The Best Plants for Steamy, Shower-Filled Bathrooms

If your bathroom feels more like a steam room after every shower, you’re not alone — and that’s great news for certain houseplants. Some plants not only tolerate moisture but absolutely love it. In fact, the humid environment of a bathroom can mimic the tropical climates these plants naturally thrive in. From elegant foliage to lush jungle vibes, here are the best humidity-loving houseplants to turn your steamy bathroom into a thriving green retreat.

Calathea (Calathea spp.)

• 💡 Light: Medium, indirect light

• 💧 Water: Keep soil evenly moist

• 🌫️ Humidity: Requires high humidity

• 🌡️ Temperature: 18–26°C / 65–79°F

• 🌱 Soil: Well-draining, peat-based mix

• 🧪 Fertilizer: Monthly during growing season

• 🐾 Pet-Friendly: Yes

Aesthetic: Known for their ornate foliage, Calatheas offer stunning visual appeal with striped, spotted, or even purple-toned leaves that fold at night.

Care Summary: These humidity lovers demand moisture in both air and soil.

A bathroom with frequent hot showers provides ideal conditions.

Keep away from cold drafts and dry air.

For a detailed care guide see Calathea Care: How To Keep Your Prayer Plant Thriving Indoors.

Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)

• 💡 Light: Low to medium, indirect light

• 💧 Water: Keep soil consistently moist

• 🌫️ Humidity: High humidity required

• 🌡️ Temperature: 16–24°C / 60–75°F

• 🌱 Soil: Loose, rich, well-draining mix

• 🧪 Fertilizer: Monthly in spring and summer

• 🐾 Pet-Friendly: Yes

Aesthetic: Bright green, crinkled fronds grow in a symmetrical rosette that gives the plant a soft, tropical charm — ideal for softening corners or ledges.

Care Summary: Bird’s Nest Ferns thrive in moisture-laden air and struggle in dryness.

A steamy bathroom offers their dream habitat.

Avoid watering the central crown to prevent rot.

For a detailed care guide see Bird’s Nest Fern Care: A Sculptural Fern That Thrives in Humid Homes.

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum spp.)

• 💡 Light: Indirect to filtered light

• 💧 Water: Keep soil consistently moist, never dry

• 🌫️ Humidity: Extremely high humidity required

• 🌡️ Temperature: 18–24°C / 65–75°F

• 🌱 Soil: Light, moisture-retentive soil

• 🧪 Fertilizer: Monthly during growing season

• 🐾 Pet-Friendly: Yes

Aesthetic: This fern has delicate, fan-shaped fronds on fine black stems — a soft, romantic look that thrives in moist surroundings.

Care Summary: High maintenance in dry rooms, but effortless in a humid bathroom.

Requires daily moisture and benefits from indirect natural light.

For a detailed care guide see Maidenhair Fern Care: How To Keep This Delicate Beauty Thriving.

Orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.)

• 💡 Light: Bright, indirect light

• 💧 Water: Water once per week; allow drainage

• 🌫️ Humidity: High humidity preferred

• 🌡️ Temperature: 20–26°C / 68–78°F

• 🌱 Soil: Orchid bark or sphagnum moss

• 🧪 Fertilizer: Every 2–3 weeks while blooming

• 🐾 Pet-Friendly: Yes

Aesthetic: Orchids bring elegance with their sculptural blooms and arching stems.

They look especially stunning in minimal or spa-themed bathrooms.

Care Summary: Steamy bathrooms replicate the tropical mist orchids love.

Provide air circulation and allow the roots to dry slightly between waterings.

For a detailed care guide see Orchid Care Tips For Indoor Plants.

Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae family)

• 💡 Light: Bright, filtered light

• 💧 Water: Fill central “cup” with water; flush monthly

• 🌫️ Humidity: High humidity essential

• 🌡️ Temperature: 18–30°C / 65–86°F

• 🌱 Soil: Free-draining orchid mix or bark blend

• 🧪 Fertilizer: Light feeding monthly

• 🐾 Pet-Friendly: Yes

Aesthetic: With striking colors and geometric leaf rosettes, bromeliads look like living sculptures and offer bold flair to dull corners.

Care Summary: These plants drink through their central tank and love moist air.

Perfect for bright bathrooms where humidity is constantly high.

For a detailed care guide see Bromeliad Plant Care: Exotic Color Made Easy for Indoor Spaces.

Alocasia (Alocasia spp.)

• 💡 Light: Bright, indirect light

• 💧 Water: Keep soil evenly moist

• 🌫️ Humidity: High humidity preferred

• 🌡️ Temperature: 18–27°C / 65–80°F

• 🌱 Soil: Rich, fast-draining soil

• 🧪 Fertilizer: Every 2–3 weeks during active growth

• 🐾 Pet-Friendly: No

Aesthetic: Large, arrowhead-shaped leaves with dramatic veins make Alocasias feel like exotic royalty in your bathroom jungle.

Care Summary: These are true tropicals. They demand warmth and humidity and enjoy moisture without soggy roots.

Mist often or let the shower do the work.

For a detailed care guide see Alocasia Plant Care: Indoor & Outdoor Care Guide.

Philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum, P. micans, etc.)

• 💡 Light: Low to medium, indirect light

• 💧 Water: Water when top inch is dry

• 🌫️ Humidity: Moderate to high

• 🌡️ Temperature: 18–29°C / 65–85°F

• 🌱 Soil: Loamy, fast-draining indoor mix

• 🧪 Fertilizer: Monthly during growth season

• 🐾 Pet-Friendly: No

Aesthetic: With trailing vines and lush green or velvety bronze leaves, Philodendrons add soft texture and soothing movement to a bathroom wall or shelf.

Care Summary: Easygoing and humidity-loving, these plants thrive in bathrooms.

Allow topsoil to dry out slightly, and trim vines for shape.

For a detailed care guide see Philodendron Care: How to Grow These Versatile, Lush Houseplants Indoors.

Rex Begonia (Begonia rex-cultorum)

• 💡 Light: Low to medium, indirect light

• 💧 Water: Keep soil lightly moist

• 🌫️ Humidity: High humidity required

• 🌡️ Temperature: 16–24°C / 60–75°F

• 🌱 Soil: Light, airy potting mix

• 🧪 Fertilizer: Every 2–3 weeks during active growth

• 🐾 Pet-Friendly: No

Aesthetic: Rex Begonias dazzle with spiraled, iridescent, or polka-dotted leaves in shades of red, purple, silver, and green.

Care Summary: They prefer warm, moist air and stable moisture in the soil.

Place in well-lit but shaded corners and avoid cold drafts.

For a detailed care guide see Rex Begonia Care: A Bold Beauty That Thrives With the Right Touch.

Final Word

Steamy bathrooms aren’t a problem for the right houseplants — they’re a paradise.

With their love of high humidity, these tropical beauties not only survive but thrive in the moisture-rich atmosphere of a shower-filled room.

Add a few to your windowsill, shelf, or corner and enjoy a living reminder that your daily routine can feel like a rainforest retreat.