Plants for the Bedroom: Better Sleep through Natural Air Purification
Restless sleep, morning tiredness despite enough hours in bed, waking up at night without an obvious reason – many people suffer from poor sleep quality. The cause often lies in the air quality of the bedroom. The right plants can naturally solve these problems and provide restful, deep sleep.
At a glance:
- ✓ Snake plant produces oxygen at night instead of CO₂
- ✓ 2-3 plants are enough for a 12-15m² bedroom
- ✓ NASA-confirmed pollutant filtering during sleep
- ✓ Also suitable for dark & cool bedrooms
1. Why air quality in the bedroom affects sleep
- Increased CO2 levels cause headaches
- Dry air irritates the airways
Poor indoor air quality shortens deep sleep phases.
2. Plants in the Bedroom – Myth or Science?
- Continuous air purification from pollutants
- Increase of air moisture (ideal for dry heated air)
- Reduction of dust particles in the air
- Psychological effect: Green has a calming and stress-reducing effect
- Improvement of oxygen supply (in CAM plants)
3. The best plants for the bedroom
The key is choosing the right plants. Certain kinds are especially suited for the bedroom and have been proven to improve sleep quality. The NASA Clean Air Study identified several highly effective plants – three of which are available in the AIRY System.
Top Recommendations – Available in the AIRY System
🌿 Bowstring hemp (Sansevieria)
- Produces oxygen at night instead of CO₂ (CAM metabolism)
- Filters 5 pollutants: formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene
- Extremely easy to care for and undemanding
- Perfect for shady and cool bedrooms
- Needs water only every 2-3 weeks
- Various types for every taste
Brief Care Tips: Bright to partly shaded, water very sparingly, fertilize every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
Special Feature: The only houseplant that actively produces oxygen at night – ideal for better air quality during sleep. NASA top plant for bedrooms.
💡In the AIRY System:Discover bow hemp with AIRY pot →
🌿 Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
- NASA Top 3: Very high air purification performance
- Continuously filters formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, xylene
- Extremely sturdy and forgives care mistakes – perfect for beginners
- Also works in shaded bedrooms
- Increases air moisture naturally
- Propagates through offshoots – one plant becomes many
Brief care tips: Bright to partly shaded, water moderately, tolerates dryness, fertilize every 2-4 weeks.
💡In the AIRY System: Discover the spider plant with AIRY pot →
⚠️Note: Only mildly harmful to pets (may cause stomach upset)
🌿 Golden fruit palm (Areca)
- NASA Top 10: Effectively filters formaldehyde, benzene, xylene
- Increases air moisture the most – ideal for dry air
- Non-toxic for cats, dogs, and children ✓
- Filters pollutants 24/7 – continuous air cleansing
- Natural air moistening without technology
- Elegant appearance as an eye-catcher in the bedroom
Brief care tips: Very bright, water regularly (keep soil evenly moist), 50-60% air humidity, fertilize every 2-3 weeks.
Special feature: Highest air humidifying capacity of all houseplants – perfect against dry heating air in winter. Non-toxic for the whole family!
💡In the AIRY System:Discover Golden Fruit Palm with AIRY pot →
More scientifically tested plants
Aloe Vera – The nighttime pollutant hunter
CAM plant like snake plant, produces oxygen at night instead of CO₂. Continuously filters formaldehyde and benzene. Special advantage: Shows pollutant load through brown spots on the leaves – a natural air quality indicator. Very easy to care for, needs bright light and water only every 2-3 weeks. Care tips: Well-draining soil, tolerates direct sun, cool temperatures no problem. ⚠️ Poisonous to pets.
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) – The air humidity champion
NASA top plant, filters the most pollutants of all houseplants: formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, ammonia. Raises air humidity by 5% – perfect for dry heated air. Also tolerates very shady spots, ideal for dark bedrooms. Clearly shows water needs by drooping leaves. Elegant white flowers as a bonus. Care tips: Partial to full shade, keep evenly moist, fertilize every 2 weeks. ⚠️ Poisonous to pets.
Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum) – The formaldehyde specialist
Especially effective against formaldehyde from new furniture, carpets, or freshly renovated walls. Grows fast, extremely adaptable, thrives even in low light. Can be grown hanging or climbing – perfect for shelves or cupboards. Continuously raises air humidity. Care tips: Partial shade, keep soil slightly moist, fertilize every 2-3 weeks, pinch regularly for bushy growth. ⚠️ Poisonous to pets.
Lavender (Lavandula) – The scent sleep aid
The only plant with scientifically proven calming scent effect. Studies show: lavender scent reduces stress, slows heartbeat, measurably improves sleep quality. Natural aromatherapy. Important: Needs very much light (south-facing window ideal) – only suitable for bright bedrooms. Alternative: dried lavender in a sachet under the pillow. Care tips: Full sun, water sparingly, well-draining soil, prune regularly.
4. Plants for special situations
Cool bedrooms (16-18°C)
Many people sleep better at cooler temperatures. These plants also tolerate 16-18°C or below:
✅ Available in the AIRY system:
- Snake plant: Up to 10°C – extremely cold-hardy
- Spider plant: Up to 12°C – no problems in the cool bedroom
Other cold-tolerant plants:
- Aloe vera, pothos, peace lily
To avoid: tropical plants like flamingo flower or orchid, which need warmth.
