Flower & Plant Shop Corner Archives

Can You Bring Outdoor Plants Inside to Survive the Winter?

Old Man Winter may soon show his icy face, but that doesn’t mean you have to put your green thumb to rest for several months. While not all outdoor plants will survive being transplanted and cared for indoors, many will!

bringing plants inside for winter with holly plant

While certain plants require more specialized instructions, this general guide will teach you how to move plants inside for the winter.

3 things to do before moving plants indoors

Unfortunately, moving plants indoors is not as simple as just picking them up and bringing them indoors. Moving plants indoors to a drastically different environment than they’re used to can result in them going into shock. That’s why it’s important to take certain precautions to protect both your beloved plants and home.

1. Get rid of any bugs

It’s important to clear any bugs off your plants’ leaves, especially if they’ve been sitting outside all summer. Aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites are some of the most common kinds of bugs that attach themselves to plants, so keep an eye out for those in particular. You should also check the soil, as there can be bugs hiding there as well.

2. Prune it

Pruning certain plants not only keeps them from dropping leaves on your floor but keeps your plant healthy — which it needs to be to survive a sudden change to its environment.

3. Repot it

When bringing a plant indoors, repot it in a container that’s roughly 2 inches larger than the one it was in previously. You should also make sure to repot it several weeks before you’re going to bring your plant in. This will ease its transition.

6 things to do while your plants are inside

If you’ve made it to this stage, congrats! The hardest part is over. Now all you have to do is keep your plants thriving. Here are six ways to help you do that.

1. Place them where they’ll thrive

While your rose plant may look beautiful catty cornered in your living room, that may not be the best place for it health-wise. Just like when you planted them outside, it’s important to think about your plant’s sun, shade, and water needs.

2. Gradually adjust the temperature

Most houseplants (and humans, for that matter) don’t like to live in temperatures lower than 45 degrees. That said, they also don’t like sweltering hot conditions. If you keep your house on the warmer side, lower the temperature when you first bring plants in and gradually raise the temperature by a couple of degrees every few days. Plants that are in full sun should be slowly moved to a more shady area so they get used to the eventual change indoors.

3. Move them inside at night

You can also acclimate plants to your home by bringing them inside at night. This will help them gradually get used to the changes in air quality, temperature, and humidity levels.

4. Water them less often

Because these plants won’t be sitting in the hot sun, they won’t need to be watered as often. A good rule of thumb is to water houseplants only when their soil is dry to the touch. You should also have a saucer under them to protect your floor and let you know once a plant has been adequately watered.

5. Give them indirect sunlight

We all know plants love light, but too much of a good thing can be harmful. Impurities in glass magnify the sun’s rays and can burn a plant’s leaves. For that reason, never leave a plant near a window.

6. Accept what can’t be moved

Some have to go dormant for the winter in order to maintain their health and, thus, cannot be brought inside. Rose bushes, hydrangeas, and lilies are just a few plants that should be left out in the elements.

Indoor Plant Care Tips by Miracle-Gro®

Indoor plants are easy to maintain when you give them the proper care. No matter how bad your green thumb is, these plant care products from Miracle-Gro® are sure to keep your plants, happy, vibrant, and growing! Better yet- our plant sale is currently going on so you can buy plants for your home or office at discounted prices! We consider this a win-win.

Cactus Dishgarden1828 web to update 157144s

Plant Type: Cactus Dish Garden

Product Recommendation: Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food

About the Cactus Dish Garden: Cacti and succulents are trendy plants that are easy to grow. Your Cactus Dish Garden will love a sunny spot near a west or south-facing window. Cacti and succulents don’t take kindly to being overwatered, so wait until the top 2-3 inches of soil feels dry before watering. Feed your dish garden regularly from spring-fall when they are actively growing with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food which specially formulated to feed all succulents including cacti.

Plant Type: Juniper Bonsai

Product Recommendation: Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food

About Junipers: Junipers are among the most popular bonsai plants. Inside your house, Juniper bonsai plants need a bright spot with lots of sunlight. (They will also be very happy outdoors.) They do not like “wet feet” so take care not to overwater them (the soil should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge). Junipers like lots of humidity, so frequent misting is beneficial. Feed weekly with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food weekly during the growing season to keep your juniper bonsai growing strong. Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food can be applied directly to the soil making feeding your Juniper bonsai easy.

