15+ Bathroom Plants That Absorb Moisture & Reduce Humidity
Bathrooms are usually the most humid spots in any home. Steamy showers, hot baths, and poor ventilation can leave the air damp, making it easy for mold and mildew to grow. But nature has a simple answer: bathroom plants that absorb moisture. The right indoor plants do more than just look pretty. They drink up excess humidity, refresh the air, and turn your bathroom into a calming spa-like space.
With over 20 years of experience studying indoor gardening and how plants interact with indoor air, I can tell you this: choosing the right plants for your bathroom can make a big difference. Some plants love damp, low-light conditions, while others simply tolerate it. The trick is to match your bathroom’s light and humidity levels with plants that thrive in those conditions.
Below, you’ll find more than 15 bathroom plants that naturally absorb moisture and cut down on humidity. Each one has unique strengths, so you can choose based on your bathroom’s size, light, and style.
1. Boston Fern: The Classic Humidity Absorber
Boston ferns are one of the most reliable plants for bathrooms. They love moisture-rich air and can pull water straight from it through their fronds. If you’ve ever seen a fern thrive near a waterfall or stream in nature, that’s exactly why they do well in steamy bathrooms.
In addition to their moisture-absorbing ability, Boston ferns are known for their lush, arching green leaves. They look beautiful in hanging baskets or perched on a high shelf, where their fronds can cascade gracefully. Bathrooms with little direct sunlight are perfect, as ferns prefer indirect or filtered light.
To keep them healthy, mist the leaves occasionally and make sure the soil stays evenly damp but never soggy.
2. Peace Lily: Moisture Control with a Touch of Elegance
The peace lily is more than just a stylish plant with its glossy green leaves and striking white blooms. It’s a powerhouse at absorbing both moisture and airborne toxins. Bathrooms often have higher levels of mold spores, and peace lilies are known to help reduce those naturally.
This plant thrives in low to medium light, making it a perfect choice for bathrooms without big windows. The peace lily’s natural love for humidity means it won’t suffer from steamy showers. Place it on a shelf, counter, or even on the floor in a decorative pot.
Peace lilies are forgiving, but they do best if you keep the soil moist and wipe their leaves now and then to prevent dust from blocking their pores.
3. Spider Plant: Easy Care and Excellent Air Purifier
Spider plants are among the easiest bathroom plants you can grow. They thrive in indirect light and actually prefer the humid environment a bathroom provides. Their long, arching leaves absorb moisture, and the plant’s natural ability to clean the air adds another layer of freshness.
One unique feature of spider plants is that they produce little “babies” or offshoots, which you can replant. A single plant can quickly turn into many, filling your bathroom with greenery.
Because spider plants are so hardy, they are a great option if you want a low-maintenance solution to cut down on humidity.
4. English Ivy: A Natural Mold Fighter
English ivy has earned its reputation as one of the best bathroom plants for reducing humidity. It’s especially effective at cutting down airborne mold spores, which often thrive in bathrooms. Its trailing vines can be trained to climb or allowed to spill out of a hanging basket, adding a touch of charm.
This plant prefers indirect light and cooler spaces, making it a great match for bathrooms with limited sunlight. English ivy absorbs moisture through both its leaves and roots, helping to keep the bathroom air dry and fresh.
To keep ivy healthy, trim back long vines regularly and keep the soil slightly moist.
5. Aloe Vera: Moisture Absorber with Healing Powers
Aloe vera isn’t just a handy plant for soothing burns—it’s also a moisture-loving succulent that thrives in steamy conditions. Bathrooms give it just the right mix of humidity and indirect sunlight.
The thick, fleshy leaves of aloe store water, and while the plant doesn’t need frequent watering, the bathroom’s damp air helps prevent it from drying out too quickly. This makes aloe one of the lowest-maintenance choices for bathroom greenery.
As an added benefit, having aloe close at hand means you always have access to its natural gel for small skin irritations or burns.
6. Bamboo Palm: Tropical Freshness for Humid Spaces
The bamboo palm brings a touch of the tropics to your bathroom while serving as a natural humidifier and dehumidifier at the same time. Its feathery fronds take in excess moisture from the air, keeping the environment balanced.
Bamboo palms thrive in medium to low light, so they adapt well to bathrooms without much sunlight. Their tall, graceful form can make a small bathroom feel larger and more elegant.
With proper care—regular watering and occasional leaf cleaning—the bamboo palm can grow for many years in your bathroom, creating a serene and fresh atmosphere.
