for the high humidity,” Paluzzi says. “Pick plants that like it muggy and humid and will thrive in that environment.”
Plants grown via the Japanese art of kokedama, where plant roots are in a moss-covered ball of soil wrapped with string, are a good pick for the shower. They fit in a space too small for potted plants and moderate their moisture level better than plants in soil.
7 Best Plants for a Shower
Choosing the right plants for a shower is crucial. “Not all plants are cut out for the shower,” says Paluzzi. “Choose plants that thrive in high humidity, low light, and a warm, tropical-like environment.” Here are some shower plants recommended by our experts.
1. Calathea
“Calatheas like a shower environment because they love that high humidity,” Paluzzi says. “That one really depends on your lighting.” Calatheas do best in medium to bright light, so you’ll need a sunny shower—or a grow light.
2. Pitcher Plant
Pitcher plants evolved to hold water, and they grow in bogs, so they’re naturals for a shower. “They are going to soak up all that humidity,” Paluzzi says.
3. Philodendron
“Philodendrons are a good option because they are easy to grow,” Paluzzi says. They thrive in low light, another reason they will do well in a shower.
4. Pothos
These trailing tropicals make great shower plants because they like humidity and can live in low-light conditions. “Pothos are adaptable, really pretty, and easy to grow,” Paluzzi says.
5. Fern
“Any type of fern that’s lacy and feathery is a good pick for a shower,” Lalicata says. “They love moisture on the foliage and a lot of moisture in general.” She recommends rabbit’s foot fern. Paluzzi recommends bird’s nest fern.
6. Air Plants
Epiphytic plants that get nutrition through moisture in the air instead of through roots in soil are a natural choice for a shower. “I have a couple of air plants that live in my shower window,” Lalicata says. She recommends hanging a staghorn fern mounted to a board in a brightly-lit shower.
7. Orchids
Orchids love humidity and indirect light, so they’re a good pick for a shower. They add elegance to a shower, too. Lalicata suggests wrapping an orchid’s roots in moss, mounting it on wood, and hanging it on the wall. The moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) is a good pick for a beginner.