Bedroom Plants: Which Houseplants to Keep and Avoid

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Can you keep houseplants in the bedroom, and which help you rest? No myths here: which plants really make the air feel fresher and less dry, which scents calm, and which plants are better moved out because of heavy scent or pollen. Plus 10 easy options for the room where you sleep.

More on this topic: do houseplants purify the air, houseplants: names and care, snake plant.

Is it OK to keep plants in the bedroom

Yes. The common fear that plants 'steal oxygen' at night is unfounded: a few pots use a negligible amount compared with one person or pet.

The reverse is just as modest: snake plants, aloe and orchids do release oxygen at night (they use a special type of photosynthesis), but it barely changes the room's air. The honest view: do houseplants purify the air.

The real benefits are slightly moister air in the heating season, calming greenery and the habit of caring for something living.

10 plants for the bedroom

Snake plant: copes with shade and rare watering; see snake plant types.

Aloe: compact, for a bright sill; its gel is handy for minor burns.

Peace lily: releases lots of moisture and flowers in partial shade; see peace lily care.

Spider plant: easy and safe for cats.

Phalaenopsis orchid: flowers for months without scent; see orchid care at home.

Boston fern and calathea: love humid air and add moisture themselves.

Lavender: calming scent, but needs a sunny window and a cool winter.

ZZ plant and pothos: for a darker bedroom with little light. How to keep a fern from drying out: Boston fern care.

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Plants to keep out of the bedroom

Strongly scented plants such as lilies, indoor jasmine, gardenia, hyacinths and tuberose can cause headaches in a closed room.

Pollen-heavy flowering plants if you have allergies.

Toxic plants (dieffenbachia, oleander, euphorbia) if children or pets sleep in the room.

Very fragrant bouquets are also best moved away from the bed at night.

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Placing plants in the bedroom

• 2–4 pots per room are plenty; too many damp pots raise the risk of mould in the soil.
• Keep plants off radiators and not right by the bed; put large pots on the floor near the window.
• Water in the morning so the surface dries by night and gnats don't move in; if they have, see fungus gnats in pots.

A living plant as a gift

Looking for a living gift that lasts for months? A potted orchid is a great choice for home or office.

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See houseplants and orchids.

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FAQ

Can I keep plants in the bedroom?

Yes. A few pots don't affect oxygen levels; just avoid strongly scented plants.

Which plants are best for a bedroom?

Snake plant, aloe, peace lily, spider plant, phalaenopsis orchid and Boston fern.

Which flowers shouldn't be in a bedroom?

Lilies, jasmine, gardenia and hyacinths because of their scent; toxic plants if children or pets are around.

Do plants use up oxygen at night?

Only a tiny amount, far less than one person.

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Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.