Bathrooms without windows are rare, but they do exist. Only when the door is opened does some sunlight penetrate. They must also be artificially lit during the day. The air in it can only circulate with the help of technology. Can such a room be a habitat for plants? Which green plants will survive longer in the bathroom and even grow happily with our support?
Without light there is no life
Let’s not fool ourselves: the only plants that can be completely without light are artificial plants. Because plastic doesn’t grow. But living green plants always need a minimum amount of brightness. Therefore, not a single plant species can be listed here for which a bathroom without a window is suitable. In a room without a window, any plant will suffer. It’s only a matter of time before it fully dies down.
lamp instead of sunlight
However, it is still possible to put live green plants in the bathroom without a window. A special plant lamp makes this possible. It provides the light spectrum that plants need for their photosynthesis.
- not all incandescent lamps are suitable
- use special plant lamps
- Match the amount of light to the plants
- choose a sufficiently powerful lamp
- alternatively use several lamps
- place near the green plants
- Simulate the natural day and night rhythm with a timer
- Tropical plants need 10-12 hours of light a day
Unlike sunlight, this light is not available to us free of charge. In addition to purchasing the lamp, you also have to pay for the electricity you use every day. Depending on the lamp, 3-7 euros per month can be incurred.
shade and moisture
For a bathroom without a window but with a special plant lamp, green plants that thrive well in the shade are the best choice. Because seldom will a plant lamp completely satisfy sun-loving plants. High humidity is a second factor we deal with in a bathroom. Because every time you take a shower, the air is enriched with plenty of moisture. The list below therefore consists of plants that like humidity and at the same time need little light.
Table of Contents
mountain palm
The mountain palm owes its popularity as a houseplant, among other things, to the fact that it is content with shady locations. This is because it is originally a rainforest plant, where it thrives in the shade of tall trees. The mountain palm will also grow in an artificially lit bathroom. Otherwise, it is one of the easy-care green plants. In a high humidity bath, the leaf fronds do not need to be sprayed with water, as is otherwise recommended. However, a mature palm tree is only suitable for large bathrooms, as it grows sprawling.
dragon tree
Dragon trees come from sunny areas of the world. However, they do not tolerate direct sunlight. Well, they certainly won’t get them in a bathroom with no windows. The light quality of a shady to semi-shady location can be easily achieved for the dragon tree with a plant lamp. While the spray bottle has to be used regularly for its cultivation in other rooms, it gets its vital moisture in the bathroom on the side. He won’t even feel the hated draughts. As dragon trees grow towards the light, it will mainly develop upwards towards the plant lamp. Due to this expected slim shape, the dragon tree will not take up too much valuable space.
Efeutute
The ivy tolerates sun, but it is by no means mandatory. Even in the shade, this plant is ready to thrive. She doesn’t like to feel a draft or extreme cold. It is in good hands in a dark bathroom. The ideal humidity for them is 50 to 65%. This plant has several advantages:
- can grow as a climbing plant
- also suitable as a hanging plant
- ideal for bathrooms with little space
- the tendrils are very long
- can act as room dividers
A leaf
The single leaf also comes originally from the rainforest. It will not bother with the high humidity of the bath. This plant is one of the few green plants that don’t even mind standing wetness. The single leaf will also like the heat in the bathroom, as it prefers temperatures of 18 to 25 °C all year round. If the light from the plant lamp is enough for her, the single leaf will even form beautiful white bracts reminiscent of flowers.
maidenhair fern
The ideal location for maidenhair ferns is the tropical rainforest of South America. In this country, a shady location with high humidity suits him best. This description applies to a bathroom without a window, provided that a plant lamp for the green plants regularly brings brightness into it. The plant grows bushy and up to half a meter high. However, it should not be splashed with water often, otherwise its leaves will turn brown. You should also only use low-calcium water for watering.
antler fern
In the nature of Australia, the staghorn fern grows on trees. This refers to the tall trees of the rainforest in whose forked branches the plant seeks a place to live. The sun’s rays cannot penetrate the canopy of the trees, so the staghorn fern is used to shade. In the bathroom, you need to give him a specific way to hang from the ceiling. The leaves resemble deer antlers, which is easy to recognize from the name.
lucky feather
The lucky feather is considered to be easy to care for and insensitive. It also does well in shady places, but like all living green plants it needs a minimum of light. If there is not enough light in their bathroom, their growth will stall. But even then the Zamioculcas does not have to leave the wet room, because the problem can easily be solved with a new plant lamp. The lucky feather grows up to one meter high. It is considered indestructible, just not to be poured excessively.
spider plants
The spider plant has long, thin leaves reminiscent of giant grass. It likes a bright spot and needs sufficient additional lighting from a plant lamp in the bathroom without a window. Its low maintenance attitude is why it is listed as a suitable bath plant.
- takes up little space
- can grow in a hanging pot
- there are pure green and green and white striped varieties
- the darker it is, the more the light stripes will disappear
Korbmarante
The osiera is a tropical plant that is well accustomed to both shade and high humidity. Different shades of green create an attractive pattern on the leaves. This green plant likes constantly warm, humid places and is at least spoiled in this respect by the bathroom. But her owner mustn’t neglect her either, because this exotic lady requires extensive care:
- Keep soil constantly moist
- fertilize every two weeks during the growing season
- repot every spring
cobbler palm
The shoemaker’s palm is also known as the butcher’s palm. It originally comes from Asia, but is also easy to care for in this country. In her living conditions, she tolerates many deviations. The cobbler palm is therefore one of the green plants that are suitable for people without a green thumb and for beginners. It grows without a stem, sprouting from the woody rhizome. The bushy growth can reach a height of 80 cm.
- in dark corners it grows slower
- patterned varieties lose their pattern there
observe plants
Plants are living beings, each specimen grows individually. As they grow, their needs change as well. If the required plant light was sufficient for them at the beginning, this can change at a later stage. Therefore, carefully observe the development of the green plants that are in the dark bathroom. Sluggish growth, leaf variability, and possibly no flowers could be signs that they are suffering. Then either they have to leave the bathroom or the living conditions have to be optimized. For example with an additional plant lamp.