Bedroom with little light
North side, small windows, dark corners? These plants also thrive with 2-3 hours of daylight:
✅ Available in the AIRY system:
- Snake plant: Extreme shade tolerance
- Spider plant: Grows well in partial shade
Other shade-tolerant plants:
- Peace lily (thrives even in very dark corners)
- Devil's ivy, Zanzibar gem
How many plants per bedroom?
| Room size | Recommendation | Example combination |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 12 m² | 2-3 plants | 1 Bow snake plant + 1 Golden fruit palm |
| 12-20 m² | 3-5 plants | 2 bow snake plants + 1 spider plant + 1 peace lily |
| Over 20 m² | 5-7 plants | 2 Bow Sansevieria + 2 Spider Plants + 1 Areca Palm |
💡 Placement for maximum effect:•
Large plants in corners (snake plant, golden cane palm in the AIRY system)
• Hanging plants on cupboards (spider plant, devil's ivy)
• Small plants on bedside tables (aloe vera)
• Spread throughout the room for even air purification
5. Increase humidity in the bedroom
✅ Available in the AIRY System:
- Gold fruit palm: Highest humidifying performance (up to 2L water/day) – top choice for dry rooms
- Spider plant: 200-300ml/day evaporation – very effective with moderate space needs
- Snake plant: Moderate humidifying + nighttime oxygen production – ideal combination
Other air-humidifying plants:
- Peace lily (+5% air moisture)
- Devil’s ivy (continuous moisture release)
- Dry air irritates the airways
💡 Optimal combination for a 15m² bedroom:
1 golden fruit palm + 2 spider plants = 40-60% air moisture Or:
2-3 spider plants + 1-2 bow snake plants for a more compact solution
Tip: Combine several plants for the best effect. The more plants, the stronger the moistening – naturally without electricity costs or technical devices.
6. AIRY system for optimal air purification
While plants in regular pots already exert their effect, the AIRY system enhances air purification through active root ventilation. The NASA Clean Air Study found that 90% of the air cleaning takes place in the root zone – exactly where the AIRY system works.
The NASA finding:
90% of pollutant filtering is done by microorganisms in the root zone, not by the leaves. The AIRY system activates precisely this area through continuous air circulation.
Standard pot: Root zone largely enclosed
AIRY system: Active air guidance through the entire root zone
Benefits in the bedroom:
- Maximum air purification through optimized root ventilation
- Significantly more effective than standard pots
- Even water supply (water tank for 1-3 weeks)
- No waterlogging due to optimal ventilation
- Silent – no disturbing humming like with air purifiers
- No electricity use, no upkeep
- Natural solution instead of technical devices
NASA-funded: Especially snake plant, peace lily, and spider plant use their full air-purifying potential in the AIRY system and ensure measurably better air quality during sleep.
7. Practical Tips for Plants in the Bedroom
Placement & Location
- Not directly next to the pillow (distance of 50-100 cm ideal)
- Elevated position prevents accidental knocking over at night
- No plants on shaky bedside tables
- Distribute plants around the room for even air cleansing
Care routine
- Water in the morning, not in the evening (prevents too much moisture at night)
- Wipe leaves monthly (better air cleansing)
- Check regularly for pests
- Fertilize only during the growing season (March-September)
Cleanliness
- Check the soil for mold (occurs with overwatering)
- Use high-quality growing medium
- Ensure good drainage
- Air out the bedroom in the morning
8. Common Questions About Plants in the Bedroom
Are plants in the bedroom dangerous at night?
No, that is a myth. The amount of CO₂ that plants produce at night is negligible compared to the CO₂ exhaled by a sleeping person. The positive effects (air purification, increased air moisture, psychological impact) far outweigh it.
Which plants produce oxygen at night?
Only CAM plants produce oxygen at night instead of CO₂:
•Snake Plant (Sansevieria) – absolute top choice for the bedroom, available in the AIRY system
• Aloe Vera – also a CAM plant, but requires more light
All other plants (Spider Plant, Peace Lily, Devil’s Ivy) release CO₂ at night – in harmlessly small amounts.
Which plants are best for the bedroom?
The best combination for most bedrooms: Snake Plant (produces oxygen at night, NASA top plant), Spider Plant (NASA top 3 air purifier, very easy to care for), and Areca Palm (highest air humidification, non-toxic for children & pets). All three are available in the AIRY system for maximum air purification.
Other recommended plants: Peace Lily (highest filtering power + humidity), Aloe Vera (CAM plant), Devil’s Ivy (formaldehyde specialist).
How many plants do I need for better sleep?
For a bedroom of 12-15m², 2-3 medium-sized plants are sufficient. Recommendation: 1-2 snake plants + 1 spider plant as a base. For larger rooms (over 20m²), 5-7 plants are optimal. More important than the number is the choice of the right types – snake plants and spider plants are scientifically the best tested.
Which plants are poisonous to pets?
Non-toxic (safe with pets):Gold fruit palm – completely non-toxic for cats, dogs, and children
Only slightly toxic (mostly harmless):Snake plant, spider plant
Toxic (keep out of reach):Peace lily, devil’s ivy, aloe vera
Tip for households with pets:Gold fruit palm is the best choice – non-toxic, NASA-tested, highest air humidification. Available in the AIRY system.
Where is the best place to put plants in the bedroom?
Ideally, a distance of 50-100 cm from the pillow. Recommended placement: Large plants (snake plant, golden cane palm in the AIRY system) in corners, hanging plants (spider plant, pothos) on cabinets or shelves, small plants (aloe vera) on bedside tables. Distribute several plants throughout the room for even air purification – do not concentrate them all in one place.