Stacey Solomon adds plants to her ‘tropical bathroom’
Houseplants aren’t just trendy interior add-ons, adding plants to your home is important for your wellbeing. A recent survey by Arboretum found that 42 percent of Brits believe that having house plants at home improves their mental health. The bathroom is supposed to be a peaceful sanctuary where you can wash, bathe, primp, and do your business in peace, making it the perfect room to add some greenery to. Express.co.uk chatted to Victorian Plumbing’s resident bathroom design expert George Holland to find out which plants you need in your bathroom.
Not many houseplants enjoy living in a humid environment, so many people don’t even think about putting plants in the bathroom.
However, there are a whole variety of plants that thrive in your bathroom and will help to keep it steam and bacteria free.
You can place them on ledges, on the windowsill, on a leaning ladder or simply in a corner of the bathroom- with a stylish pot of your choice.
Victorian Plumbing’s resident bathroom design expert George Holland has revealed which 10 plants to purchase for your bathroom.
READ MORE- Monty Don: Gardening expert explains when to feed house plants
We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria)
Also known as ‘Mother in Law’s Tongue’, the snake plant is an excellent bathroom plant.
George said: “It thrives in high humidity, so if you like to take long, hot showers it may not need any extra watering at all.
“The snake plant also has a whole host of other benefits.
“The long, vertical leaves are known to help filter toxins out of the air which is perfect if you are worried about chemicals from cleaning products or counteracting any bad smells.”
George recommends the snake plant for smaller bathrooms in particular because the leaves grow upwards rather than outwards.
He added: “Be sure to dust the leaves on a regular basis so they can still soak up the light and moisture that your bathroom brings.”
Air Plants (Tillandsia spp.)
Air plants are easy to look after and beneficial for your health.
George said: “These low-maintenance, hardy plants flourish in hot and humid conditions, so they will feel right at home in your bathroom.
“Taking nutrients from the air, light and water through tiny vessels in the leaves, these plants don’t need any soil at all which makes them incredibly easy to care for.”
Air plants don’t need soil to survive, so George suggests creating a DIY vertical garden from some wire mesh and a photo frame.
He said: “Gently thread your air plants through the mesh grid and hang on your bathroom wall. The humid air will circulate around the plants helping your green wall to flourish.”
Boston Fern
If you have a larger bathroom, a Boston Fern is the plant for you.
George said: “This full and bushy plant needs quite a bit of space to grow, so it’s perfect if you have a bit more space to play with when creating your bathroom canopy.
“Ferns in general thrive in high moisture and warm environments, which means you can even get in on the ‘shower plant’ trend.”
If you don’t have much shelf space, you could place a Boston Fern in a hanging planter.
Hang it next to your shower so the fern will get watered each time you hop in, George said.
Ivy
The Ivy loves moisture and is great at purifying the air in a room.
George said: “This makes them a great choice for your bathroom oasis.
“They grow really quickly, so you can start to make use of all that vertical space in your bathroom.
“Ivy is a fast growing plant with beautiful trailing tendrils which can be left to hang or clipped to encourage them to creep along a wall, shower curtain rod or even a door frame.”
DON’T MISS…
Monty Don: Gardening expert shares ‘classic symptoms’ of overwatering [INFORMER]
Eeasy-to-care-for house plant: Alan Titchmarsh on growing moth orchid [INSIGHT]
Interiors: Five expert tips for revamping your bathroom for under £50 [EXPLAINER]
Spider plant
The spider plant doesn’t sound too relaxing for arachnophobes, but this plant is a bathroom staple.
George said: “Spider plants really are the gift that keeps on giving!
“Once they reach maturity, these clumpy, grassy plants will start to grow offshoots, which can be trimmed and propagated to create even more spider plants.
“If you feel like your bathroom canopy is a bit sparse, you can play around with your bathroom mirrors.
“Placing plants near them and changing the position of the reflection can give the illusion of more greenery.”
Calathea (Calathea spp.)
The Calathea is colourful and waxy, making it a striking addition to your bathroom oasis.
George said: “They can be quite fussy and do prefer a shady spot with lots of humidity.
“Calathea do start off quite small, but grow quickly, so start them off on a shelf and move them to the floor as they mature.”
Make sure you pick your pots carefully and choose something made from a porous material like terracotta with a few drainage holes at the bottom.
George added: “But if your decorative pot doesn’t have this, it’s worth buying a smaller terracotta pot to sit on some drainage pebbles within the decorative pot.
“You won’t see it, but your plant will thank you for it.”
Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
Another easy houseplant, pothos is a great trailing plant for your shower.
George said: “You can train the trailing stems to grow along a wall or just let them hang down to make use of the vertical space.
“These lush green plants absorb plenty of water when kept in the bathroom but to check the moisture level, just gently poke your finger in the soil and if it comes out clean, they will need a top up.”
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
The Peace Lily certainly will bring your bathroom some peace with its deep, glossy green leaves and bright white flowers,
George said: “The Peace Lily is one of the most effective plants to include in your bathroom plant collection.
“They love moisture and prefer to be kept in low light locations, but if you find your lily is wilting regularly, it might be time to upgrade to a bigger pot.
“Look to the ceiling for more space to keep your plants. Fill unused space (like above a toilet) with hanging planters to draw your eye upwards and give the illusion of a larger bathroom.”
Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron scandens)
Heartleaf Philodendrons are extremely hardy, making them a great choice for beginners who are scared of making mistakes.
George said: “They grow really quickly too and their trailing stems can be trained to grow along a wall or just left to hang down.
“Keep a philodendron full and bushy by pinching back the growing tips, or allow the tips to grow out and trail over the sides of the pot.”
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is succulent so it doesn’t need much water, especially when it is kept in a humid bathroom.
Over-watering can be really bad for the Aloe plant, George said.
He added: “The gel Inside the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant can be used to soothe burns and sore skin, but only break off a small amount each time you need to use it.
“Similar to the spider plant, Aloe Vera produces shoots” which can be trimmed and propagated in soil to create brand new plants.
“If your plant’s leaves are flattening out instead of growing upright it may not be getting enough light.”
Source: Read Full Article
