11 Best Plants to Hang in the Shower

Want to dress up your wetroom or shower space with some gorgeous greenery? You’re in luck. Some of the best plants to hang in the shower are super-simple to look after, and absolutely thrive in damp, humid conditions.

By design, showers – like bathrooms in general – create special microclimates ideal for certain plants. Choosing plants to hang in your own shower can make a huge impact on the décor.

But what plants are good to hang in the shower – from on high, or down low? Here are a few of my favourite shower plants perfect for your bathing space – give them a ‘grow’ in your own time.

Orchids (Orchidaceae)

Orchid (Orchidaceae)
Orchids (Orchidaceae)

Extremely easy to grow and always easy on the eye, orchids come in a range of colours. It should be easy to find a specimen that will compliment your shower’s decor. Their popularity has grown because they require little effort for stunningly beautiful flowers, which normally bloom quicker than you might expect!

Their buds develop in sequences – and flowers often last for weeks. Their elegant foliage gives orchids a classy appearance, often happy to be thriving in indirect sunlight. Orchids prefer to almost dry out between drinks and require well draining pots, however, so make sure you’re well-prepared if taking them into the bathroom.

They can have almost bulbous root systems which change colour when they are thirsty! Hung in hanging baskets, these beauties will happily sit in a pot on a windowsill, too. They can persist for years, so give fantastic value for money – compared to many plants for the bathroom, in any case!

Mother in Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Mother in Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Mother in Law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

This cheekily-named succulent makes for an ideal shower companion. However, watch out – as sharp pointed leaves ensure this plant has a self-defence mechanism without much intention! It’s one of the best bathroom plants to look at, not so much to touch!

This is an architectural plant with dramatic leaves which are a deep, rich green – often boasting flecked or longitudinal markings. In a hanging basket or pot, they make a good backdrop for any kind of display. They can also make a dramatic standalone statement if you prefer a simple, monotone plant.

Recognised most and known for their distinctive leaves, they do flower occasionally. They’ll happily persist in humid conditions such as showers and bathrooms, and you may even spot a white flower or two if you’re really lucky.

Bizzie Lizzies (Impatiens)

Bizzie Lizzies (Impatiens)
Bizzie Lizzies (Impatiens)

This may surprise you but this popular ‘annual’ garden or window box plant can live longer indoors – and actually does well in showers, too. If you are looking for a cheerful pop of colour, this is an ideal addition to the room! Available in pale or hot pink, scarlet, maroon, purple, lilac or white, Lizzies are easy to care for.

Shallow-rooted, they enjoy a moist atmosphere but not soaked.They do best in dappled light or shade – but, as you might expect, they do require some light – so, not so good in a windowless shower!

A cautionary note – petals drop easily and you may need to check the floor every couple of days at peak of the flowering period. You can buy the plants as fully grown specimens, as cuttings – or at cheapest if you grow your own from seed! 

English Ivy (Hedera helix)

English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English Ivy (Hedera helix)

This is a flexible easy grow plant with lots of possibilities! Hanging in a basket or trailing from an indoor window box, they look stunning as a screen – and, therefore, perfect as a natural privacy screen. Unlike other plants that can live in the shower, ivy has a practical purpose, too!

A tip to add dramatic interest or increase privacy is to plant several in a row in a box – or, if you prefer, several boxes. Simply buy or pull up some rooted ivy from your garden and plant to train them up canes.

A faster, easier way to create a more sturdy decorative screen is by buying a piece of folding plastic trellis. You can then train your ivy to climb up and position at the dry side of a clear plastic or glass screen – or even a shower curtain!

Ivy grows quickly in dappled or artificial light – and you’re going to need to water little and often!

Useful tip:

if dimensions suit you, is to build a wood trough to house a grow bag. Poke canes through the plastic to support your plants and position those accordingly – then cover the surface with gravel, seashells or anything else you like!

A cautionary note – ivy can be toxic to dogs and cats, so make sure that you keep your pets well out of the bathroom wherever possible.

Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

These suitable shower plants are athletes in pots! Capable of growing up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) per month, preparing you set them up in the best conditions, you’ll likely see them shoot up in no time at all. They are some of the best plants for bathroom areas if you want to start to ‘green’ up sooner rather than later.

The leaves are shaped like arrowheads and can be likened to hearts, hanging in a downwards direction. These are a cinch to care for! They will show you when they are thirsty by drooping – but don’t water them between droops or they could drown!

Much like ivy, you’ll need to take special care here, as these plants can be toxic if nibbled at by pets.

Poinsettia

Poinsettia
Poinsettia

Despite their typically winter holiday appeal, these plants can light up a shower and provide a cheerful display! They loathe draughts but love humidity! Most commonly lost through overwatering, it’s better to water your poinsettia little and often.

Great display plants either alone or in a group on a bright window sill, they can work wonders in a brightly illuminated bathroom or shower space. Once the scarlet or cream flowers have finished their show, the deep green leaves may begin to look worn – but if cared for continuously, the plant will survive to give a splendid show in another season. You may decide to put it in a recovery spot and swap it for another spring or summer flowering plant.

