Plants for Every Room: The Bedroom

Ah, the bedroom – your peaceful sanctuary away from everything else in the world. What better place to fill with plants! But which ones? We see this question a lot in the HPH group, so if you’re one of the many hobbyists looking for the perfect plants for your bedroom, read on! We’re going to look at some of the most important aspects of choosing a plant for your bedroom, and a few plants that are generally good bets for a bedroom.

First, assess the lighting situation in your bedroom. What are your windows like? Are they large, small, covered with blinds or curtains most of the day? Which direction do they face? All of these factors will influence what types of plants will do well in your room.

Next, let’s take a look at temperature. If you’re anything like me, you like to have it a little chilly when you’re going to sleep. If your room stays a stable temperature, it will be easier to keep plants in there. If not – say, if you like to crack a window before bed for some air flow – you’ll be a little more limited.

Humidity is a big factor for tropical plants, so if you find yourself with very dry air for part of the year you may need to consider investing in a humidifier to keep your plants happy. The nice thing is that extra boost of humidity is often good for people during those dry winter months, too!

If you’re not sure about the conditions in your bedroom but really, really want some green in there, you can often get away with investing in some easy care plants that tolerate funky conditions and swap them between the bedroom and another spot in your home that is better for plants. Two weeks in, two weeks out tends to work for resilient plants.

Now let’s take a look at some popular plants that tend to be easy-going, even in rooms where the conditions may not be ideal. Our go-to plants are those that tend to be very hardy and can tolerate some lower light, in case you like to keep your curtains closed.

Pothos

Epipremnum aureum is a forgiving plant that can trail or be trained to grow up a moss pole or totem depending on the look you want. Darker and non-variegated varieties will thrive more in lower light conditions than their heavily variegated counterparts, so if your bedroom is low light consider a Jade pothos or similar rather than a Marble Queen.

Snake Plants

Sansevieria are considered some of the least fussy plants around, stoically surviving in all kinds of conditions – just as long as you don’t over-water them. Once again, if low light is your issue, invest in a darker plant rather than, say, a Moonshine sans. These striking plants can handle lower humidity, making them a good choice for a dry room.

Cast Iron Plant

Aspidistra earned their nickname - Cast Iron - from the Victorians, and they are classics that are tolerant of all kinds of shenanigans from droughts to drafts. While the ones pictured here are outside, these tough plants are happy to be potted and live inside. They are much more cold tolerant than many other tropical plants, making them a good choice for a chillier bedroom.

Heart Leaf Philodendron

Philodendron hederaceum is another easy-going trailing option that will tolerate a variety of conditions. While they enjoy bright indirect light, they will also grow in medium to lower light situations. Just like the Epipremnum aureum, these plants can be left trailing or trained to grow up if you prefer. Training them around door frames is a fun way to create a whimsical planty vibe in your bedroom - just be careful because you may find them attaching to the paint and causing you headaches down the line.

Spider Plant

Chlorophytum comosum are laid-back classics that won’t cause too much trouble. They prefer brighter light conditions but will also grow in medium to lower light situations. A bonus for cat owners is the fact that these plants are kitty safe — although you might find your cat developing an obsession with nibbling them! Chlorophytum comosum is a mild hallucinogenic for kitties.

Looking for more great bedroom plant suggestions or tips on keeping your bedroom plants happy? Check out HPH on Facebook to chat with our global community of plant lovers!