5 Best Succulents In The Bathroom | Care, Decor, And Tips

The problem with succulents in the bathroom is humidity.

Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. It is the gaseous state of water. The more water evaporates in the air, the higher humidity. For some plants, high humidity is a death sentence.

For succulents, this is a tricky issue. Where some fail, others thrive.

So if you a fan of succulents and you want to have them in your bathroom but don’t know if they can survive or not, then this article will definitely help you!

Can succulents survive in a bathroom?

The short answer to the question is yes, you can place succulents in the bathroom but some succulents will thrive there more than others.

When people bring plants indoors to beautify spaces, the bathroom is often the last place they think of.

This is because most bathrooms normally have high humidity and do not get much sunlight. However, most succulents (not all) are naturally hardy, they can thrive in typical bathroom conditions

These succulent plants prefer partial to full shade and high humidity, and so are the best plants for bathrooms with indirect light, filtered light, or low light conditions.

Do succulents like humidity?

Not all succulents like humidity, but some do, these highly adaptive varieties can absorb the excess humidity in the bathroom air and store the water in their leaves and stems.

Can cacti survive in a bathroom?

Well, then how about cacti? While according to Feng Shui, placing cacti in the bedroom can disturb your sleep and peace, having them in your bathroom is a great idea!

They are known for being able to survive in very dry, hot, and humid conditions, which makes them great additions to any washroom. They are also quite popular and readily available, so you can get them quite easily.

Which succulents and cacti are suitable for bathrooms?

Bathrooms usually have high humidity and little sunlight which are not suitable for most house plants. However, there are plants that actually thrive in such conditions. These include tropical plants like ferns, air plants, and the Peace Lily. 

As mentioned, some varieties of succulents and cacti are highly tolerant to low light and high humidity conditions. These indoor plants also have amazing air purification benefits as well.

Let’s take a look at a handful of these guys to put on your shopping list.

1. Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)

If you’re a beginner, it’s highly recommended that you should get a Snake plant for your bathroom. Here are a few reasons. For one, the Snake plant can thrive even when neglected due to their indestructible nature. Since you grow them in bathrooms, it doesn’t require watering because it has the ability to get the excess moisture from humidity. They can also grow in low light conditions.

And for another, there is one benefit: They help purify the air by converting Carbon dioxide into Oxygen while removing harmful toxins from the air like benzene and formaldehyde.

The Snake plant
The Snake plant can thrive even when neglected due to their indestructible nature //©Aquarius Studio / Shutterstock

2. Aloe vera

Another plant that doesn’t need much attention. As an indoor plant that doesn’t require a lot of watering or even fertilizer to thrive, the Aloe vera plant certainly does like low light conditions.

The benefits? First, these guys are really attractive. Second, Aloe plants help improve the air quality. But more than that, Aloe vera plants are an excellent remedy for both dry skin and sunburn, making it the perfect addition to practically any bathroom.

Aloe plants
Aloe plants help improve the air quality // ©Eirene Fagus / Shutterstock

3. Panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa)

As a perennial succulent, the Panda plant is quite popular because of its beautiful silvery leaves that are covered with fuzz. Those plants are small to medium-sized, often reaching up to 18 inches (46 cm) in height. However, the plant does require sunlight to grow, so, it is great for a bathroom environment with windows.

And for watering, as with many drought-tolerant succulents, too much water can cause root rot. Water your panda plant only when the soil is dry to the touch.

The Panda plant
The Panda plant does require sunlight to grow // ©Fehmi / Shutterstock

4. Fishbone Cactus (Epiphyllim anguliger)

Some call it Ric-Rac, others call it Zigzag, but we can all agree on one thing, it’s such a peculiar-looking plant that we want to add it to our bathroom plant collection.

Owing to its natural habitat of tropical rainforests the fishbone cactus will like warmth and humidity, so a bathroom or kitchen are good rooms for this plant. They love indirect sunlight throughout the day. So, remember to place them in a room beside a window that gets sufficient light for at least 4-6 hours a day

The Fishbone Cactus
The Fishbone Cactus plant loves indirect sunlight throughout the day // ©Ikhwan Ameer / Shutterstock

5. Ox tongue succulent (Gasteria obliqua)

Ox Tongue is a small succulent from South Africa with fleshy stemless leaves that form a rosette. The name Ox Tongue succulent comes from the shape of the plant’s leaves. The leaves are long and tongue-shaped just like Aloe vera leaves.