7. Orchids: Beauty That Loves Bathroom Humidity
Many people don’t realize that orchids are actually perfect bathroom plants. In their natural environment, they grow in humid rainforests, clinging to trees where moisture is abundant. A steamy bathroom recreates these conditions almost perfectly.
Orchids absorb water from the air through their thick, waxy leaves and aerial roots. They also bring unmatched beauty with their long-lasting flowers, which come in a wide range of colors.
Place them on a bathroom windowsill with filtered light, and you’ll find they thrive while also keeping the air balanced.
8. Snake Plant: Tough Plant That Handles Moisture
The snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is one of the hardiest bathroom plants available. Its upright, sword-like leaves can absorb both moisture and toxins from the air, making it a true multitasker.
Snake plants do well in low light and require very little care. They can tolerate occasional neglect, which is why they are so popular. In a bathroom, they enjoy the natural humidity without needing frequent watering.
This plant also releases oxygen at night, making it a healthy addition if your bathroom is connected to your bedroom.
9. Philodendron: Humidity-Loving Greenery
Philodendrons are natural humidity lovers. Their broad, heart-shaped leaves are designed to thrive in moist air, making them excellent bathroom companions. They can be grown in pots, hanging baskets, or even trained up a moss pole for added height.
Because philodendrons prefer indirect light and high humidity, a bathroom environment is almost ideal. They absorb moisture readily while also helping to clean the air.
Regular pruning keeps their growth in check, and wiping the leaves ensures they can breathe properly.
10. Calathea: A Striking Moisture Absorber
Calatheas are sometimes called “prayer plants” because their leaves fold up at night. In bathrooms, they thrive thanks to the constant humidity. Their patterned leaves add a decorative element while also pulling excess moisture from the air.
These plants do best in indirect light, so a bathroom with a frosted or east-facing window is perfect. Keep their soil lightly damp, and they will reward you with vibrant growth and healthy air.
11. ZZ Plant: Low-Light and Moisture-Friendly
The ZZ plant is one of the toughest indoor plants, but what makes it special is its ability to thrive in humid, low-light bathrooms. Its thick, waxy leaves absorb moisture slowly, making it a subtle but effective way to keep humidity balanced.
ZZ plants don’t need much attention, which makes them perfect for people who want the benefits of bathroom plants without constant care. Their glossy green leaves also add a touch of elegance to modern spaces.
12. Golden Pothos: The Humidity Champion
Golden pothos is often called the ultimate beginner’s plant, and for good reason. It grows quickly, tolerates low light, and thrives in humidity. Bathrooms are perfect environments, as pothos vines absorb moisture while producing lush green leaves.
Pothos can be placed on shelves or hung from the ceiling, where their trailing vines create a natural, cascading effect. The more humid the bathroom, the faster they grow.
Their ability to filter toxins while absorbing moisture makes them one of the best all-around bathroom plants.
13. Tillandsia (Air Plants): No Soil, Just Moisture
Air plants are unique because they don’t need soil. Instead, they absorb all the moisture and nutrients they need from the air through their leaves. That makes them ideal for bathrooms, where steam provides the perfect environment.
You can mount them on driftwood, place them in decorative glass holders, or even hang them from the ceiling. They take in excess humidity while adding a modern, minimalistic touch to your bathroom.
To keep them healthy, rinse them under running water once a week and let them dry upside down.
14. Lady Palm: Elegant Moisture Absorber
The lady palm is another palm variety that thrives in bathrooms. It has fan-shaped leaves that not only look elegant but also help absorb excess water from the air. This makes it both decorative and functional.
Lady palms prefer indirect light and high humidity, making a bathroom setting nearly perfect. While they grow more slowly than some other palms, they live for many years when properly cared for.
15. Cast Iron Plant: Tough Beauty for Damp Bathrooms
The cast iron plant lives up to its name—it’s nearly indestructible. It tolerates low light, poor soil, and fluctuating humidity levels, which makes it an excellent bathroom plant.
Its deep green, strappy leaves absorb moisture and create a clean, fresh look. Cast iron plants are slow growers, but they make up for it with their durability.
This plant is perfect if you want long-term greenery in your bathroom without much upkeep.
16. Anthurium: Glossy Leaves and Moisture Control
Anthuriums are loved for their glossy leaves and vibrant red or pink flowers. Beyond their looks, they also thrive in high humidity and absorb water directly from the air. Bathrooms give them the tropical environment they need.
Place anthuriums in bright, indirect light to encourage flowering, and keep the soil lightly moist. Their ability to reduce humidity while adding a pop of color makes them an excellent choice for stylish bathrooms.
