Can a plant in your bedroom really help you sleep better? Or, on the contrary, does it “take away” your oxygen, as the old advice claimed? The truth is much more interesting.
Plants that only breathe at night
Some plants operate according to a different biological regime than most of the greenery around us. He is called CAM metabolism and thanks to it, it also fits the bed.
Most plants work similarly. They have open stomata in the leaves during the day. They take in carbon dioxide and produce energy and oxygen with the help of light. At night, they close their vents and only breathe slowly.
For a group of plants from hot and dry regions, however, nature chose a different strategy. This mechanism is called Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM).
The principle is simple:
- at night the plant opens its stomata and absorbs carbon dioxide,
- CO₂ you stored in the cells in the form of acids,
- during the daywhen the sun shines, the vents remain closed,
- the stored CO₂ is used for photosynthesis and oxygen is produced.
This strategy protects the plant from water loss. During the day, they don’t have to have their vents open in the heat and dryness.
This has one practical consequence for humans. Plant at night actively receives carbon dioxide from the roomwhich we exhale while sleeping.
Did your maids survive the winter? This is just a less common problem.
Why these plants are suitable for the bedroom
The reason is not that they produce oxygen at night. This is a widespread internet myth. Oxygen is produced during photosynthesis mainly during the day.
The advantage of CAM plants lies elsewhere:
- They take in CO₂ at night
At a time when carbon dioxide from sleeping people increases in the room. - They have very slow night breathing
They do not use as much oxygen as some other plants. - They tolerate dry air and little care
Which is a typical bedroom environment.
Don’t expect one plant to dramatically clean the air. But two or three can be a pleasant and functional addition to the space.
The most famous CAM plants
These species have a CAM metabolism and at the same time belong to .
- Sansevieria or mother-in-law’s tongue
Also known as It has strong vertical leaves and will take almost anything. It is one of the most common plants recommended for bedrooms. - Aloe vera, real aloe
they store water in the leaves. They are undemanding and in addition provide a gel used for minor burns. - Crassula ovata, i.e. ovoid fat plant
resembles a small tree. It grows slowly but lasts for years. - Schlumbergera aka Christmas cactus
surprisingly, it also has CAM metabolism, even though it comes from tropical forests.
The bedroom is not a winter garden. They work much better two or three strong plants than ten weak ones.
CAM succulents meet all these conditions. All you need is light during the day and water approximately once every two weeks. On the other hand, the influence of CAM plants is very small, although better than others.