Be warned – poinsettia may look ‘spent’ post flowering, but don’t give up on them. Maintain your watering routine in a draught-free, shady spot, pop on some ground egg shells or liquid fertiliser to boost nutrients in their pot and be patient! It’s likely they’ll bounce back.

ZZ Plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

ZZ Plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
ZZ Plants (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Commonly known as an ‘Eternity Plant’, or ‘Zamic’, these are the stalwarts of indoor gardening, ZZs were introduced to the northern hemisphere as commercially viable plants in the 1990s. Native to sub Sahara regions of Africa, these plants thrive in low or medium light.

Living closely to desert regions, it is  unsurprising they only require watering once per month! It is best to allow them to dry out between waterings – ZZs enjoy bouts of bright light but is not too happy in sustained, bright sunlight. A windowsill which proffers a mix of light as the sun moves is ideal. These lush green plants are very easy to care for, and enjoy the climate of showers, too!

Once again – they are toxic to cats and dogs, so be sure to keep your pets out of the wet room.

Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are super plants for the humid conditions in showers. They are extremely easy to grow, can make magnificent chandelier type hanging displays and can last for ages!

Spider plants can grow in pots, baskets, pendulums, troughs and window boxes. They live humid and detest bright sunlight! Most have vibrant fresh green leaves with variegated cream or white lines.

Easy to propagate from ‘spiderettes’ which form in stems, these can be left attached to the mother plant attached to the long stems on which they develop. Or, you can snip them off and root them in a jam jar with sufficient water to cover the base of the plant.

I suggest not cutting the stem attached to the mother plant – so, ideally, lower than half the length of a leaf. You must take care not to damage the sensitive root-forming base.

Spider plants enjoy humidity but not being drenched, so water sparingly – don’t take them directly into the deluge with you!

As trailing plants, they do well in baskets or pots. They are also good companions in a window box – flexible as per your own tastes!

Tradescantia (Tradescantia zebrina)

Tradescantia (Tradescantia zebrina)
Tradescantia (Tradescantia zebrina)

This plant is a fantastic showpiece in the shower. It is so versatile, it can be trained up, will hang down, or can be wrapped around a frame to follow your lead!

You’ll also find that tradescantia persist well in boxes – but you’re going to want to keep them away from the window, and to avoid soaking them in shower water if you can help it!

Do remember to put drainage holes in your box – if you choose one – as these plants don’t like to be sat in water for long. They really thrive in humid places and do not like strong direct sunlight.

Allowing them to tumble from a hanging basket makes for a good display in the shower, too. Trim their leggy shoots periodically to root baby plants and strengthen the mother plant – and feed with fertiliser once a month in summer for good growth. Do not allow it to completely dry out, however!

Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)
Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

Short of time and visitors coming? Need to fill a dodgy corner or add a point of interest? Pick up a few stalks of bamboo and stick them in a container of water! Any water tight contained will do. A jam jar, wine bottle, vase, chipped coffee pot… literally anything will do for a temporary quick fix!

Bamboo normally won’t hold up brilliantly on its own, so if you do want to hang it in the shower, you’re usually best to allow it to cling to a screen of sorts. Thankfully, it’s easy enough to ‘install’ bamboo on walls and other vertical setups, making it immensely versatile.

Bamboo will root best in clear glass with a little light shining through. You can instantly see when your bamboo will need topping up with water and plant properly when it suits you.

Bamboo is a perfect plant for the shower. It can be trained to twist around canes, grow as a screen (as mentioned previously for ivy, though it takes much longer to grow tall) – however, it must not be allowed to dry out completely. Otherwise, it should thrive well in your humid shower area.

Related to asparagus, bamboo can be grown without soil. It grows best in dim light and with a change of water periodically.

Air Plants (Tillandsia)

Air Plants (Tillandsia)
Air Plants (Tillandsia)

I’ve deliberately left these bathroom plants until last because they can work well as last minute solutions, ready to display before guests or your in-laws arrive! Air plants require unwrapping and placing in position – and that’s about it. They live through extracting moisture from the atmosphere – meaning that the only thing to avoid is direct sunlight. They will die if allowed to dry out completely – so do mist occasionally if you don’t use the shower frequently.

Air plants are often some of the easiest greens to grow indoors, meaning that if you’re not particularly green-fingered, you can set them up to hang in showers and wet rooms and let them propagate with ease.

Of course, do make sure to try other plants in this list if you prefer a little bit more of a challenge! Plants in shower spaces don’t have to be tricky to care for – it’s certainly a popular misconception!

Summary

While the shower or bathroom may not seem like ideal places to host plants, you may well be surprised by how hardy some blooms can be. Shower plants are generally those that cope amazingly well in heavy humidity. While there are several that won’t enjoy too much water, there are others that will happily join you in the deluge.

Bathroom plants will also add a welcome touch of class to a space that’s often more practical than showy. Whether it’s for you, your guests or anyone in between, the worth of good bathroom plants might just surprise you!