The Common Houseplant That Will Thrive In Your Steamy Bathroom

Houseplants provide people with a lot of benefits, including increasing productivity and energy levels. They work well in living rooms and offices to help keep up the mood. However, there is one other surprising place you should consider putting plants: In the bathroom, especially if you have a window. This is one of the places you go to get ready, whether it be to start your day or before heading out for a night on the town, which is why it makes sense to have a mood-booster in there with you. Steamy showers and low light make bathrooms unsuitable for many plants, but there is one common houseplant that will thrive there and make your day much brighter.

The Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) has a pretty narrow range in the wild, only doing well in USDA zones 9 through 11, which means they're not always ideal for growing in the garden. However, they handle being indoors very well, especially in the bathroom, and are one of several ferns that make the perfect houseplant. They prefer bright, indirect light, partial shade, and high humidity as well.

If given enough space, the fronds can grow up to 4 feet long and 6 inches wide. While a Boston fern works great as a bathroom plant, if you're looking for something different, there is a fuzzy fern variety that makes for a unique houseplant known as the rabbit's foot fern (Davallia solida var. fejeensis).

If you don't have a lot of space for your fern on a counter or shelf, another alternative is to use a hanging basket. They handle these pots pretty well, and they look very elegant dangling from the ceiling. Many cultivars of this fern tend to drape over the basket and easily catch the eye as they hang down. Avoid placing them in drafty areas, since too much air movement can potentially kill a hanging Boston fern.

If it isn't looking its best, it may need more humidity, as it prefers levels around 80 percent. If your room can't stay at this level, an occasional misting can help. You also want to check that the soil is moist, but not completely soaked. Keep it out of direct sunlight, as this can burn the leaves. They also enjoy warmer temperatures between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, though they can tolerate temperatures down to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

It's important to note that this fern naturally produces small brown or black dots in a pattern under the leaves where the spores reside. They are normal and not a sign of insects or disease. Additionally, there are a variety of cultivars to choose from, allowing you to find one that fits your theme or space while still thriving in the bathroom setting. For example, 'Fluffy Duffy' has finer feathery fronds that grow densely.