Yes, You Actually Can Grow Plants in a Bathroom With No Windows – but Only if You Follow This One Simple Trick

When I lived in an apartment, I had a small bathroom with no windows. I was desperate to brighten it up with some greenery, but really struggled to find any houseplants suitable for the space because, after all, can you truly grow plants in a bathroom with no windows?

The truth is, there aren't bathroom plants (or indeed plants for any room) that can survive in no light whatsoever. But, this doesn't mean you can't have plants for a bathroom with no windows. With the little help of a grow light you can successfully keep plants in this space. Plus, there are a few indoor low-light plants that can grow just fine in a bathroom with a small window offering limited daylight.

The other key consideration with growing plants in a bathroom with no windows is the kind of environment a bathroom provides, i.e. it tends to be a room with higher humidity, so plants that prefer drier air won't do well here. With all of this in mind, I asked a plant expert for their top five picks of plants for a bathroom with no windows (or limited daylight) and how exactly to make them work. Here's what she recommends.

How to Grow Plants in a Bathroom with No Windows

Before jumping in with the list of plants for a bathroom with limited light, it's important to understand how to grow them in this kind of environment.

It's best to opt for low-light tolerant houseplants that will grow either with a small bathroom window or under artificial grow lights for houseplants.

What you can't do is rely on a houseplant to grow in no light whatsoever, as this prevents essential plant processes from happening, therefore slowly killing off the plant.

As for choosing the right grow light, it needs to be one that is waterproof and suitable for a bathroom environment. You may also wish to opt for one that has a timer to automatically turn on and off, so you don't have to worry about doing so manually.

These are some good options:

5 Plants for Bathrooms with Limited Light

In terms of higher humidity, us houseplant lovers are spoiled for choice in the number of tropical indoor plants available. But, you have to keep in mind many of these tropical plants require bright light, which a darker bathroom may not provide.

With this in mind, here are five low-light, humidity-loving houseplants to grow in a darker bathroom (with the help of a grow light).

1. Chinese Evergreen

Chinese evergreen (like this Chinese evergreen from Amazon) is one of the best low-light tolerant houseplants and it loves humidity levels between 60-70%, ideal for bathrooms.

This is largely explained by its native growing environment in subtropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, growing in dappled light beneath the canopies of trees.

In terms of plants for a bathroom with no windows, it makes a good fit - so long as you use a grow light to provide at least six hours of light daily.

For bathrooms with a smaller window, you might be able to get away with no grow light, depending on how much daylight the room gets.

'Don't overwater these plants,' warns Lindsay Chastain, plant expert and founder at The Waddle and Cluck. This could turn your Chinese evergreen yellow.

'Only water when the top inch of soil has dried out,' Lindsey adds.

You can use your finger to test this, or a soil moisture meter (like this from Amazon).

Lindsey Chastain

Lindsey Chastain, a dedicated homesteader and skilled writer, is the driving force behind The Waddle and Cluck, a platform that celebrates sustainable living, gardening, and responsible farming

2. Bird's Nest Fern

Ferns to grow indoors are always a good choice for humid rooms like bathrooms. One that stands out for a lower light bathroom is bird's nest fern (like this bird's nest fern from The Sill).

These interesting ferns have delicate fronds that form a rosette, reminiscent of a bird's nest, hence its name.

'It's a good choice because it likes indirect sunlight and high humidity,' says Lindsey. 'You will need a bathroom with at least some indirect sunlight or a plant light, however,' she adds.

To grow bird's nest fern successfully, ensure it has good drainage. A planter with a drainage hole and saucer (like this beautiful terracotta pot from Amazon, for example) will help prevent root rot and keep your fern healthy.

3. Christmas Cactus

This is one of the only plants that can grow with no light whatsoever, but only at a certain point in the year and with a little maintenance.

Christmas cactus (like this pink Christmas cactus from Amazon) is a humidity-loving succulent, native to Brazil.

It can actually grow in your bathroom with no window during its pre-flowering period, when you should keep a Christmas cactus in the dark.

This requires the succulent to sit in the dark for 12-14 hours a day for six-eight weeks to later trigger flowering during the festive season.

However, the one caveat is you will need to turn on a grow light or move your Christmas cactus to a bright window for six-eight hours each day during this time.

Nevertheless, these moisture-lovers will appreciate the steam from a shower and your Christmas cactus will bloom for longer with high humidity (though you should move it somewhere brighter when it starts to flower).

4. Heartleaf Philodendron

There are indoor hanging plants that can work for a low-light bathroom, too. Lindsey says one of the best to opt for is heartleaf philodendron (like this plant from Amazon).

'This is my favorite low-light bathroom plant. It thrives in those shadier, humid conditions,' she says.

Something to be aware of, however, is that a philodendron may grow leggy if it doesn't have enough light, so a daily boost from a grow light may be necessary.

'Trim off any leggy vines to encourage growth,' Lindsey advises. These houseplant snips from Amazon will work well for this – just take care to cut above a leaf node to keep the plant healthy.

5. Peace Lily

Peace lilies purify the air by removing toxins and releasing oxygen, making them a good choice for bathrooms. Plus, they love humidity and can tolerate lower light.

However, keeping a peace lily in a bathroom with limited light may sacrifice any blooms, as they need brighter light to produce their iconic flowers.

Nevertheless, its luscious foliage makes it a good choice for greening up this darker area of the home, nonetheless.

Just keep in mind peace lily mistakes to avoid. Most notably, don't overwater a peace lily growing in a bathroom, as this can cause discoloring and drooping. In a low-light, humid environment, its soil will dry out more slowly.

Find a peace lily at The Sill.

FAQs

Can I Grow a Snake Plant in a Bathroom?

A snake plant isn't the best choice of bathroom plant because it doesn't enjoy higher humidity levels. Snake plants are native to arid and rocky areas in tropical West Africa, where it thrives in drier conditions. For this reason, you should avoid placing a snake plant in a bathroom where it can become susceptible to root rot, discoloration, and even mushy foliage.

Besides these plants for a bathroom with no windows (or limited daylight), there are also plenty of plants to make a bathroom smell nice. Though, these might be better choices for a brighter bathroom in your home, as many of them have flowers.

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