For a long time, enthusiastic plant lovers did without indoor plants in the most private room of the house. It was said that plants had no place in the bedroom because they use up the oxygen at night. Fortunately, this theory has proved untenable. Houseplants’ need for oxygen is so minimal that you can safely transform your personal retreat into a green refuge. Of course, responsible hobby gardeners take the care requirements of their plants into account, because by no means every plant feels comfortable in a cool, bright bedroom. The following tips for the right houseplants show you how to prove you have a good hand when making your selection.
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undemanding plants
Since the bedroom in most apartments is a little off the beaten track and is often not entered all day, undemanding plants are primarily suitable for such a location. The following specimens do not take it amiss if they are forgotten:
Bow hemp (Sansevieria)
The classic indoor plant with a retro look from the 1960s adapts to almost all lighting conditions. As long as the temperature does not drop below 12 degrees Celsius and there is at least a little watering every now and then, the ‘mother-in-law’ tongue thrives in the bedroom.
Ivy (Hedera helix)
Climbing ivy can be used to create pretty, evergreen decorations in the bedroom. The plant feels particularly comfortable in rooms with a little morning or evening sun. At the same time, it copes well with the cooler temperatures.
Elephant’s foot – bottle tree (Beaucarnea)
With its bizarre habit, the elephant’s foot brings a touch of extravagance into the bedroom. Since the succulent is watered in reserve because it stores the water, it takes little attention. Since its minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius, it is the ideal candidate for the bedroom.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
With a profusely growing spider plant on the roof, even the dullest closet can be transformed into an eye-catcher. The undemanding plant requires little water and also thrives in the shade in all directions. The lush green lily also makes a beautiful picture in the hanging basket.
Rubber tree (Ficus elastica)
A classic for the bedroom is the rubber tree. The undemanding plant adapts flexibly to the light conditions without asking for a lot of water. In a bright, warm place it shows rapid growth, while in shady, cooler locations the glossy, deep green leaves thrive a little more slowly.
Magnificent palm trees as a solitaire in the bedroom
Palm trees convey a Mediterranean ambience combined with a relaxing holiday feeling. It may seem surprising at first, but the following specimens do a great job of adapting to the cooler conditions of a bedroom.
Date palm (Phoenix)
Probably the most popular palm tree, there is nothing wrong with placing it in the bedroom. Here she spreads her feathered fronds just as willingly as in all other rooms of the house. Thanks to its undemanding nature, many beginners decide to cultivate a date palm, because it is almost impossible to go wrong here.
Golden leaf palm (Chrysalidocarpus)
It is well on the way to becoming the new star among indoor palms. Their numerous, tubular stems branch profusely and carry ornamental stems with golden-yellow fronds. The golden leaf palm is ideally suited as a plant for the light-flooded bedroom. The lower the temperatures here, the less it demands water.
Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)
With its elegant, overhanging pinnate leaves, the Kentia palm is a real feast for the eyes. Looking at the magnificent palm tree first thing in the morning revitalizes your spirits right away. In addition, she requires little care and forgives the one or other omission good-naturedly. It’s good to know that she even settles a shady corner in the bedroom with her mighty habit.
Butcher’s palm – cobbler’s palm (Aspidistra elatior)
It is one of the easiest houseplants to care for. Dry room air does not bother her, nor does temperature fluctuations or changing lighting conditions. With a growth height of 50 cm to 70 cm, the multi-leaved palm fulfills many decorative wishes.
Dwarf palm (Chamaerops)
It is the only type of palm originally native to European regions. With a growth height of 1 to 2 meters and huge fronds, it ensures lively abundance in the room for many years. The small cultivated form Chamaerops humilis var. arborescens with a growth height of 15 cm is particularly suitable for a room with little space.
Green air fresheners in the bedroom
Careful scientific studies have thoroughly dispelled the prejudice that plants are unsuitable for bedrooms. Rather, they act as a natural air conditioner, filtering the air we breathe and regulating humidity. The following plants have particularly excelled in this regard:
Aloe (Aloe vera) Aloe absorbs harmful formaldehyde from the air
like hardly any other plant . The exotic desert dweller, known as the ‘lily of the desert’, can do without irrigation for a long time. Thanks to its succulent nature, it stores water for up to 4 weeks.
Dragon tree (Dracaena)
Set up in the shady corner of the room, the dragon tree not only thrives tirelessly; it absorbs pollutants such as benzene or formaldehyde. Its dark green leaves are presented in a wide variety of patterns and thus bring color to the appearance. The plant adjusts flexibly to temperatures in the bedroom of 15 degrees to 30 degrees Celsius without requiring any complex care.
Einblatt (Spathiphyllum)
The unpampered houseplant not only diligently filters pollutants from the air. At the same time, it is living proof that you don’t have to do without a pretty flower in the bedroom. From March to September, the white flowers appear again and again with the cream-colored or green spadix. Whether sunny, semi-shady or shady; the single sheet copes very well with all lighting conditions.
