Although plants won't completely prevent mould growth, they certainly can help.
Kevin Parker is a senior horticulturist at The Greenery Garden and Home. He says, "Any plant will help [absorb moisture] - but some will be better than others."
Here are Kevin's top three picks for bathroom plants that absorb condensation.
1. Boston fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
Just because a plant absorbs moisture doesn't mean it will enjoy being in the bathroom - unless it's a Boston fern.
"They are really good in bathrooms. Not just at absorbing moisture but for their hardiness," says Kevin. "They like the bathroom environment; they'll tolerate a change in temperature and lower light.”
2. Tillandsia
Tillandsia is a type of Bromeliad and another great plant option for the bathroom.
Kevin says, "It naturally grows in trees like trunks or the branches, and it doesn't have a root system. It attaches itself to the branch and absorbs moisture through the leaves," making them very easy to grow.
Keep in mind the Tillandsia, an air plant, does need some (not a lot) natural light to grow, though.
3. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)
Probably the easiest of the three to grow. Kevin says, "If you kill a Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily), you're doing something wrong."
He adds: "They will all suit bathroom situations because they are low-light tolerant, and will absorb moisture in the air. They love that humid environment, and wilt when they need watering. Still, that's less likely to happen in a bathroom situation."
What if you don't have a bathroom window?
All plants need natural light to survive long term. That said, some plants can tolerate a windowless bathroom longer than others.
"But eventually, it's going to run out of puff because it's not getting any natural light," says Kevin.
One solution is to rotate a couple of plants from a window in the house to the bathroom, which can keep them going longer.
"Some people keep them as a seasonal plant, and they might get 12-18 months out of it, throw them out and buy another one. But you can prolong their life if you have a bathroom with no natural light."
Can plants really help reduce mould in the bathroom?
Plants alone aren't a complete solution for mould growth in the bathroom, but they can help reduce the humidity levels. Other ways to reduce bathroom mould include: running the exhaust for at least 15 minutes after your shower and cleaning up or fixing any leaks asap.
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