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Plants in showers can create the most amazing tropical oasis inside your home. It can also create a thriving easy-care environment for your plants. Creating this jungle paradise does stir up some questions and we cover all the most asked questions here today.
Placement
When placing plants in your shower space there are a few tips to ensure everything thrives. The most important one is to make sure the plants are not in the direct wash space with dirty water spilling directly into them. Even natural cleansers can change the PH of the substrate your plants are in. This could hinder their growth and long-term health.
The next placement tip is to place bushy lower plants around the shower zone on the floor, sides of the shower, and on any shelves on the wall. Vining and trailing plants like Pothos or ivy should hang at the top and trail downwards to really create the iconic plant vibes. Make sure plants that don’t mind being watered often are the plants in areas where there will be overspray. And put the less water-loving plants in higher spaces or further off to the side behind those plants that like a lot of water.
What to plant them in?
Because most showers are in high-humidity. Locations where plants will be watered daily. There can be some concern with overwatering and rotting plants. This can be prevented by using different substrates. And pots depending on the location and plant species. Leca and Pon substrates can be in self-watering pots allowing any overspray to fall down into a water reservoir for the plant to wick up later. These substrates hold onto minimal amounts of water. And are well drained so they are very helpful in preventing rot.
You can also use a mix of bark, charcoal, and sphagnum moss for plants like Syngonium and Monstera to create a well-draining mix that would allow air to reach the plant’s roots and prevent rot. If rot is really a concern consider a terracotta pot that will constantly wick away moisture and allow for aeration. If you are rooting cuttings or want to grow your plants in just water that can be fine as well and you would just make sure the pot did not have drainage. Generally, ceramic or glass is best for long-term water growing.
Shower Plant Maintenance
Plant Maintenance in a shower is basically the same as plant maintenance not in a shower but it needs to occur more often. Especially if it is a shower you use regularly. Dead foliage will need to be removed more regularly. Older leaves naturally pass on to be able to grow and sustain new leaves. Turning plants regularly can ensure less dying foliage by giving every part of the plant an opportunity to collect life-giving light. This will prevent the plant from having to shed leaves to conserve energy. Cleaning foliage and removing hard water spots can make for healthier happier plants as well.
The biggest maintenance that needs to happen for shower plants is actually pruning and shaping your plants. In high-humidity situations, plants will grow incredibly quickly. And before you know it a month will have gone by. And your shower is fully enveloped by your plants. Regularly pruning and propagating your plants can keep your plants in check while making them look even more full, encouraging branching out, and producing a healthier plant that can sustain itself in a limited space with limited resources.
Pests and Bug Prevention
Little creepy crawlies are on everybody’s mind when walking through a forest or jungle so it’s absolutely normal to be concerned when creating your own jungle in your shower. Spiders especially are often seen in bathrooms. Due to being a fantastic water source. And generally a warm, humid environment. Spiders themselves are a wonderful pest deterrent. They can help prevent other plant pests by removing them before they become invasive or you even know they are there.
If you have a fear of spiders and would rather not have them in your space that is absolutely fine. There are other things you can do to prevent insects from being comfortable in your shower plants. Spiders for example dislike mint-based products. You can use mint oil in your shower cleaners. Additionally, drip a few drops of mint oil in your pots or plant cleaning product to create an environment your spiders will not want to be in.
You can also prevent fungus gnats and many other pests by not using or reducing the amount of soil used in your shower plants. Many pests lay eggs in soils and by removing that as an option you can reduce the number of possible pests. Use leca, pon, perlite, or even stratum in your pots instead of just straight soil.
There are pests like thrips that live on just plants. They eat and lay their eggs on your plants never going to the substrate you have your plants in. The good news is that by periodically spraying down your plants with water you can remove any plant pests that would be on your plants. By doing this regularly you will interrupt their life cycle and one pest will not have the opportunity to lay eggs and become many.
Lighting
The #1 most asked question we receive about plants is always “What about lighting?”. We are also constantly asked. “What if there are no windows?” And “Are there no light plants?”
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a no-light plant. All plants require light to live. Great news though! There are many ways to get more light for your plants. Just because you have one window or no windows does not mean that you have to give up on your dreams of showering inside your own personal tropical paradise.
If you have limited light sources the simplest way to increase that is to expand on what you already have. Use high gloss ceilings or walls in your bathroom space to reflect light around the room. You can also use mirrors to bounce the light where you need it.
If you need more light or have no windows at all, there are many grow light bulbs that can fit in standard fixtures for you. They can produce plenty of light for your plants. Especially, if they are low-light plants. For higher light plants or large numbers of plants, you can use bar grow lights that can be waterproof or handle high humidity. These full-spectrum LED lights are perfect for shower spaces because they can give you all the light your plants need to thrive.
If you love plants and dream of showering in your own tropical paradise daily don’t let a few problems stop you from chasing your dreams. There is always a solution. A few grow lights and regular maintenance with a little knowledge of plant placement can easily transform any shower into a jungle spa you never want to leave.
