Houseplants can do more than just bring a splash of green indoors. Recent research says plants may make you feel less stressed, which is always welcome when it's time to catch some Z's.
So, consider making your sleeping chambers a bit dreamier with the best plants for the bedroom.
What to Consider When Choosing Bedroom Plants
Deciding what are the best bedroom plants for you comes down to your space and the plant's needs.
Most houseplants need at least some sunlight, though some need direct light and others tolerate indirect light better. "Light is probably the most important thing for people to consider when selecting a plant for their bedroom (or any space) because it’s the primary driver for plant growth," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist for Costa Farms. "Light provides plants the energy to grow—so a plant in a spot with insufficient light will slowly waste away."
Many plants do best if they receive a minimum of six hours a day.
South and east-facing windows receive the most light, so figure out your windows' orientation. Consider if you have space to place them next to the window or on a nearby shelf or desk that gets ample light. If not consider supplementing with a grow light. (Here are a few we recommend.)
What’s the Biggest Mistake New Plant Parents Make?
Many new plant parents are eager to tend to their houseplants. One of the biggest mistakes they often make is providing more water for their indoor plants than it needs.
A houseplant that receives too much water often leads to soggy or saturated soil, making it difficult for the water to drain away. When soil remains too wet for too long, this can lead to root rot. Before giving your indoor plants another drink of water, check the soil.
You also want to consider that the more light your plant receives, the amount of water it needs will increase. "The more light a plant gets, the more energy it has to grow," says Hancock. "The more it grows, the more water it drinks so you may find the same plant is less thirsty in a low-light spot than a high-light spot."
Another newbie trip-up? Letting your trailing plants run wild. It's important to keep your trailing plants trimmed "so they don’t get too long," says Hancock. "You don’t want to accidentally pull or break them if they trail too far down."
Should I Sleep with Plants In My Bedroom?
The simple answer is yes. Sleeping with plants in your bedroom is a great idea!
Houseplants can provide a sense of calm, as well as a connection to nature which is relaxing—just what you want when you're ready to wind down. So we highly recommend decorating your cozy space with all greenery you want.
What Plants Shouldn't Be in a Bedroom?
Most house plants fit in a bedroom setting as long as there is adequate lighting. That said, you want to think about personal safety, especially being in a dark room.
"Personally, I wouldn’t put anything sharp or spiny in a bedroom," says Hancock. He also doesn't recommend Aloe Vera plants for the bedroom because not only do they need a lot of sunlight, they are prickly. "The leaves have sharp little serrations at the edges, so it’s not a plant you want to accidentally brush up against in the dark."
Looking to put plants elsewhere in your house? Some ideas:
If you want bright, pretty flowers in your bedroom, grow African violets. When these plants are happy, they can bloom all year.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: African violets need bright and indirect sunlight to grow. If leaves become light green, it's a sign they're receiving too much light.
Pet safe? Yes, African violets are safe for dogs, cats and horses, per the ASPCA.
Phalaenopsis Orchid or Moth Orchid offers beautiful flowers that will brighten any bedroom. These beauties can bloom twice a year when grown indoors.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Grow Moth orchids near a window that receives bright, indirect light for at least six hours per day. Typically, you'll need to water once a week. If exposed roots turn white, that's an indicator that it needs more water.
Pet safe? Yes, orchids are not toxic to dogs, cats or horses, per the ASPCA.
Anthurium, also known as Flamingo Flower, produces big waxy heart-shaped spathes, which look like leaves with yellow or white spikes. These plants will add plenty of color to your bedroom for it's bright-hued green leaves and blooms for two to three months.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Place it in an area that receives bright, indirect sunlight for at least six hours per day.
Pet safe? No, Toxic to cats, dogs and horses, per the ASPCA.
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Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)
Kseniâ Solov'eva / EyeEm
Monsteras, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, can grow tall if they have the space. If you have a big bedroom, Hancock says this old-school variety has fantastic texture and is "a bold, eye-catching option that looks great."
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Place in an area that receives bright, indirect light. Let the soil dry out a bit before you water them again.
