Maybe you didn’t sleep last night? You ‘re asking “Is there a cure for insomnia?” Can houseplants help you sleep better?
I’m going to say it. If you’re not getting enough sleep, putting plants in your bedroom might be the answer!
What, you say? Plants can’t be the answer! No way!
You spend the time tossing and turning all night. You’re tired during the day. You just want more sleep!
“What can I do?
I’m looking for a magic pill and all you want to talk about is Plants?!?”
Yes, Plants!
Maybe …
… you never thought about plants in the bedroom.
… you don’t like plants.
… you think you don’t have a green thumb.
… you just forget about them.
… you killed the last three you brought home due to lack of attention and are afraid.
What if I could show you a few houseplants that can help you sleep and feel better? Maybe even cure insomnia!
Would you be interested now?
Here’s The Science
First, let’s look at the studies.
The U.S. EPA found that the air inside buildings contains pollutants and toxins that are off-gassed from products like building materials, cleaning chemicals, dust and dirt, carpeting, and paint. These toxins include benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and ammonia. All bad for humans!
In 1980, NASA conducted a Clean Air Study that proved houseplants can remove formaldehyde from the enclosed atmosphere inside a spacecraft.
A few years later, a study with NASA showed that 12 common houseplants could remove toxins like benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air.
Another study by Dr. B.C. Wolverton focused on houseplants. He found that many plants are good at removing toxic chemicals and giving off oxygen. The chemicals removed from the air include benzene, ammonia, and formaldehyde. Nasty stuff indeed!
Wolverton’s book How to Grow Fresh Air is an excellent resource and lists several of the best plants to have inside for purer air.
You can see that air quality inside your home is an important topic. And plants are proven to help rid the air of pollutants and toxins.
Plants can naturally absorb carbon dioxide and other harmful compounds from the air, acting as living air purifiers, absorbing chemical pollutants.
And not only do they look good, but plants also produce oxygen and naturally add humidity to the air.
Maybe they ARE the cure for insomnia!?!
The Right Houseplants Can Help You Sleep Better
Now, about that magic pill …
The right houseplants can do all of this for you:
- Purify the air inside buildings (homes, offices, etc.).
- Filter out toxins and pollutants from the air.
- Increase oxygen in the air.
- Add humidity to the air inside.
- Reduce your stress levels.
- Bring better moods to you.
- Provide a connection to nature.
All of these benefits can help make you healthier, happier, and less stressed.
All this, plus plants aid sleep.
Besides, a plant will keep you company and give you something to talk to! Maybe it will even answer back.
What Houseplants Can Help You Sleep Better?
All this talk about indoor air quality is exhausting!
Let’s talk about plants that can help you get pure air and a better night’s sleep. Win win.
Some plants remove toxins and give off more oxygen than others. And some plants even give off oxygen during the night. These are the ones you want to put in your bedroom to help you sleep better. You might cure your insomnia and sleep. like a baby night after night.
The plants I have listed today include the snake plant, spider plants, English ivy, golden pothos, rubber plants, and ZZ plants. They are all beautiful and easy to care for. They are known to be houseplants that will aid sleep.
Snake Plant (Mother-In-Law’s Tongue)
The Snake Plant (Sansaveria trifasciate) is a succulent that can easily be grown by even the brownest thumbs.
It is a really cool architectural plant with upright leaves that are used for interior design.
They are also one of the very best houseplants for purifying the air. They remove pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from the air.
Most plants give off oxygen during the day. Snake plants do too, but also convert carbon dioxide into oxygen during the night. This is definitely one plant you want to put in your bedroom for better sleep!
There are around 70 different species of Snake Plant, though Mother-in-law’s Tongue is one of the more interesting to look at, with a yellow border on the leaves.
The snake plant is one of the easiest plants to care for. I have a couple different varieties that are beautiful in my room. I just propagated two babies. I’ll keep you posted about any successes growing them.
How to care for your snake plant:
- Light: The snake plant needs bright, indirect light.
- Water: Since it has succulent leaves, the snake plant has mild watering needs. Keep its soil slightly moist and do not overwater.
- Soil: A standard potting mix with good drainage is good enough.
- Dust the leaves every now and then.
Spider Plant
Chlorophytum comosum or Spider Plants are very adaptable and very prolific. They are also one of the best houseplants to help you sleep, so you might want to include this old-fashioned green in your bedroom.
The plants form grass-like clumps with long slender stems hanging two to three feet below the container. Spider plants are named for the baby plantlets, or spiderettes, that form on their dangling stems.
You can display them in either hanging pots or trailing along your surfaces. I have mine draped over a bookcase.
Spider plants are good air filters, removing benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and xylene from the air.
The leaves trap and remove particulates such as dust, mold, and smoke. No toxins, or dust and mold in the house if you have spider plants!