Plant Type: Money Tree

Product Recommendation: Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food

About the Money Tree: Money trees bring good luck and financial success, and they’re easy to grow. Place your money tree in a spot that receives bright, indirect sunlight (direct sun can scorch leaves), but they will also grow quite well in low light. This plant would be very happy in a bright, steamy bathroom since it likes high-humidity. They don’t like to be kept too wet, so let the top 2-3 inches of soil dry before watering. Keep your money tree growing strong by feeding it regularly with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food.

Plant Type: Succulent Centerpiece

Product Recommendation: Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food

About Succulents: Succulents are not only on-trend, they’re also easy to grow. Keep your succulent centerpiece in a bright, sunny location, like near a west or south-facing window. Succulents don’t take kindly to being overwatered, so wait to water them until the top 2-3 inches of soil feels dry. To keep your succulent centerpiece thriving, feed it regularly from spring through fall with Miracle-Gro® Succulent Plant Food.

Plant Type: Happy Daisy

Product Recommendation: Miracle-Gro® Blooming Houseplant Food

About Daisies: The Happy Daisy adds a hint of cheerfulness to the indoors. To keep it growing at its best, place it in a spot that receives bright light during the day. Keep the soil consistently moist by watering when the top 1 inch of soil is dry. To encourage bright blooms on your daisy plant, feed regularly with Miracle-Gro® Blooming Houseplant Food. As your daisy blooms start to fade, snip them off to keep your plant looking neat and clean.

Plant Type: Bi-Color Rose Garden

Product Recommendation: Miracle-Gro® Blooming Houseplant Food

About Rose Plants: The Bi-Color Rose Garden provides the beauty of cut roses but in miniature. To keep your miniature rose thriving, place it in a spot that receives plenty of bright, direct sunlight, like a south or west-facing window. They do not tolerate drought or being too wet, so keep the soil consistently moist (like a wrung-out sponge) by watering whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. To promote bright, colorful rose blooms all season long, feed your plant weekly with Miracle-Gro® Blooming Houseplant Food.

Plant Type: Gardenia

Product Recommendation: Miracle-Gro® Blooming Houseplant Food

About Gardenias: Gardenias have sweet smelling, pure white blooms beautifully offset by their dark green foliage. They grow best in a warm, bright, sunny spot with good air circulation (but away from any hot or cold drafts). Gardenias don’t like to be overwatered, but the soil should be kept consistently moist. Water thoroughly when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. To encourage blooms throughout the growing season, feed regularly with Miracle-Gro® Blooming Houseplant Food. To help promote new blossoms, snip off old blooms as they fade.

Your Guide To Poisonous Plants

Many plants may seem harmless in their natural state, but when you really get to know them, there are some species that just aren’t safe and can cause extreme illness or even death in humans. And since we’re surrounded by plants each and every day (just step outside and you’ll see!), we want you to know which kinds to stay away from; take a look at the guide we’ve put together on some of the top poisonous plants below.

Hemlock

Where they grow: Poison hemlock plants are often found in areas where forest land has been cleared.
What’s poisonous: All parts of hemlock plants are poisonous.
Symptoms: When eaten, hemlock poisoning may cause abdominal cramps, nausea, convulsions and potentially death. Those who are poisoned but survive may experience tremors or amnesia. Additionally, those with sensitive skin may experience skin inflammation as a result of touching a hemlock plant.

Nightshade

Where they grow: Nightshade plants are native to central and southern Eurasia, and are found in fields.
What’s poisonous: All parts of nightshade plants are poisonous, with the unripened berry being especially dangerous.
Symptoms: If eaten, deadly nightshade plants can cause digestive problems and may be fatal. Furthermore, touching a deadly nightshade plant can result in symptoms such as rashes if the skin has exposed cuts.

Moonseed

Where they grow: Moonseed plants are most commonly found in wooded areas.
What’s poisonous: The berries of moonseed plants are toxic – they may resemble wild grapes, so don’t be fooled!
Symptoms: If eaten, moonseed plants have the potential to be fatal.

Oleander

Where they grow: Oleander plants are often found in southern and coastal states, and commonly grow in schoolyards.
What’s poisonous: All parts of oleander plants are toxic, with an emphasis on the leaves and branches.
Symptoms: Poisoning as a result of eating an oleander plant can cause severe digestive problems, seizures, comas and even death. Additionally, those that touch the leaves on an oleander plant may experience skin irritation.

