9 NASA-Approved Plants to Purify Your Bedroom Air — Naturally

Low-Light Plants

1. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)

This is one of the easiest houseplants to care for. It prefers a warm, humid environment, but is tolerant of less-than-ideal conditions. Cuttings readily root in water, making it simple to propagate.

2. Red-Edged Dracaena (Dracaena marginata)

The Madagascar dragon tree, as it’s sometimes referred, adds a dramatic flair to a room. The bacteria in which dracaena grows also helps remove toxic chemicals. This plant prefers temperatures of around 75 degrees and light watering a couple of times per week.

NOTE: this one is toxic to pets, so keep it from their reach.

3. Snake Plant (Dracaena/Sansevieria trifasciata)

While their appearance can be hit-or-miss with regard to personal aesthetic (2), these super-hardy plants are recommended for the bedroom because unlike most houseplants, snake plants continue to produce oxygen all night long.

This one is very drought-resistant, so it's great if you’re prone to forgetting to water the plants.

Medium-Light Plants

4. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

This attractive addition to the home can be a little trickier to care for, but the rewards are worth it. You’ll have to provide it with a large enough pot as it grows (and be prepared to divide it if it gets too big).

You’ll want to water it enough to keep the root ball moist, and if your bedroom has low humidity, you’ll need to mist the leaves a couple of times each week.

5. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

Bane of many gardeners, this otherwise-invasive plant is great for clearing mold spores from a room — research has shown that it can remove 78% of a room’s mold spores in just 12 hours, which also makes it ideal for the bathroom.

You’ll want to keep the soil evenly moist, and periodic misting will keep away the spider mites that love this plant.

6. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

This hardy plant also likes even soil moisture.  The leaves are non-toxic for toddlers and pets, so the spider plant is a safe option if you have either in your house (check this list for some other great options (3)).

An added benefit is that these plants are very prolific, and the pups are easy to snip and plant in soil for added greenery for your bedroom or to gift to friends. Be aware, though, that these plants can quickly become pot bound and need replanting.

High-Light Plants

7. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)

In addition to the cheery flowers that will brighten up your bedroom, this plant does a great job of removing toxins. Its flowers also make a great herbal tea (4)!

Mums require consistent watering, good air circulation and lightly filtering the light — a window sheer works great for this. They thrive in cooler temperatures, so if you like to keep your bedroom cold, your flowers will stay looking fresh and bright.

This is also ideal for rooms with low humidity, which keeps fungus from developing.

8. Kimberly Queen Fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)

This plant, also called the Australian sword fern, is easy to care for, but will need frequent watering and misting if kept in direct sunlight. Its fronds are non-toxic if consumed, so it’s another great pet-safe option.

9. Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

This slender, elegant tree-like houseplant loves as much sunlight as you can give it. It’s a pro at removing toxic trichloroethylene — a chemical in carpets, cleaners and furniture — from the air. This one thrives in warmer rooms with high humidity, and it requires steady amounts of water in spring through fall.