Succulents are plants that are mostly small and easy to take care of indoors–which is one of the reason they are so popular, virtually in all corners of the world. They are planted in a little pot that usually has tiny holes in it to prevent water from being stuck in the bottom of the pot, and are simple to carry around your house, so you can place them in a kitchen, in a living room, or even in the bathroom.
I’ve seen this several times, and did my own experiments, trying to understand whether or not a bathroom (or even a toilet cubicle if you want) is a fitting place for succulents. And what conclusion have I come to? The simple answer is yes. Succulents can survive in bathrooms, living rooms, and windowsills, as well as in the toilet cubicle. As always though, things are not as simple as they seem.
Humidity is a big factor when it comes to the well-being of your plants
Bathrooms are usually humid–sometimes extremely. Putting it simply, humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. The more water evaporates in the air, the more water vapor rises into the air that causes higher humidity. Since we wash and bath in the bathrooms, it is only logical that the place is often pretty humid.
Bathrooms, usually smaller than bedrooms and tend to be a hotter place which makes it more humid since heat causes faster water evaporation. In many instances, the bathroom is part of the house that holds the most humidity. And although some succulents can survive in bathrooms, some are not capable to sustain such humid conditions. Those succulents that cannot thrive in bathrooms are those with vulnerable leaves. They cannot stand the humidity inside the bathroom.
The survival of succulents depends on the thickness of their leaves and how they adapt to their living space. Since a bathroom is a humid place (as a rule of a thumb), succulents that can thrive are those with fleshy leaves and are able to withstand moisture.
Controlling the humidity in your bathroom to help your succulents
Fortunately, you can take some steps to control humidity inside of your bathroom. It includes reducing the heat of the shower, putting wet towels inside, and if you have an exhaust fan, you can turn it on to minimize humidity.
The best thing you can do before you place a succulent in the bathroom is to know the variety of the plant and its ability to survive indoors, in a humid environment, and without direct sunlight. Some succulents demand contact with sunlight, and though they may survive in a bathroom, they won’t reach their full beauty in such an environment. Let’s have a look at two of the most popular succulents that actually can survive in a bathroom.
Aloe Vera can easily withstand extreme humidity
The first one is Aloe Vera. It belongs to species of succulents that are greatly known for their fleshy, thick leaves, not to mention their numerous benefits for human beings, and I do not speak only about fantastic natural creams like this one (affiliate link).
Aloe Vera does well in humid conditions. It only needs monitoring from time to time. If you place it in your bathroom, however, do not forget to place it in a window, so it gets enough of sunlight (direct or indirect).
Echeveria is also fine in bathrooms
The other popular succulent to grow in a bathroom is Echeveria. They share similar properties with Cacti and Aloe Vera. If you are living in a tropical area with a lot of humidity, Aloe Vera and Echeveria are the right plants for you, at least as long as we talk about succulents (because obviously there are better plants for tropic conditions in general).
Depending on the area you are living in, you might find other succulent varieties that can survive in the bathroom environment. In my case though, I found the two mentioned above are the best as far as choosing indoor succulents goes. The benefits that you can get from Aloe Vera and Echeverias are beyond aesthetics. They have the ability to absorb carbon dioxide and have it converted into plant carbohydrates that they can use to survive while providing oxygen.
This really helps especially if you have furniture indoors. Furniture and cleaning agents produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Examples of these chemicals are the Formaldehyde and Benzene. They are both toxic. Aloe Vera and Echeverias are very good at filtering the air and preventing the toxic airborne chemical from harming the air. However, if the amount of Benzene and Formaldehyde are too much, they will, in turn, create brown spots in the succulents.
Final thoughts
For me, succulents are some of the best plants indoors because of their drought-resistant characteristics. They are easy to take care of, come in many different sizes and shapes, and are easy to propagate. Having succulents in your bathroom, particularly some aloe vera plants and echeverias does not only contribute to esthetics inside the house. It also refreshes the air you and your family breathes.
For years of growing succulents, what I found is that plants, especially succulents, can make a person happy. And for a person with heart disease (like me), being happy is more than a necessity on a daily basis. Since 2012 when I had a heart attack, my succulent plants have been making me feel good. And thankfully, since then, my condition is getting better.
This is not a scientific claim, but I can personally say that my plants really help me. Previous studies also found that growing flowers and other types of plants such as succulents has a positive effect on both psychological and physical health. If you want to enjoy the same benefits, then you can try growing your own plants too. I hope this post helps you to make the right decision when it comes to placement of your succulents. Thank you for reading, and do not forget to check my complete guide on growing succulents, to make sure you grow the plants like a pro, and reap the rewards of your efforts!