In recent years, many offers of plants have appeared on the market that are supposedly perfect for plants without access to daylight. Popular species such as Zamioculcas, Sansevieria and Spathiphyllum are presented as resistant to lack of natural lighting. Unfortunately, such promises are often exaggerated or simply wrong. Every plant, regardless of its natural adaptability, needs at least a minimal amount of light to carry out photosynthesis – a key process for energy production and its survival.
The often used term “shade-loving plants” is sometimes misinterpreted as a species designation capable of living in complete darkness. In fact, shade-tolerant plants such as ivy, ferns and philodendron require at least a small amount of indirect light to grow and stay healthy. In a bathroom without a window, where there is complete darkness, these plants will gradually weaken. Symptoms such as yellowing leaves, stunted growth and susceptibility to disease may occur after just a few weeks.
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Promoting plants as being able to survive in conditions of complete darkness is only sales strategy. Sellers take advantage of customers’ natural desire to introduce greenery even to places devoid of sunlight. In practice, however, such solutions end in disappointment – instead of enjoying beautiful plants, owners watch them slowly die. Moreover, investing in such plants involves not only purchase costs, but also waste of resources trying to maintain them extremely inappropriate conditions.
Introducing plants into a bathroom without a window requires careful planning and the use of solutions that will compensate for the lack of natural light. One of the most effective ways is to use artificial lighting. Full spectrum grow lights are designed to mimic the spectrum of sunlight needed for photosynthesis. Their advantage is energy efficiency, low heating and the ability to precisely adjust the light intensity to the needs of plants. These lamps can be easily mounted on walls or ceilings, and many modern models feature a minimalist design that will fit into any the decor of every bathroom.
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Another solution, although more demanding, is to regularly move plants between the bathroom and another room access to daylight. This rotating approach allows plants to regenerate in appropriate light conditions, while also allowing for short-term bathroom decoration. For example, zamioculcas, Spathiphyllum or ferns can be placed in a bright room for everyday use, and moved to the bathroom only when guests visit. Although this method requires systematicity, it is an effective way keeping plants in good condition.
However, if maintaining living species in a bathroom without a window seems too complicated, it is worth considering an alternative in the form of artificial plants. Modern production technologies allow the creation of models that closely resemble natural species. Artificial plants do not require light, water or care, which makes them an ideal solution for rooms without natural conditions. Although they do not purify the air, they can introduce the desired element of greenery and aesthetics into the bathroom space, while eliminating the risk associated with inappropriate conditions.
