When it comes to improving the quality of our sleep at night, we usually don’t consider plants as a good option. It is no news that certain houseplants can purify the air and help us breathe better.
But their air cleaning traits, combined with other relaxing properties, can actually make you feel more relaxed and help you sleep better.
There are lots of plants that can improve your sleep time, but the fun part is, each one helps in their own unique ways.
If you’re looking for the best plants to introduce into your bedroom, we’ve put together for you, five houseplants that can help you sleep better and beautify your sleeping environment.
Aloe Vera – air purifier
We’ve all heard about the countless benefits of aloe Vera, from relieving sunburn to clearing acne. But did you know that aloe Vera also helps in improving air quality?
Aloe Vera produces oxygen at night and also helps in removing toxic chemicals from the air caused by cleaning products.
This plant is regarded as a succulent as it retains moisture in its leaves and needs little watering.
Make sure you keep it close to your window or where it can receive sunlight to ensure it stays healthy.
Lavender – sleep inducer, stress reliever
Lavender is popularly known to aid relaxation and induce sleep. This plant has been proven to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and stress levels, which is why it’s perfect for your sleeping space.
One study even recorded that the presence of Lavender in bath oil reduces crying and stress in babies and helping them sleep deeper. The best part? It also reduces stress in the mother, which in my opinion, is a win-win.
Lavender loves warmth and sunlight, so it’s best you place it where it can get a lot of it, and water moderately.
Snake plant – air purifier
Also known as ‘mother inlaw’s tongue, snakes plants are a natural air purifier and can help rid your room of household toxins.
This plant is perfect for your bedroom because, unlike most plants, snake plants release oxygen at night.
It is also one of the most tolerant plants on the planet. It can go for weeks without maintenance or care and still look great. The best part, it doesn’t need direct sunlight to survive; some studies even suggest that snake plants can stay for months in complete darkness. Fascinating right.
However, you have to be careful not to overwater it as this can destroy the roots. The snake plant is also poisonous to humans and pets.
Peace Lily – increases humidity
The peace lily is another fantastic plant that helps eliminate harmful toxins from the air. It is also able to enhance room humidity by up to 5%, which is great for breathing while sleeping.
Low humidity can cause dry hair and skin, create static electricity, enables germs and viruses to form, and increases one’s chances of catching a cold or developing other respiratory illnesses.
This plant produces beautiful white flowers and doesn’t need direct sunlight or consistent watering to thrive (once a week is perfect).
Jasmine – good for relaxation
Popularly known for its sweet smell, jasmine plant have small white flowers that are very pretty.
It is often used in essential oils, perfumes, and teas, and it has also been shown to help reduce anxiety, freshen the room with its aroma, and improve sleep quality. This, in turn, boosts your mental performance during the day.
Jasmine requires regular watering and direct sunlight during the flowering period but doesn’t need much watering during non-flowering periods.
So make sure to let the soil top dry out slightly during this period to avoid overwatering.
Golden Pothos – Air purifier
The Golden pothos – also known as Devil’s Ivy – is another low-maintenance houseplant on our list, and as the snake plant, it is also great at purifying the air of harmful toxins.
This plant can survive in low light areas and only needs water when the soil is dry to avoid root rot. Golden pothos has Beautiful marbled, heart-shaped leaves that look best when planted in a hanging basket.
This is also recommended if you have children or pets around as the Golden pothos is poisonous.
Tips for using a houseplant in the bedroom
Keep plants close to your bed if you’re looking for the benefit of additional oxygen.
Some plants have mold in the soil, so make sure to check in with your doctor if you or your partner have allergies to mold. Mold is necessarily not a bad thing, but if you start developing a stuffy or runny nose or watery eyes, then you may be reacting to the plant.
If you have children or pets in the house, do not keep toxic plants in the house. If you must, make sure to place them on a shelf, a hanging basket, or your windowsill, but it should be high enough so they can’t get to it.
Pay attention to what conditions your plants need to survive. For instance, if you don’t get enough sunlight in your room, then you shouldn’t go for plants that need direct sunlight.
Conclusion
One of the best ways to relax your nerves, reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, and boost the quality of sleep is by introducing certain houseplants in your bedroom.
If you’re not much of a plant lover, then you can experiment with aromatherapy, which is a more straightforward option.
You can purchase a high-quality essential oil and rub it on your temples or neck before you sleep. You can also mix the oil with water or either alcohol or witch hazel and spray your linens and pillows.
Or you can just opt for the old Victorian style and place some dried inside your pillow or into a small sachet that you put inside your pillowcase.
Using houseplants to help you sleep better can actually work for you. But if you experience difficulties in falling asleep, staying asleep, or going back to sleep once you’re up, then it’s best to speak with your doctor or a sleep specialist.
