Plants make the bedroom more homely and improve the indoor climate. They should remove pollutants from the air. The effect is hardly measurable indoors, because the plants do not filter pollutants through their leaves. The secret is in the roots.

Plants in the bedroom have many advantages

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Suitable bedroom plants
  3. benefits
  4. Are houseplants air purifiers?
  5. disadvantage
  6. unsuitable plants
  7. frequently asked Questions

    8. the essentials in brief

    • NASA has compiled a list of about 30 houseplants that are suitable for the bedroom. Among them are mainly tropical green plants.
    • Bedroom plants beautify the room and have a positive effect on health. Their air-purifying effect was only shown in laboratory tests. The filter effect is hardly measurable in the bedroom.
    • The filter effect of such plants does not take place via the leaf mass but mainly via the roots.
    • Sensitive people and allergy sufferers should test which plants are suitable for them. Moldy growths have no place in the bedroom.

    Which plants in the bedroom?

    According to a NASA study, at least one indoor plant should be cultivated for every nine square meters. About 16 plants are optimal for a living space of 170 square meters. Your list of results includes almost 30 mostly tropical and subtropical plants.

    removed toxicity
    Common Ivy benzene, formaldehyde toxic to cats
    Garden Chrysanthemum Benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethene, ammonia toxic to dogs and cats
    rubber tree formaldehyde toxic to cats
    Dendrobium Orchid xylene, toluene non-toxic to cats
    butterfly orchid xylene, toluene non-toxic to cats

    aloe vera

    Aloe Vera is welcome in the bedroom

    The drought-tolerant ornamental plant requires little water and generally requires little care. Since it also releases oxygen into the room air at night and provides fresh air, it is ideal for the bedroom. You can easily grow your own offshoots from a plant.

    bow hemp

    The mother-in-law's tongue is a CAM plant with a special metabolism. During the night, the forgotten houseplant absorbs carbon dioxide from the air to store it. During the day, the bound CO2 is consumed in the course of photosynthesis. The Sansevieria is also capable of filtering common household toxins such as formaldehyde, trichloroethane, and benzene from the air. As a result, the plant proves to be an all-rounder, which helps against headaches and high blood pressure and has a positive effect on the immune system.

    digression

    Crassulaceae metabolism

    This form of metabolism (CAM for short) occurs in succulent plants that live in dry areas. They depend on keeping stomata closed during the hot part of the day. This reduces water evaporation, which is why such plants have a low water requirement.

    The plants absorb the CO2 required for photosynthesis during the cooler night. They convert it into malic acid, which is stored in the cell vacuoles. Only the following day do they release the carbon dioxide again in order to be able to metabolize it into sugar.

    spider plant

    This undemanding plant is known for the incessant production of offshoots. In the NASA study, this plant reduced high levels of formaldehyde in an enclosed space by about 90 percent in 24 hours. It cleans the air and removes unpleasant odors. The leaves are edible but should not be eaten because of their cleansing effect.

    Occurrence of formaldehyde:

    • in apples and grapes
    • in wood and furniture
    • in human breath

    Formaldehyde can impair memory and the ability to concentrate.

    peace lily

    The leaf increases the humidity in the room

    The single sheet filters numerous gases such as benzene or ammonia from the air. It manages to reduce the trichlorethylene content by 23 percent. With ivy, this maximum filter effect is eleven percent. The easy-care peace lily also ensures higher humidity, which helps against dry mucous membranes. This has a positive effect on the spread of germs in the room air.

    sword plant

    This fern removes formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from the room air. The sword plant prefers shady locations, making it ideal for the bedroom. It attaches great importance to high humidity. The exotic plants have a mood-enhancing effect, which has a positive effect on the mood. Stress is reduced and the nervous system is brought back into balance.

    ivy

    This climbing plant filters out more pollutants than are found in the bedroom. It cleans the air of benzene, xylene, toluene, trichloroethene and formaldehyde. As a result, the large-leaved ivy proves to be a true all-rounder. It also looks good on perches or trellises. It can also be cultivated as a traffic light plant.

    Plants in the bedroom are healthy

    Plants in the bedroom do not only have a purely decorative effect

    The air in your own four walls is often affected by chemical vapors from numerous materials. Plastic, printer cartridges, wall paint, glue or detergent can be the cause of permanent dizziness, headaches and respiratory problems.

    No dry air in the bedroom

    Plants increase humidity, which has a positive effect on the respiratory tract during sleep. They enable a controlled increase in moisture content by evaporating up to 97 percent of the irrigation water through their leaves and releasing it into the air - and germ-free. Be careful not to overwater the plants. If mold forms on the potting soil, fungal spores spread in the air. There is also a risk of mold growth if you water the leaves.

    Aesthetics with a feel-good factor

    The appearance plays a not insignificant importance of plants in the bedroom. They set visual accents and give the room a feel-good atmosphere. If you feel comfortable in your bedroom, you can switch off and relax much better. At the same time, this promotes healthy sleep and you wake up with an increased sense of well-being. Recovery from illnesses can be enhanced by the improved climate in the bedroom.

    Fragrant plants for a healthy sleep:

    • lemon balm: repels mosquitoes and has a refreshing effect
    • lavender: calms restlessness
    • jasmine: floral fragrance has a relaxing effect
    • gardenia: relieves anxiety and promotes sleep

    Ideal for allergy sufferers

    The right plants in the bedroom reduce allergies

    In the dry winter time, dust can be whirled up better, so that the small particles increasingly move through the room air. Pathogens and germs that can be inhaled by people adhere to the dust particles. Plants reduce this problem because the increased humidity causes dust particles to absorb water. They become heavier and fall to the ground along with pollen, pollutants and allergens.

