Mandy PhillipsBathrooms often suffer from excessive moisture buildup, leading to peeling paint, damaged wallpapers, and mold growth.
And while using fans and dehumidifiers does help, they’re not the most aesthetically pleasing options.
Introducing moisture-absorbing bathroom plants – a dual-purpose solution that not only reduces humidity but also enhances the ambiance of your bathroom.
These versatile houseplants are experts at regulating moisture levels, ensuring a dry and comfortable environment, while simultaneously purifying the air and injecting life into your space.
Here’s a list of the best moisture-absorbing plants that you can add to your bathroom today.
Bathroom Plants That Absorb Moisture
1. Boston Fern
A lovely tropical plant that thrives in a moist environment, Boston ferns are an ideal indoor plant to absorb excess moisture in your bathroom.
But beyond reducing the humidity levels of your bathroom, the Boston fern will also leave the space looking more comfortable and inviting with its lacy fronds.
Tip: Place it inside the bathroom, best in a place with indirect sunlight to avoid getting the fern burned in the afternoon sun.
Your Boston fern can also benefit from misting once in a while, especially during cold winters when the air dries out.
2. Spider Plant
This indoor plant may produce creepy-crawly-like pups, but it is not a creepy plant at all.
In fact, Spider plants make a marvelous addition to the bathroom for two reasons: (1) they remove excess moisture in the bathroom, and (2) they remove 90% of air pollutants.
These astonishing characteristics make it a top contender for the best bathroom plant award.
Tip: Grow Spider plants in an indoor hanging basket to take advantage of their graceful arching leaves and hanging, fast-growing shoots.
3. Azalea
If you want something lively and colorful for your bathroom, consider planting a pot or two of Azaleas.
Azaleas thrive in hot and humid climates, making them a perfect bathroom plant to remove moisture.
Plus, they add vivid colors of red, pink, purple, or white to any bathroom space.
Tip: Keep your Azaleas in a well-drained container and place them somewhere pets can’t get to them as these can be poisonous to your furry friends.
4. Begonia
This plant is native to hot and humid climates, so it’s also going to thrive in your bathroom.
Most Begonia cultivars can help get rid of the damp air in the bathroom, plus they are great bathroom decorations.
This plant comes in 1800 species and is famous for its cluster of fragrant and colorful flowers.
Tip: Go for the rhizomatous or fibrous variety as they are two of the most household-friendly Begonia varieties.
Still, keep these away from pets as the roots can be poisonous to them.
5. Bird’s Nest Fern
Bird’s Nest Fern came from the tropics, meaning it will fit right in with your steamy shower and muggy bathroom.
Not to mention, the vivid green leaves will give your bathroom a nice tropical appeal.
Bird’s Nest Fern is best for larger bathrooms since this fern can be relatively big when fully grown.
You can expect it to grow to between 20cm wide and 80cm long.
Tip: Place the plant where it can get a bit of morning light near the bathroom window, so it grows with more elaborate wavy fronds. Otherwise, the leaves will look flatter.
6. Snake Plant
The Snake plant sounds like it’s trouble, but it’s one of the best indoor plants for absorbing moisture in the bathroom.
Besides taking out excess humidity, this plant also filters common household toxins in the air like formaldehyde, commonly found in cleaning products and cosmetics.
Tip: There are many Snake plant varieties, and they do well in low to bright indirect lighting.
Occasional watering is also necessary, but wait for the soil to dry first before watering.
7. Philodendron
Another native of the tropics, Philodendron, will help reduce the mugginess in your bathroom.
They are easy-growing plants and come in a wide range of varieties.
Some are massive and grow upright, while others are smaller varieties that vine or trail.
Tip: Place this plant inside the bathroom where it can get bright, indirect sunlight (next to your curtained bathroom window is perfect).
Don’t forget to water it, especially when the weather gets warmer.
8. English Ivy
This plant can help reduce the musty odor in your bathroom by eliminating airborne particles commonly found in dark and damp places.
Tip: Place it in a hanging jar and hang it adjacent to your bathroom ceiling, near the shower, where the humidity is relatively high.
9. Palms
Palms are a fantastic addition for larger bathrooms, especially because they love absorbing moisture in the air in their surroundings.
They are also great for air purification, and they can thrive in low-light conditions.
Tip: There are a lot of palm varieties, but windmill, reed, or bamboo palms are fantastic options for the bathroom.
10. Peace Lily
This is one of the best picks to keep your bathroom refreshed since its leaves absorb dampness in the air.
Not to mention, it can cleanse the bathroom air of some common pollutants.
Tip: Keep it away from kids and pets as this plant can be slightly toxic when ingested.
11. Dracaena
Dracaena plants require high humidity levels to thrive, so your bathroom is the perfect spot for growing this plant.
You’ll find them with greener, healthier leaves when grown in bathrooms with excess moisture in the air.
Plus, they are an air-purifying plant, so it’s a win-win.
Tip: Beware of overwatering. Dracaena requires less water than typical indoor plants. The soil should be moist but never soggy.
If your bathroom has high humidity levels, you’ll find this plant won’t need any watering at all.
12. Cast Iron Plant
This low-light plant is incredible when it comes to absorbing the extra moisture in the bathroom air.
It’s also low-maintenance and will only need occasional watering when the soil becomes too dry.
Otherwise, you can just leave it in the bathroom and let it do its job.
Tip: This plant doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, and they will need even less watering if you keep them in the lower light areas of your bathroom.
Just remember not to overwater your Cast Iron Plant, as it might develop root rot.
13. Aloe Vera
This multipurpose plant has several capabilities, and one of them is reducing moisture, making it a perfect addition to your bathroom.
Keeping your Aloe Vera plant near your steamy shower is often enough to fill its water requirement, so no watering is needed unless the soil becomes too dry.
Tip: Plant them in something cute and place Aloe Vera somewhere sunny, like on the bathroom windowsill.
Bonus Dehumidifying Plants
- Bromeliads – Another tropical plant, so it’s not surprising that Bromeliads can absorb moisture in the bathroom. Plus, they can provide a pop of color to any bathroom space.
- Air Plants – These small ornamental plants feed on the nutrients and water they can get from the air indoors, so they would be happy inside the bathroom.
- Golden Pothos – They have thick, glossy leaves that can absorb excess moisture in the air easily. Just place it in any area of your bathroom with excessive moisture like the shower and leave it to do its work.
So, there you have it – excellent indoor plant choices that can absorb excess moisture in the bathroom.
You don’t have to stop with one plant either, you can get two or more of the same or different houseplants on the list, and you’re way closer to saying goodbye to stuffy and moldy bathrooms!