This succulent is great for growing in the bathroom because it does not need direct sunlight to thrive. It also does not need a lot of care to survive. Thus, if you are looking for a succulent that you can simply grow and forget about, it is one of the best indoor plants to consider. 

Ox Tongue
Ox Tongue is a small succulent from South Africa // ©Victoria M Gardner / Shutterstock

How to decor the bathroom with cacti and succulents plants

Alright, now that you know what plants you should buy, let’s take a look at a few ideas on how to decorate your bathroom with them

Hanging Baskets 

This is especially good if you don’t have a large space which is usually the case for bathrooms. Choosing a simple plant to hang is a perfect way to start introducing aesthetic beauty and texture into your bathroom

You can keep cacti and succulents as hanging plants, near the window, or at a place where they won’t get splashed with water.

Hanging plants are very popular and appreciated because they’re some of the most practical types. You can save a lot of space with a hanging plant if you actually hang it from the ceiling or from a hook. You can experiment and find interesting ways to display hanging plants in your bathroom.

Place on the washbasin

This is always a fundamental place to put your cacti and succulents. And, you do not need to bring big plants into your bathroom to make a huge visual impact. Sometimes, small gets the job done. And succulents are some of the best small plants for your home.

Snake plants can look great on your washbasin, some of the other options would be panda plants, aloe vera, air plants or orchids.

Interior of bathroom with natural jungle of plants
Interior of bathroom with natural jungle of plants // ©liloon / Shutterstock

Use Shelves

Use your shelves to display some vibrant greens. From plants that tend to drape to ones that grow big and bushy, an empty shelf or two is an ideal spot for these bathroom plants to thrive.

If this is the route you choose to go, make sure you’re working with plants that don’t necessarily require a lot of sunlight. A bold choice like an Ox tongue succulent will take your #shelfie game to new heights.

Succulents in bathroom FAQs

Can succulents survive in bathrooms without sunlight?

We all know that with little sunlight, these guys can thrive. But without any sunlight at all?

The short answer is no! All plants must conduct photosynthesis (the transformation of light to energy) to survive and thrive.

So, they would need at least some sunlight. If there’s no light in your bathroom, try rotating plants in and out of your bathroom to give them turns at a sunny window elsewhere. Or, use grow lights and/or overhead fluorescent lighting to add needed light to your bathroom.

Is it bad to get succulents wet?

Well, yes, it is bad.

Succulents are different from most plants. If you try to give them the level of water you would give to other plants, you will end up with dead succulents. They will not survive. 

One thing that is important to note though about succulent leaves and water is that not all succulent leaves are able to get wet. Some of them are quite waterproof! Water just slides off them and does not get absorbed. However, some have leaves that get wet and rot.

So, just to be sure, try hanging your succulents or putting them on shelves instead of putting them near the washbasin.

Are planters and soil for succulents important?

Yes. Having well-drained soil and a substantial planter equipped with drainage holes will make all the difference when growing your tropical plant in low light indoor spaces with excess humidity.

Soil

You are supposed to only grow succulents in sandy or well-draining soils. If you grow them in soil that is not well-draining, every time you water them, the soil will remain waterlogged and this will cause root rot.

Root rot, in turn, will cause the death of your succulents. 

So make sure you get good well-draining soil to plant your succulents to prevent waterlogging and root rot. The best well-draining soils are gritty and inorganic (rock particles) with a 25% organic material mix. Sandy soils are also perfect for preventing waterlogging when the planter has drainage holes.

Planters

As you are planting your greens indoors, planters are definitely important. But what type of planter to choose?

The answer is fiberglass. The material is lightweight, making planters much easier to move around and maintain than other products. Remember that some plants require you to move them around to get enough sunlight? You will have a hard time with concrete and terra cotta.

The design process is also efficient, which keeps costs down and allows you as a customer to enjoy more affordable pricing and more flexibility in styles.

Conclusion

Having cacti and succulents in the bathroom is the cheapest decorative yet elegant touch you can put into your home.

Apart from the striking visual aspects of having green plants indoors, succulents and Cacti are remarkably good for our mental health as well as providing fresh air by absorbing carbon dioxide to produce oxygen.

If you’re looking for more plant advice for interior landscaping, check out our guide to using your plants as decor.

However, if it’s a beautiful planter you are looking for, don’t hesitate and get started today by browsing our fiberglass planter store.

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