Poison Ivy

Where they grow: In the United States, poison ivy plants can be found everywhere except for California, Hawaii and Alaska.
What’s poisonous: When bruised, burned or damaged, the leaves of poison ivy plants release an oil that is responsible for causing a reaction.
Symptoms: Touching poison ivy may cause a rash, bumps, blisters, swelling and itching within a few days. Although it is not contagious between humans and will not spread by scratching, if the oil sticks to clothes, pets or other nearby items, you may experience symptoms if you touch those items too.

Wisteria

Where they grow: Native to Asia and North America, wisteria plants are most commonly found in southern and southwestern regions.
What’s poisonous: Although the entire plant is technically toxic, some believe that the flowers the plant produces are not. Most importantly, stay away from the seeds and pods.
Symptoms: After eating all or part of a wisteria plant, you may experience cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

How To Protect Yourself From Poisonous Plants

Since unfortunately, there are a collection of plants that can be poisonous to humans, it’s important to know how to protect yourself from being harmed. Especially if you’ll be out camping or somewhere where a ton of plant species may be present, something simple you can do is keep yourself covered at all times – that means, pack long sleeves and pants!

Additionally, if you come across a plant that looks consumable but isn’t identified, don’t eat it! Even if it looks safe, unless you are 110% sure, your best bet is to avoid consuming it at all costs.

9 Flowers and Plants that Have Gone Extinct

Earth has existed for more than 4.5 billion years, and it has undergone some major changes during that time. One of those is in the types of greenery it is home to.

Here is a list of flowers and plants that have gone extinct either recently or billions of years ago, whether due to climate change, geological shifts, or human or animal interference.

1. Silphium

If you somehow stumble upon this flower, you might mistake it for a daisy. With its many small, long, yellow petals, the silphium looks like the cousin of yellow daisies. However, the flower has not been seen by humans since it went extinct in the first century BC.

extinct flowers with silphium flower close-up

2. Cooksonia

Believed to be one of the first plants on the planet, cooksonia lived more than 425 million years ago. (To put that in perspective, dinosaurs lived around 66 million years ago.) These water-loving plants could be found along coastlines all over the world. More interestingly, scientists believe these were the first plants to have a stem.

3. Saint Helena mountain bush

Found exclusively on the island of Saint Helena, the appropriately named Saint Helena mountain bush disappeared from the island after population size more than doubled in just a few years.

4. Franklin tree

Once found only along the Altamaha River in Georgia, the Franklin tree was discovered in the mid-1700s and named after Benjamin Franklin. However, roughly 50 years after being discovered, the plant went extinct. Though the exact reason why remains a mystery, scientists believe it was because chemicals from nearby cotton plantations leaked into the river and destroyed the local soil.

5. Valerianella affinis

This dry-weather-loving annual grew exclusively on the hill slopes of Yemen in the 19th century. The reason for the plant’s sudden disappearance remains a mystery to this day.

6. Toromiro tree

Unlike others on this list, this tree is what’s known as “extinct in the wild.” Originally found on the remote Easter Island, the Toromiro tree could no longer be found in its native habitat by the 1800s because of deforestation. However, a few seeds were recovered before the tree went extinct and were planted in greenhouses and controlled gardens in Europe. So, while the Toromiro tree still exists, it’s believed it will never grow in a natural environment again.

7. Cry violet

Tears were surely shed for this beautiful plant once it could no longer be found in the wild by the mid-1930s and went completely extinct by the 1950s. The cry violet, which was found exclusively in France, was driven to extinction after it was picked faster than it could be planted.

8. Hawaii chaff flower

If you ever visited the beaches of Hawaii in the 1950s or ’60s, odds are you saw the beautiful Hawaii chaff flower. Unfortunately, after Hawaii became a popular travel destination and the number of people living there increased dramatically, this shrub-like bush lost much of its land to houses, hotels, and condos, causing it, and its pretty purple flowers, to go extinct within a matter of years.

9. Kalimantan mango

Native to Indonesia, the Kalimantan mango (also known as Mangifera casturi) was a tropical fruit tree that grew more than 30 feet tall. Though extinct in the wild due to illegal logging practices, botanists worked hard to cultivate the tree in controlled environments because of its delicious fruit.

Hopefully, we’ll never have to live in a world in which roses, daisies, and tulips don’t exist!

Christmas Cactus Care and Facts

When you think of Christmas flowers, you probably think of poinsettias. And while we love a good poinsettia here at 1-800-Flowers.com, there’s another popular plant during the holiday season called the Christmas cactus.

When you see how unique and festive these flowers are, you’ll be crossing your fingers that Santa leaves one under your tree. And if he does, it’s important that you know how to care for your Christmas cactus.

