10 Air Purifying Bathroom Plants

Freshening up your bathroom by placing plants in it. Choose plants that are bright happy colours and shade-tolerant. 

In this article, you'll find out about the 10 air-purifying bathroom plants and their benefits - what makes the ideal plants for your bathroom.

What makes the best bathroom plants?

There’s no reason why your bathroom can’t be decorated like the other rooms of your home. Consider plants that have these 5 features:

• High shade-tolerant
• Are bright happy colours.
• Love a warm and humid environment.
• Can stand up to the cramped spaces of the bathroom.

Buy shade-loving plants from Thompson & Morgan

Bathroom plants polled the best

Create a Tropical Oasis in your bathroom to boost your well-being. So what plants are proven to be best for bathrooms? A comparison of over 100 online opinion polls and social media posts was reassuring. 

Many participants were houseplants fans and hobbyists. Over 95% recommended these 10 bathroom plants. 

1. Orchid
2. Bamboo
3. Calathea
4. Aloe Vera
5. Spider Plant
6. Snake Plant
7. Golden Pathos (Devil’s Ivy)
8. Monstera Swiss Cheese plant
9. Tacca chantrieri ('Bat Flower')
10. Tradescantia Nanouk ('Fantasy Venice')

Golden Pathos (Devil’s Ivy)

Air purifying plants

Bathroom plants have several health benefits too. These plants are great air purifiers. 

The spider plants will remove impurities like formaldehyde/carbon monoxide from the air. 

Bamboo grows in almost any light level without soil. 

Peace Lilly leaves filter air, producing better air quality.

Bathroom challenge

Have you ever been to a spa or a beachside resort with bathrooms inspired by the tropics? Lush greenery and the subtle scent of coconut fill the room. 

The sound of water can be heard ever so slightly and the iridescent colours remind you of shimmering shells beneath the waves. Sound familiar? 

If this is your ultimate ambience, there’s no reason you can’t bring this theme home. With the right bathroom plants, you can turn your bathroom into a dreamy tropical oasis in no time.

Anthurium Plant Flamingo Flower

Anthurium plant is an epiphyte that thrives in rich organic humus, moisture and shade which is why it's one of the best shade plants to grow. 

This plant is undemanding and requires less care, it does not necessarily need soil to grow.

Common name: Anthurium

Other names: Flamingo Flower, Tail Flower, Painted Tongue Plant, Bird's Nest Anthurium, Water Dragon Anthurium, Bird's Nest Anthurium

Native to: South America

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Anthurium Plant shade or sun

Anthurium plant thrives in shade and part shade. They love natural light, but direct sunlight will kill the leaves and flowers.

A flowering Anthurium plant will need a good dose of bright, indirect light. 

New plants will thrive in low light, but plants flowering must be moved to a location where there is at least 4 - 6 hours of natural light. 

Low light will dull the colour of the flowers.

Varieties of Anthurium flowers

White flowering Anthurium

 Anthurium 'White Champion' is a fantastic variation of the common red Anthurium flowers. It is one cultivar that will make your friends go... 'WOW-I-didn't-know-there's-white-anthurium' 

Red flowering Anthurium

Anthurium Red Champion produces dark luscious flowers. The Flamingo flowers are great if you want to add a bright splash of colour to any indoor room.

Pink flowering Anthurium

Anthurium 'Pink Champion' has bright pink flowers that contrast beautifully with the shiny leaves. This is an Anthurium cultivar that resembles a pink flamingo. 

Yellow flowering Anthurium

Anthurium 'Vanilla Champion' has creamy yellow and green flowerheads, each with a distinctive yellow 'tail', top the slender upright stems that rise above the large and lustrous leaves.

Anthurium plants in water

The Anthurium Flamingo Flowers thrive in moist areas. Water thoroughly when soil, bark or the growing medium is dry. 

The large leaves and flowers mean a high rate of transpiration, so where there is more light, more water will need. So water regularly.

Anthurium leaves yellowing 

Yellowing of the leaves is a sign of stress caused by a lack of moisture, overwatering or cold. A combination of all three factors can decimate the plant.

Also, Anthurium plant requires good potting compost or soil consisting of bark and perlite or peat moss. 

If Anthurium leaves turn yellow, spray the leaves with water every now and then. And keep them moist and warm.

Calathea Plants Grow Well in Shade [Calathea crocata, rifibarba, orbifolai, markoyana, triostar]

There are over 60 species with variegated leaves in shades of pink, orange, red, white and purple. They produce yellow, purple or white blooms in summer. 

Calatheas come from the deep rainforests of the Amazon where there is heavy shade and high humidity and temperature. They thrive in very little light and are one of the best indoor plants. 

Calathea White Star

• Common name: Calathea
• Other names: Prayer Plants, Zebra Plants, Rattlesnake Plants, The Living Plant
• Native to: South America, Pacific Islands

Buy Calathea plants from top UK suppliers

Calatheas are shade-loving plants that thrive in low low-light areas, the easiest houseplants to care for.

Common Calathea varieties

Calathea crocata (Tassmania Orange' or Eternal Flame) 

Eternal Flame has beautiful dark green coloured leaves and bright yellow flowers

Calathea rifibarba (Fuzzy Feathers Plant or Velvet Calathea)

Commonly known as the Fuzzy Feathers Plant, it has long, dark-green, feather-like, fuzzy leaves that have maroon undersides.

Calathea orbifolai (The Prayer Plant)

The prayer plant is a large Calathea plant, it has large, round leaves and air-purifying qualities. The top and bottom sides of the leave are striped with pale silver-green variegated markings.

Calathea markoyana (Peacock plant) 

Peacock plants have oval pale green leaves with dark green patterns. The top and bottom sides of the leave have dark purple to red stripes.

Calathea triostar (Stromanthe Triostar) 

Cathalea triostar is known for its incredible colourful leaves with pink undersides. It is a rare cultivar that is now trending.

How do you propagate a Calathea?

The best way to propagate a Calathea is by base separation also called dividing.

Propagate the new plants early in spring. Separate the rhizomes taking care not to destroy any new roots - the segments will detach easily.

Plant the segmented parts in well-drained, moist soil.

Calathea leaves turning brown

This is the main problem Calathea plants face. If the leaves turn brown, it means that they are getting too much direct light, it's too cold.

Do these quick checks:

• Light: Is your plant in direct light?
• Soil: Is the soil moist and well-drained, not waterlogged?
• Pot: Is the pot or container suitable for the plant?

If the answer to questions is no, take action immediately to revive your plant.

Revive Calathea plants

To revive a dying Calathea plant, make sure light is not the main cause of the problem, If the plant is in direct light, move it to a location where there is sufficient natural light and is also warm.

Also, check the soil and ensure it is moist but not waterlogged roots exposure to stagnant water can upset the plant. 

The pot and container you use can also affect the health of the plant. Ensure that the holding pot has a drainage hole at the bottom for water to shive freely. Bigger plants will require repotting.

#Calathea is native to South America and parts of the island of New Guinea. Also known as the Living Plant, a fantastic #houseplant.

Got to find a place for it now ;)x pic.twitter.com/hJECpuiBuM

— G.B.P (@BambooPlantsUK) September 30, 2022