Though it’s not typically thought of as a houseplant, lavender can do well indoors under the right conditions. Hancock says lavender needs a lot of sunlight and typically doesn't fare well indoors. If you do want it in your bedroom, he considers lavender a short-term houseplant instead of having it in your bedroom or indoors long term.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Give lavender bright, direct light for several every day, preferably in a south-facing window, and water lightly when the soil is slightly dry. Don’t overwater.
With large shiny leaves and a fun, beefy shape, this plant adds strong vertical interest to any room.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: This plant likes moderate to bright light and light, constant moisture. If you feel the need to prune it, just be sure to wear gardening gloves to keep its sticky sap off your fingers.
Multiple fronds in an elegant fan pattern make this a beautiful plant, no matter your personal decor style. It’s a fairly easy one to grow, too, compared to many other palms.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Lady palms prefer bright indirect light and require water only when the top inch of soil is dry.
This hardy ivy thrives in pots, hanging baskets, or mixed with other taller houseplants in a shared pot.
Be aware: While it can be pretty indoors, it's not good to plant outside, as it is an invasive species in much of the U.S.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: English ivy needs moderate light in spring and summer, and it requires bright light (or additional fluorescent light) in fall and winter. Let the soil surface dry a tad between waterings, but don’t let the plant totally dry out.
The plumes of this gorgeous palm can reach 6 to 7 feet tall, so be sure to give it plenty of space.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Give your areca palm bright, indoor light. During spring and summer, it will need constant light moisture. (But don’t let it get soggy!)
These lush ferns are an inexpensive, classic houseplant, and their arching, bright green fronds always look lovely. But be warned: They can be a bit of a diva indoors, needing a lot of care.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Boston ferns prefer lots of light, and they'll need to be misted every day. Alternatively, you can try putting them on a tray of pebbles filled with water. What's more, they also tend to shed regularly… so, like a parent, you should be prepared to pick up after them!
This easy-to-grow plant has glossy, pale green leaves accented with white markings.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Chinese evergreen tolerates low indoor light, and prefers its soil to be lightly moist at all times, but despises cold air. Be sure to keep it away from drafts!
Dracaena are easy-to-grow plants with long, strappy leaves, some of which have beautiful red markings. Not sure which variety to try? Look for dragon tree, especially ‘Tricolor’ for interesting foliage, ‘Janet Craig’, or ‘Masangeana’ (sometimes called "corn plant"), or Lucky Bamboo.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Whichever one you go with, know that all Dracaena species prefer similar conditions: moderate to bright indirect light, and soil that’s kept lightly moist.
This spectacular but easy-to-manage plant has huge leaves with delicate, lacelike edges. Make room for this one—it can grow 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Give your plant moderate light, and water it when top soil becomes dry.
Dieffenbachia is a fast-growing plant with big, showy leaves. If you're looking for a statement piece to decorate your bedroom, these plants are a great choice. Place it in an area that receives bright and indirect light throughout the day.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Dieffenbachia only needs moderate amounts of filtered light. Keep the soil lightly moist, but never soggy.
This culinary herb has a pleasant, piney scent, particularly after you brush your fingertips against it—which we suggest doing in the morning when you get out of bed: Research shows that simply smelling this therapeutic herb can clear the mind and elevate your mood.
How about that? A bedroom plant that gives you an instant dose of Monday motivation!
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Indoors, rosemary needs strong light, so keep it by a bright window (preferably a south-facing one). Allow the soil to dry within an inch of the surface between waterings, and turn the pot every week so the plant grows more evenly.
Your mom or grandma may have grown this classic houseplant in the '70s, but it’s still worthy of a place in your home today.
The striped leaves arch from the center, and eventually, the plant produces oodles of baby Spider Plants. And how cute is this? They’re called “plantlets!”
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: This plant prefers medium to bright light and steady moisture.
These luxurious-looking plants are surprisingly fuss-free.
Bedroom Plant Care Tips: Peace lilies tolerate low to moderate light, though they bloom best in brighter light. We suggest allowing the soil to become nearly dry before watering and dividing every five years or so to create new baby plants.
Justin Hancock is a horticulturist at Costa Farms, where he helps home gardeners across the country to successfully grow and care for a wide variety of plants.
Expert consulted: Justin HancockHorticulturist at Costa Farms