Christmas cactus fast facts

The Christmas cactus goes by many names. While its scientific name is Schlumbergera bridgesii (try saying that five times fast!), it’s also known as a Thanksgiving cactus, Easter cactus, and orchid cactus.
Christmas cacti can bloom flowers in a wide variety of colors, including red, purple, orange, pink, and cream.
The word “cactus” probably has you picturing a desert and the blazing sun, but Christmas cacti actually thrive in cooler temperatures.
Though Christmas cacti are now sold all over the world, they were once only found in the rainforests of Brazil.
Good news for all you pet owners out there: Christmas cacti are nontoxic to dogs. So while you should never feed your pet their leaves or the stem, little Fido won’t experience any vomiting or diarrhea if he nibbles on them.

5 Christmas cactus care tips

Despite what its name may lead you to believe, Christmas cacti can live long past December. In fact, they can live for up to 20 years with a little TLC and some advice from us.

1. Christmas cacti need cooler temperatures

Christmas cacti will bloom larger and sooner when left in a room that ranges from 60 to 70 degrees. In the winter, in particular, it’s important to keep them away from radiators and fireplaces, and warm windowsills.

2. They need sunlight, but not the direct variety

This is where it gets a little tricky. A Christmas cactus can’t be left in direct sunlight because the sun will dry it out, but it also needs plenty of sunlight. So what’s a cactus enthusiast supposed to do? Your best bet is to leave it in a partially shaded area of your house (or outside, once summer hits) and rotate it every once in awhile.

3. Christmas cacti need their rest

If your cactus’ buds haven’t set yet, the plant needs between 12 and 15 hours of complete darkness a day. Only once its buds have set do cacti thrive on lots of light.

4. Mist your cactus every day

Overwatering will kill your cactus, but that’s not to say it doesn’t get thirsty. Instead of watering it like you would a traditional plant, you should mist your cactus every day. A few squirts from a spray bottle is all you need to keep your cactus happy. The only time you should be watering the base of the plant is when its soil is completely dry to the touch.

5. Christmas cacti need nutrient-rich soil

Christmas cacti are hardy plants and can survive in tougher soils, but the best option for them is well-drained soil that’s made up of partially organic matter. While you can always buy organic soil, you can also treat your cacti like a mini compost and toss in organic matter that you would otherwise throw out.

Christmas cactus gift ideas

christmas cactus care christmas cactus red white — Christmas Cactus

christmas cactus care candy cane christmas cactus — Candy Cane Christmas Cactus

christmas cactus care inch Christmas Cactus — 8″ Christmas Cactus

Low Maintenance Plants for Your Dorm Room

Small, cramped, poorly lit, and drab — all words that have become synonymous with a college dorm room. While you may not be able to do anything about the size of your room, there’s plenty you can do to add a personal touch and a pop of color. Yes, we’re talking about incorporating plants and flowers into your dorm room! But not all plants have what it takes to make it through the year (or four). That’s why we’ve compiled a list of low-maintenance plants that will brighten any dorm.

Succulents

Succulents are a college student’s best friend. These plants may be small, but they’re extremely tough. Not only will they survive on infrequent waterings, they’ll actually thrive on them. Just be sure to leave them on your windowsill, since they do need a decent amount of sunlight.

Bamboo

Add some texture and luck to your room with a few strands of bamboo. And if you really want to minimize its maintenance, you can skip the soil completely. That’s right, bamboo can grow in just a container of water!

Jade

Jade’s quirky, spoon-shaped leaves can bring a smile to anyone’s face. Plus, their once-a-month water needs can certainly make anyone with, let’s say “less than a green thumb,” happy as well!

Aloe Vera

A sunny windowsill and occasional watering is all aloe needs to survive for years. This striking, little plant is also a natural remedy for minor cuts and burns.

Orchid

Especially if you’re heading to school up north, your room will be in desperate need of some tropical elements. Luckily, an orchid is just as beautiful as it is easy to care for. An orchid also makes the perfect flower choice for rooms without large windows, since it shouldn’t be left in direct sunlight.

Dish Garden

In the mood for a little bit of everything? Have your very own garden right beside your bed with the help of our dish gardens. From fresh cut flowers to cacti and succulents, dish gardens let you enjoy all the benefits of a flower garden, without the work!

Rose Plants

From elegant to classic containers, rose plants can make even the smallest room feel like home. Rose plants are a great option for people who enjoy gardening a bit (seeing as how they have to be watered and occasionally pruned) but don’t have the time to dedicate to an entire garden or bush.