How to care for your spider plant:
- Light: Bright, indirect light. They will scorch in direct sunlight!
- Water: Water liberally in the summer, allow to dry out between watering. Do not let the soil become too soggy.
- Mist if needed.
- Soil: They prefer fast-draining, well-aerated potting mix.
Lavender
Everyone’s favorite natural potpourri, Lavender is also one of the good indoor plants that purify the air.
The French variety is the easiest to grow indoors (you’ll see the leaves are serrated).
It is a great addition to any room, as it provides beautiful purple blooms and a relaxing smell. Literally, lavender has been proven to help calm people and provide relaxation!
This would be a beautiful and healthy plant addition to your bedroom and will help you get more sleep.
- Light: Provide lots of natural sunlight with fresh air daily.
- Water: When the soil is dry to the touch.
Soil: Use a sandy, alkaline, well-draining potting mix with slow-release fertilizer pellets.
English Ivy
English Ivy (Hedera helix) is an evergreen climbing vine.
It looks nice as a trailing plant, but can also be displayed in hangers from the ceiling. I’ve had my English ivy plant for a few years, and it’s still going strong.
This plant will improve your air quality and aid sleep. It removes benzene, formaldehyde, and even fecal particles!
You can sleep better knowing that about the fecal particles…
How to care for your English ivy:
- Light: Bright, indirect light conditions.
- Water: Keep the soil evenly moist, not dry.
- Soil: Use a well-drained potting mix.
Golden Pothos
Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum), another name for Golden Pothos, is a trailing vine with pointed leaves that are shaped like hearts. It is one of my favorite houseplants that help you sleep better.
There are several varieties of pothos with different colors of leaf variegation. I love this plant and have several of them around my house. They are very easy to care for.
Golden Pothos is often mistaken for Philodendron, but the Golden Pothos has larger waxy leaves.
This plant gives off oxygen during the day. It filters out formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and toluene from the air.
How to care for your golden pothos:
- Light: Bright, indirect light but can thrive with dark or artificial lighting.
- Water: Let the soil dry out completely between watering. It will tell you when to water.
- Soil: Use well-drained potting soil.
Rubber Plant
One of the dramatic plants that can aid sleep is the rubber plant. The Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) has shiny, leather-like leaves that grow to a foot long.
You have a choice of leaf color.
- The F. Elastica decora has plain green leaves.
- The F. Elastica black prince or burgundy has leaves that are reddish-black in color.
- F. Elastica robusta has larger leaves than decora.
- And, there are several variegated types available.
This plant is good at removing formaldehyde. It releases oxygen during the day.
How to care for your rubber plant:
- Light: Bright indirect light that isn’t too hot.
- Water: Keep moist during the growing season. Water once per month during dormancy. Wipe the leaves with a wet cloth.
- Soil: Use a well-draining and well-aerated potting soil.
Peace Lily
Native to tropical rainforests of America, Peace Lilies (Spathiphyllum) are not true lilies (lilium spp.) but they are a member of the same family (Aracheae) as Calla Lilies.
The white flower features a hood-like sheath which resembles a white flag of surrender. Hence, the “Peace” name.
The Peace Lily is in the NASA Top 10 Household Air Cleaning Plants. It is very resilient, so if you forget to water it, it will spring back quickly once you remember!
NASA’s superstar Peace Lilies will filter out benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, acetone, and xylene. They will also increase moisture in the air by 5%!
This will help your slumber and maybe even cure your insomnia. The peace lily might even be the magic pill… er, plant, we’ve been looking for to aid sleep.
How to care for your peace lily:
- Light: Low, medium, or bright spot with no drafts
- Water: Water to keep the potting soil moist. Don’t let it sit in water.
- Soil: Use well-draining potting soil.
*Where Can You Get These Plants? *
All of the indoor houseplants that can help you sleep listed are available at Amazon.com.
I have added the links for your convenience in the plant’s description.
So, you ask “Are Houseplants The Cure For Insomnia?”
They Might Not Be The Cure, But They Can Help You Sleep!
Houseplants can help you sleep better. I hope you are able to incorporate some of these plant recommendations into your inside spaces and see for yourself.
They are beautiful, easy to care for, and will add a healthy touch to your lives! You’ll sleep better once you begin using some indoor plants for cleaner air!
You can easily bring plants into your home.
Think about having them in various pots on the floor or surfaces, hanging from the ceiling, as part of a living wall, or even in terrariums. Plants are a wonderful addition to your décor too.
You can get houseplants pretty much anywhere. Your grocery store, local nursery, and home improvement center all have houseplants available.
Even Amazon will deliver them to your house! I’ve included links to Amazon so you can go shopping.
If you want to learn about other houseplants that can purify the indoor air, here’s a link to my other post.