Question
QUESTION: I wish to add a houseplant to my bedroom.I hear there are plants that supply oxygen.Would you have a suggestion? I have no direct sunlight.Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Sandra,

All green plants add oxygen to the air and help remove some of the carbon dioxide that we exhale. There is no one species that is better at this than others. What matters is the health, size, and growth rate of the plant. So in selecting a plant it is most important to match the light needs of the plant with the light you have available for it. A good match in terms of light is important to the healthy growth of a plant.

Indirect sunlight covers a very wide range from very bright to below minimum for most plants. To recommend a plant for you I would need to know how far away the nearest uncovered window will be from the plant and which direction that window faces. Once I know the available light and what size plants you would like, I can the make a recommendation for you.

I have also written an article on assessing light that I will email to anyone who sends a request to my address below.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

You can E-mail me directly at: [email protected]




---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: This window is a northern exposure.The plant would be approximately 4-6 feet away.This is a cooler bedroom.Thanks

Answer
Hi Sandra,

Thanks for the follow-up information. You would need a low light plant. Some good choices are Pothos, Chinese evergreen, peace lily, corn plant, ZZ Plant, Dracaena 'Janet Craig,' and parlor palm.

There are others, but that is a pretty good selection of low light plants that are generally available and are in a variety of sizes.

If you settle on one and want care instructions, let me know.

Will Creed