Oxygen Producing Plants for Bedrooms

English Ivy

• English ivy produces trailing vines, making it suitable as a hanging plant in a bedroom window. This plant blends well with any color of decor and adds a touch of romance with its soft, green leaves edged in white. Water English ivy when the soil dries 1 inch below the surface and apply water-soluble fertilizer once a month from March until September or October.

Spider Plant

• Spider plants produce grass-like foliage that cascades gracefully over the sides of hanging baskets. Available in either solid green or variegated green with white or yellow stripes, these plants are uplifting and create the feel of airy, open spaces. When in bloom, tiny white flowers line a cascading stem, which later develops clusters of baby spider plants. Spider plants prefer bright indirect light and do well in eastern or northern windows. They can be grown in southern and western windows as long as they are sheltered from direct afternoon sun. Allow spider plants to dry slightly before watering.

Golden Pothos

• Golden pothos produces waxy, heart-shaped foliage in shades of green and white. Trailing vines may reach 10 feet or more, but pinching the plant back or pruning it lightly keeps pothos in shape and produces dense foliage. When placed in bright-indirect light, the foliage develops attractive variegation that appear as splotches and swirls of white or yellow. When grown in less light, the variegation fades, but the plant still thrives. Plant pothos in hanging baskets or grow it on top of dressers or nightstands and allow the vines to trail over the sides. Water the plant when the soil feels dry to the touch.

Peace Lily

• Peace lilies thrive in low light, making this plant a welcome addition to corners or nooks where light is limited. Large oval leaves taper to a point as they rise directly from the soil in a mass of foliage. Blooms appear periodically and resemble the bloom of a calla lily. These plants can also be grown in water and are often grown in a large vase filled with water. The peace lily sits atop the vase in a protective collar while the bottom is filled with decorative rocks and sometimes colorful fish.

Philodendron

• Often confused with pothos, the philodendron has thin leaves that may be heart-shaped or lacy -- depending on the cultivar -- and the vines are ridged. The philodendron is known for its ability to grow in low light, making it ideal to tuck into that unused corner of the bedroom. When grown in hanging baskets, philodendrons fill the area with rich green foliage trailing over the edge. When grown in pots and trained to climb a wooden support, these plants reach heights of 10 feet or more, filling a dark nook with vigorous green foliage.