    Dust particles settle on plants with particularly large leaf surfaces, which then no longer disturb the air in the room. Be sure to dust the leaves regularly. This allows the plants to optimally develop their positive effects.

    feng shui

    Only plants with round leaves are used in this theory of harmony. Plants with pointed leaves or sharp-edged leaf edges should not be placed in the bedroom. These can disturb the positive energy and emit so-called poison darts. In order for the energy of the room to be positively influenced, the plants should show vigorous growth. A regular supply of fresh air is also important for a healthy indoor climate. In order to remove unwanted substances from the room air, you should ventilate the room three to four times a day.

    Are houseplants air purifiers?

    In its "Clean Air" study, NASA found out that certain plants can reduce the concentration of harmful gases in rooms. This study was carried out in completely closed rooms, so the conditions are not comparable to the conditions in your own four walls.

    Finding 1: Barely measurable performance

    In fact, Vanessa Hörmann from the Federal Environment Agency in Dessau-Roßlau found out that the filter performance of houseplants indoors is very weak or not at all pronounced. Measurable effects would only occur if several hundred plants were placed in the room. It is still healthy to place many plants in the bedroom. They have positive effects on the psyche.

    Bedroom plants work:

    • concentration-enhancing
    • stress reducing
    • health supportive

    Finding 2: Degradation of pollutants via the roots

    Helge Knickmeier took a closer look at the NASA study and came across the fact that plants primarily break down air pollutants through their roots. He invented an innovative flower pot that draws the room air into the interior of the pot. Pollutants are filtered out here so that the environment is measurably supplied with fresh air.

    youtube

    Why no plants in the bedroom?

    That plants in the bedroom are harmful is a widely held theory. In fact, too many potted plants can appear unhealthy, which can be attributed to incorrect maintenance practices or poorly thought-out plant selection. Houseplants are usually not harmful to health, because the positive properties outweigh them.

    Increased risk of mold

    Too many plants in the bedroom can encourage mold and bacteria. These organisms find optimal living conditions in moist potting soil and can also spread in the room air. Healthy people rarely have problems with it. Ensure optimal care and do not water your plants too often. This automatically reduces the spore load in the air.

    tips

    Cultivate your bedroom plants hydroponically. This makes mold problems a thing of the past.

    Sleep disturbance from smells

    Sensitive people may find the scent of the strong-smelling lavender and jasmine flowers disturbing. This can lead to headaches and discomfort. Test beforehand which flower scent you find pleasant. The smell of damp earth can also be perceived as unpleasant.

    Myth: lack of oxygen

    It is true that many plants absorb oxygen and release CO2 during the night. However, this happens in such small amounts that this factor has no effect on human sleep. With a square meter of leaf surface, the emission of carbon dioxide per hour is 125 milliliters. Humans expel 15 to 30 liters per hour at night. Only when the room turns into an impenetrable jungle, you may have too many plants in the bedroom.

    Which plants shouldn't you have in the bedroom?

    Strongly aromatic flowers have no place in the bedroom

    This question can be answered differently from person to person. While some individuals are sensitive to strong scents, plant lovers perceive the same aromas to be sleep-inducing and relaxing. Even for allergy sufferers, certain flowering plants should not be placed in the bedroom. If the plants begin to mold, they should be removed from the bedroom. Otherwise, you can let off steam when choosing your bedroom plants.

    Important aspects for plant selection:

    • Choose indoor plants that feel comfortable in winter at bedroom temperatures between 16 and 18 degrees
    • prefer large plants as they evaporate more water
    • Use plants with lower light requirements

    tips

    Dragon trees are incredibly frugal. They thrive in both sunny and shady conditions and can handle temperatures of 16 degrees.

    frequently asked Questions

    Are plants in the bedroom unhealthy?

    Basically, bedroom plants promote health in various ways. That they are suspected of being unhealthy is not entirely true. Potted plants pose a health risk if the substrate has been watered and tends to mold.

    In fact, the plants extract oxygen from the room air at night and release CO2. This happens in such small amounts that no negative effects are to be expected for humans. Rather, the partner should be banned from the bedroom, because they produce 15 to 30 liters of carbon dioxide per hour.

    Plants in the bedroom - yes or no?

    This question cannot be answered unequivocally. There are sensitive people who cannot tolerate the smell of strongly scented flowers and are prone to allergies. You shouldn't put plants in your bedroom. For healthy people, nothing speaks against a green bedroom oasis, provided that care is taken. In general, plants have a positive effect on the psyche and ensure a healthier sleep.

    Can plants reduce air pollutants?

    Blogs like to refer to a NASA study in which the air-purifying properties of many tropical plants were determined. In fact, many plants are able to filter pollutants from the air. This only happens in measurable quantities if the plants are in a completely enclosed space. In the experiment, this was a transparent box with an edge length of 70 centimeters. It has now been found that the filter effect cannot be measured indoors.

    Why are bedroom plants good for health?

    They beautify the room, have a relaxing effect and set colorful accents. The sight of a green bedroom oasis improves the mood and has a positive effect on the psyche in the dreary and dark winter months. If you feel comfortable in your bedroom, you can relax better. Blood pressure drops, you become calmer and can fall asleep better.

    At the same time, indoor plants improve the room climate, because they evaporate almost all of the irrigation water, which is released into the air free of pollutants and germs. In summer, the plants act as a natural air conditioner because they regulate the temperatures. They also supply the air with oxygen.

Category:

Indoor plants