Can we create a green oasis in a bathroom without a window? Plant breeders often claim that certain species thrive in such conditions, but are these promises true? We will reveal the truth about growing plants indoors where there is no natural light and suggest what solutions might work there.
Plants for rooms without windows are just marketing?
In recent years, many offers of plants have appeared on the market, which are said to be great for bathrooms without access to daylight. Popular species such as zamiokulkas, sansevieria or scapula, are presented as resistant to a lack of natural light. Unfortunately, such promises are often exaggerated or simply wrong. Every plant, regardless of its natural adaptability, needs at least a minimum amount of light to carry out photosynthesis – a process that is crucial for energy production and survival.
The often used term “shade tolerant plants” is sometimes misinterpreted as referring to species capable of living in total darkness. In fact, shade-tolerant plants such as ivy, ferns, and philodendrons need at least a small amount of diffused light to grow and stay healthy. In a bathroom without a window, in complete darkness, these plants gradually weaken. Symptoms such as yellowing leaves, stunted growth or susceptibility to disease may appear after only a few weeks.
Promoting plants as being able to survive in total darkness is just a business strategy. Sellers take advantage of customers’ natural desire to bring greenery even into spaces without sunlight. However, in practice, such solutions end in disappointment – instead of the owners enjoying beautiful plants, they watch them slowly die. Moreover, investing in such plants includes not only the cost of their purchase, but also the waste of resources in trying to care for them in extremely unsuitable conditions.
How to properly grow plants in a bathroom without a window?
Introducing plants to a windowless bathroom requires careful planning and solutions to compensate for the lack of natural light. One of the most effective ways is to use artificial lighting. Plant grow lights with full spectrum bulbs are designed to to mimic the spectrum of sunlight needed for photosynthesis. Their advantage is energy efficiency, low heat generation and the possibility of finely adjusting the light intensity according to the needs of the plants. These lamps can be easily mounted on the wall or ceiling, and many modern models have a minimalist design that fits into any bathroom interior.
Another solution, although more demanding, is the regular relocation of plants between the bathroom and another room with access to daylight. This rotational approach allows the plants to regenerate in suitable light conditions and at the same time allows them to decorate the bathroom for a short time. For example, we can place zamiokulkas, shovelnose or ferns in a bright room, and they will move to the bathroom only when guests visit. Although this method requires regularity, it is an effective way to keep plants in good condition.
However, if keeping live species in a windowless bathroom seems too complicated, consider the alternative of artificial plants. Today’s production technologies make it possible to create models that are deceptively similar to natural species. Artificial plants do not need light, water or care, so they are ideal for spaces without natural conditions. Although they do not purify the air, they can bring a welcome element of greenery and aesthetics to the bathroom space, while eliminating the risks associated with inappropriate conditions.
They absorb moisture and mold like a vacuum cleaner. Be sure to place them in the bathroom