Philodendron (Philodendrons)
Thanks to its diverse variety of varieties, the genus of philodendrons offers both climbing and upright indoor plants. As a distinctive leaf ornamental plant, it is one of the classics among indoor plants. Her special talent lies in the fact that she understands how to clean the air, absorb pollutants and release them again as oxygen.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Would you like a fresh scent in the bedroom? With a lemon balm you get an invigorating and yet unobtrusive aroma in the relaxation room. The Ohio State University even found that lemon balm has a beneficial effect on the production of a pain-relieving hormone and thus promotes physical well-being even during sleep.
Ferns for the poorly lit bedroom
They are considered the incarnation of green opulence. Ferns not only enhance shady locations in the garden, but have made a name for themselves as lush, long-lived houseplants. Since the living rooms take up the south side in many houses, the bedrooms have to move to the less sun-drenched sides. The following ferns are primarily at your side if you want to decorate a dark bedroom with lively green.
Maidenhair fern (Adiantum)
The slender, graceful fern with a growth height of 50 cm comes into its own in smaller rooms. Cultivated in a pot or in a hanging basket, the plant only requires sufficient humidity. Since the air in most bedrooms is usually too dry anyway, you automatically improve your own well-being if you care for the maidenhair fern in a species-appropriate manner.
Hare’s Foot Fern (Davallia)
This type of fern has proven to be extremely robust. Not only its shapely leaves catch the eye, but also the silvery, hairy, reddish-brown rhizomes. Because harefoot fern tolerates lower humidity with ease, it is high on the list of suitable ferns for bedrooms.
Stag’s Tongue Fern (Phyllitis)
The ideal fern for beginners among hobby gardeners. Its leathery, elongated leaves indicate at first glance that the care requirements here are limited. The fronds first point towards the sky, only to assume a curved shape with increasing length. Especially in hydroponics, stag’s tongue fern thrives perennially and branches incessantly.
Pellefarn (Pellaea)
Two completely divergent species determine the richly occupied fern genus. While Pellaea rotundifolia corresponds to the classic growth form of a fern with long, narrow, drooping fronds, Pellaea viridis thrives upright and bushy with strong leaves. They are all frugal and do not require utopian high humidity. Spraying it with a little rainwater every now and then will keep Pellefarn happy and promote a compact, dense habit.
Spleen fern (Asplenium)
There are more than 750 species of ferns in this genus, so there should be something for every hobby gardener. What they all have in common is the modest demands on care combined with a high tolerance for shady locations. In particular, the species with rather fleshy decorative leaves have no objection to a place in the comparatively dry climate of the rest room.
Plants with a positive effect on the psyche
It is not new that plants are said to have beneficial effects on the psyche. Just dealing with the plants in the garden increases physical well-being. The following plants for the bedroom should also make a contribution to promoting life energy.
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) The birch fig adorns
a large bedroom with its numerous, rod-like branches, densely covered with pretty leaves. With a growth height of up to 2 meters, it easily reaches the ceiling. So much vitality undoubtedly also has an activating effect on the viewer. Since the water requirement of a birch fig is manageable, there is nothing to be said against cultivating it in a secluded bedroom.
Flaming Katie (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana)
If you find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, place a Flaming Katie on the window sill in the bedroom. The colorful winter bloomer is said to immediately drive away bad moods and awaken spirits. Successful cultivation also requires little gardening experience.
Velvet Plant (Gynura)
Delicately hairy leaves that shimmer like velvet characterize the enchanting Gynura. The decorative leaf plant grows up to 25 cm in height and is therefore suitable for any room size. As a houseplant, it is recommended for all people who want to stimulate their creativity. In order to develop its attributes, it needs a semi-shady location and should be watered from below if possible.
African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)
Since not everyone prefers a cool bedroom, the African violet should be mentioned at this point . It thrives tirelessly at temperatures between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. Its positive effects on the human psyche lie in the harmonizing and at the same time invigorating effect. In the vicinity of an African violet, a cheerful and relaxed mood almost inevitably spreads.
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
Does the gloomy nature of winter weigh on your morning mood? Then place a poinsettia in the bedroom. The care requires a little gardening practice. The magnificently flowering houseplant effortlessly makes up for the effort with an activating effect that lifts your spirits as soon as you wake up. Is that why his botanical first name is reminiscent of euphoria?
Conclusion
Nobody needs to refrain from cultivating shapely plants in the bedroom. Recognized scientists have consistently proven that plants in quiet rooms have a very positive effect on human health. Since experience has shown that the temperatures tend to be cool in bedrooms, not all types of plants are suitable. The selection is still comprehensive enough for hobby gardeners to discover their individual favourites. There are special air fresheners, magnificent ferns, followed by explicitly frugal candidates or Mediterranean palms. If you like, you can try out houseplants, which even promote life energy during sleep.
