Use plants to freshen up a bathroom

Use plants to freshen up a bathroom. There are plant varieties that will be more at home in a bathroom since lighting, humidity and temperature play a large part on which plants are best for a bathroom.

 

pgeveryday.com

Here are a few tips to help you determine which plants will work best for your particular bathroom:

Lighting:

A bright, sun-drenched bathroom with at least one large window is ideal for almost any plant, but there are plenty of varieties that will live comfortably in low-light environments as well. Take into consideration how light enters the window at certain times of the day so that you can select plants that are best for low or high-light situations.

Humidity:

Some plant varieties thrive in a environment with high humidity, such as a wet room, while others will do better in a guest bathroom. Your local garden centre or nursery will be able to advise on suitable plants.

Temperature:

Depending on the positioning of a bathroom, it can be hot or cool. It is important to take this into consideration when selecting what plants are best for your bathroom.

Plant selection:

Taking the above points into consideration you will want to select a plant that is low-maintenance and that can handle the environment in your bathroom (humidity, moisture, temperature, etc.) Here are some plants to consider:

◊ Dieffenbachia

Dieffenbachia is a popular house plant that tolerates shade with some filtered light. This perennial plant has a single stem and foliage with white markings. These plants thrive indoors in warm rooms if watered regularly.

◊ Bamboo

Bamboo plants seem to grow well under a variety of conditions depending on the species, so ask your garden centre or nursery for advice on what plant you can put on display in your bathroom, taking the above mentioned factors into consideration.  Cut bamboo shoots in glass vases add a splash of fresh, green colour to a white bathroom.

◊ Mother in laws tongue

Mother in laws tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) is a perennial that forms stiff vertical and variegated leaves. Under ideal conditions this plant produces new plants from the base. Used both indoors and outdoors in warmer climes, this plant is popular as a houseplant because it is tolerant of low light levels and prefers irregular watering.

A study by NASA found that it is one of the best plants for improving indoor air quality by passively absorbing toxins such as nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde (VOC).

◊ Orchids

Ornamental Orchids come in a wide variety of colours and species. With the proper conditions orchids are easy to care for. Ideal for humid bathrooms, most orchids require moist, well-draining soil and it is best to buy pre-potted at a nursery or garden centre. Orchids require frequent watering but should be allowed to dry out in-between. These plants also like humidity, making them ideal for a wet room or small bathroom with shower cubicle.

◊ aspidistra elatior

Aspidistra elatior has a reputation for being able to withstanding neglect, hence its name 'cast-iron plant'.  Tolerant to low light conditions, irregular watering and temperature fluctuation this plant is probably the best for a bathroom with poor light in a well or poorly lighted bathroom.

◊ Spider plant

The spider plant, also known as hen and chickens is very easy to grow indoors.  houseplant; variegated forms are the most popular. The plant gets its name from the plantlets that shoot out from the plant and eventually droop, forming clusters of baby plants that can be potted.

Spider plants are very easy to grow and tolerate varied temperatures and light levels.  These plants have also been shown to reduce indoor air pollution.

 

◊ Jade plant

The jade plant has thick, shiny, smooth leaves in a rich jade green, although some varieties may develop a red tinge on the edges of leaves when exposed to high levels of sunlight. These plants do require a fair amount of light, but are small enough to pop on a shelf close to a window, or on a windowsill.

◊ Spathiphyllum / Peace Lily

Spathiphyllum are evergreen plants with long leaves and white lily-like flowers. Wonderful indoor plants, they do not need large amounts of light or water to survive, which makes them popular house plants. The NASA Clean Air Study found that Spathiphyllum cleans indoor air of certain environmental pollutants.

◊ Philodendron cordatum

Philodendron cordatum is another common indoor plant and is also known as Sweetheart Vine due to its heart-shaped leaves. This plant can be potted in a hanging basket and allowed to hang down, or trained to climb up. Philodendron Cordatum does not like direct sunlight and is ideal for a bathroom that receives indirect light. A windowsill, or a shelf, this plant is perfect for a  bathroom - big or small.