Is Peace Lily Good for Bedroom?

Last updated on November 27th, 2023 at 06:45 am

I used to wonder if having a peace lily in my bedroom was a good idea. After all, aren’t plants supposed to produce carbon dioxide at night? Could they make the air quality worse? Here’s what I learned after doing some digging into whether peace lilies actually belong in the bedroom.

The Short Answer

Yes! Peace lilies are an excellent choice to purify bedroom air overnight. They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen, helping you breathe more easily while you sleep.

My Journey From Skeptic to Peace Lily Bedroom Believer

I’ve always loved having fresh flowers in my home, especially in my bedroom since that’s where I spend a good third of my day! I usually keep a vase of cut lilies on my dresser for that refreshing floral scent.

But at some point, I started hearing conflicting information about whether plants truly belong in the bedroom. Aren’t they just producing carbon dioxide at night when photosynthesis stops?

So I decided to experiment – I put a potted peace lily in my bedroom and watched closely for any negative effects.

Week 1: No Problems Detected

That first week, I didn’t notice any issues from having my new plant roommate.

I made sure not to overwater the peace lily and let it get a bit dry between waterings. I’d heard that overly damp soil could promote mold and mildew growth. But the peace lily seemed perfectly happy, and my bedroom felt as fresh as ever!

I did notice that the leaves seemed to perk up more right after I watered. I figured that made sense since the plant was getting re-hydrated.

Week 2: Breathing Easier Than Ever

I started to notice that the air quality in my bedroom felt better overnight after adding the peace lily. I was waking up feeling more well-rested.

I did a little googling and learned that not only do peace lilies not release CO2 at night, but they actually take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen! This improves air quality rather than making it worse.

As an added bonus, peace lilies help filter out nasty bedroom air pollutants like acetone, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. I’m sold!

The Science Behind Peace Lily Bedroom Benefits

Peace lilies absorb CO2 and release O2 through tiny pores on their leaves called stomata. This process continues at night since peace lilies have a type of photosynthesis called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). During daylight hours, CAM plants close their stomata to prevent water loss. At night, they open their stomata to take in CO2 and store it as an acid. When the sun comes up, this stored acid is converted to sugar for growth. So peace lilies actually scrub the air of carbon dioxide all night long!

5 Reasons To Add a Peace Lily To Your Bedroom

After my successful experiment, I enthusiastically recommend keeping a peace lily in the bedroom. Here are some of the benefits I’ve enjoyed:

1. Purifies Air Overnight

Since peace lilies actively filter out CO2 at night, they work like little air purifiers while you sleep.

As someone who sometimes wakes up a bit stuffy, I’ve noticed easier breathing with my peace lily roommate tending to the air quality.

2. Low Maintenance

Peace lilies are pretty forgiving plants that can handle low light. As long as you don’t overwater them, they’re very low maintenance.

They don’t need much fertilizing or frequent repotting either. Just prune back any super tall stems or brown leaves as needed.

3. Natural Humidifier

Through their amazing plant magic called transpiration, peace lilies release water vapor into the surrounding air. This lightly boosts humidity in an all-natural way.

I love how the peace lily’s moisture balances the dryness from winter heating or summer AC. It keeps my skin from getting too parched without getting uncomfortably damp.

4. Lovely Look

With their graceful green leaves and classic white blooms, peace lilies simply look lovely in any bedroom.

I like having that little pop of living décor rather than just cut flowers. The fresh plant smell adds to the tropical oasis vibe too!

5. Toxin-Removing Warrior

In addition to filtering out CO2, NASA research shows peace lilies help remove nasty VOCs like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air.

These toxins get released from things like cleaning products, scented candles, pressed wood furniture, carpeting, and paint. So having a peace lily absorb them overnight gives me peace of mind!

My Top Peace Lily Care Tips For the Bedroom

Caring for a peace lily right in your bedroom is easy with just a few basic tips: Let soil dry out some between waterings Water with room temperature filtered water Wipe leaves with damp cloth to clean when dusty Prune back any super tall stems Avoid direct sunlight which can scorch leaves Rotate plant periodically for even growth * Repot when super rootbound into a slightly bigger pot. 

Or you can watch this short video:

Could Other Aroid Varieties Work Too?

While peace lilies are my personal favorite, I discovered that other aroids can also purify bedroom air overnight.

After all, they share a similar CAM style of photosynthesis. The key differences come down to factors like:

• Growth habit (vining vs. upright)
• Light requirements (low to bright light lovers)
• Watering needs (underwater vs. overwater)
• Leaf variation (interesting textures and patterns)

Here are some other excellent aroid varieties to consider for the bedroom:

Heartleaf Philodendron

This classic vining houseplant is another set-it-and-forget-it option perfect for beginners. Heartleaf philodendrons tolerate low light beautifully.

Their trailing stems can make for lovely bedroom greenery cascading from a hanging basket or placed on a tall plant stand.

Related article: Best Aroid Soil Mix.

Pothos Varieties

No plant roundup would be complete without mentioning the iconic pothos! From golden to neon, pothos come in a rainbow of fun leaf colors.

They also couldn’t be easier to grow. Just like heartleaf philodendrons, they handle low light with aplomb and are super forgiving if you forget to water occasionally.

Chinese Evergreen

With their showy leaves in shades of silver, green, and red, Chinese evergreens bring some nice visual interest. Their colorful foliage brightens up any neutral bedroom palette.

These plants tolerate very low light but also handle bright rooms. I suggest going for one of the smaller, non-vining varieties to keep growth contained.

Cast Iron Plant

As you may guess from the name, cast iron plants are virtually indestructible. These little tanks tolerate low light, inconsistent watering, dry air, and neglect like champs.

Their strappy green and purple leaves offer a modern, minimalist twist. I love combining a cast iron plant’s structural look with something softer like a peace lily.

Snake Plant

Like the cast iron, snake plants have rightfully earned their reputation as tough-as-nails houseplants. They need so little care that they’re perfect for bedrooms.

With over 70 varieties, you can choose upright or cascading forms with banded, straight, curly or edged green leaves. Snake plants filter air overnight but won’t grow out of control.

Plant	Light Tolerance	Watering Frequency	Growth Rate
Peace Lily	Low	Medium	Medium
Heartleaf Philodendron	Low	Medium	Fast
Pothos	Low	Medium	Fast
Chinese Evergreen	Low to Bright	Medium	Slow
Cast Iron Plant	Low	Infrequent	Slow
Snake Plant	Low	Infrequent	Slow

Ready to Add An Aroid to Your Bedroom?

I hope reading about my own peace lily journey has shown you how beneficial and easy keeping these plants in the bedroom can be.

Not only do they purify and freshen the air overnight, but they look gorgeous too with their vibrant leaves and occasional blooms.

Whether you opt for a classic peace lily, trailing pothos, or architectural snake plant, adding an aroid is an excellent way to enhance your bedroom.

Sweet dreams and happy growing up! Let me know if you have any other questions down below in the comments.