How to Add Plants to a Low-Light Bathroom

Choose moisture-loving, low-light plants like snake plants, ZZ plants, or pothos, then place them strategically near windows or supplement with grow lights.

  1. Map Your Light Sources. Spend a day observing how much natural light enters your bathroom. Note which areas get the most light and for how long. Even bathrooms without windows often have reflected light from hallways or adjacent rooms. Identify spots that receive at least some indirect light during the day, as these will be your prime plant locations.
  2. Pick the Right Plants. Choose plants that thrive in humidity and tolerate low light. Snake plants work excellently in corners and can survive on very little light. ZZ plants are nearly indestructible and love bathroom conditions. Pothos vines can trail from shelves or hang from the ceiling. Peace lilies add elegant white blooms and indicate when they need water by drooping slightly.
  3. Prep Your Pots. Select pots with drainage holes and place saucers underneath to protect surfaces. In high-humidity bathrooms, ensure excess water can escape to prevent root rot. Consider decorative cache pots that hide functional drainage pots. Hanging planters work well for trailing plants like pothos or heartleaf philodendrons.
  4. Arrange for Maximum Benefit. Place larger plants like snake plants or ZZ plants on the floor in corners where they won't obstruct movement. Use floating shelves or the back of the toilet tank for medium-sized plants. Hang trailing plants from ceiling hooks or place them on high shelves where their vines can cascade down. Keep plants away from direct water spray from the shower.
  5. Add Grow Lights If Needed. For completely windowless bathrooms, add LED grow lights to ensure plant health. Small clip-on grow lights work well for individual plants on shelves. Strip LED grow lights can be installed under floating shelves to illuminate multiple plants. Choose full-spectrum LEDs and run them for 12-14 hours daily to compensate for lack of natural light.
  6. Keep Plants Thriving Long-Term. Check soil moisture weekly by inserting your finger into the soil. Most bathroom plants need less frequent watering due to ambient humidity. Rotate plants occasionally so all sides receive equal light. Wipe leaves monthly with a damp cloth to remove dust and soap residue that can block light absorption. Watch for signs of overwatering like yellowing leaves or fungus gnats.