Peace Lily

Peace lily can survive in a multitude of climates, including those that are dimly lit and have very little humidity. The best part about peace lilies is that they’ll typically tell you when you need to care for them. When you notice its leaves beginning to sag, you know it’s time for a bit of water!

Did we miss your favorite? If so, shop our entire collection of beautiful and unique plants now!

How to Incorporate Plants into Your Small Apartment

From purifying the air to making your home feel warm and inviting, there are numerous reasons why you should start incorporating greenery into your home decor. But in small apartments, plants and flowers can take up valuable counter space. That’s why we’ve got a few tips on how you can have the best of both worlds — beautiful greenery and plenty of space in your apartment.

7 Tips for Decorating with Plants

Go small and sporadic. This probably sounds like a no-brainer if you live in a small apartment, but all too often people bite off a bit more than they can chew and buy one large plant for their space. Instead, buy several smaller plants and place them throughout your apartment.
Know what you’re buying. Make sure that the plant you’re buying doesn’t start off small and adorable, then grow to nearly 10 feet wide in a matter of months.
Don’t forget about the ceiling. Where’s the first place you think to put flowers after you get them? Odds are, it’s the dinning room table. And while flowers certainly make a beautiful centerpiece, you may have to ditch the traditional flower spots in favor of more creative locations, like hanging from the ceiling.
Think outside the living room. Living rooms and kitchens are two of the most cluttered areas of any house or apartment, so plants and flowers will probably get lost among stacks of bills, and pots and pans. Instead of running to the living room with your new addition, think about moving it into the bathroom, your bedroom, or an office.
Go out on the terrace. Not all apartments have a balcony or terrace, but if yours does, take advantage of it! Just make sure to weigh down the base or move plants inside during bad weather.
Go vertical. Designing in small spaces means getting a little creative. If you want a garden or variety of flowers in your apartment, try stacking potted plants on top of one another — with each one getting smaller as you ascend. You can also add plants to your walls and appliances with our magnetic succulent trio.
Grow something that lasts all year. The last thing you want is a plant that looks beautiful one summer, then requires a ton of maintenance the next season, so choose perennial flowers instead of annual ones.

Best Plants to Have Indoors

Like we said, some plants start out small and quickly grow to alarming heights. For that reason, it’s important to know what type of plant.. what type of plant you’re buying before you move it into your apartment.

Some great indoor plants are:

Succulents: From a glass terrarium to a wall garden, succulents can thrive in almost any environment. And what they lack in size, they certainly make up for in their fun colors and geometric designs.
Bonsai: Don’t let the fact that you live in an apartment keep you from owning a tree. Yup, we said a tree! Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing ornamental, or “miniature” trees. So while these bonsai trees look and feel just like traditional trees, they’re perfectly sized to fit on your coffee table.
Rose plants: If you love getting a bouquet of roses, imagine how you’d feel about getting an entire rose garden? Our budding rose plants add charm and life to any space, without actually taking over that space.
Bamboo: From naturally standing to beautifully manipulated, heart-shaped bamboo stalks, give someone you love the gift of good luck this season with a bamboo plant!
Dish garden: Can’t decide on just one type of plant? With our dish gardens, there’s no need to! Now, you can gather your favorite succulents, flowers, and plants all in one place. And if you want your plants to be as functional as they are beautiful, check out our herb garden.
Orchids: Even if you live in the “Concrete Jungle,” you can wake up feeling like you’re on a tropical island with the help of a few colorful and elegant orchids.

Whether it’s your apartment, office, or bedroom, bring life to your small space with our one-of-a-kind plant collection.

How to Keep Flowers Alive Longer

The care and handling of fresh flowers depends on how they are to be displayed. The three most common ways to display are: simple cut flowers, cut flowers in a vase, and an arrangement of cut flowers in floral foam.

Here are tips on how to keep flowers alive longer, based on how you choose to display them.

How to care for fresh cut flowers

how to keep flowers alive with cutting flower stems

Let’s start with cut flowers just purchased. Keep them out of extreme temperatures when bringing them home. Hopefully, the flowers you bought were properly processed along the way from the farm to you. If you’re going to display your flowers in a vase, use a vase that has been cleaned with soap and water, then rinsed with bleach. Re-cut all the flowers to your preferred length, removing any foliage that would be below the water line. Cutting at an angle or under running water is a matter of preference; there’s no proof that these methods make any difference.

How to care for fresh cut flowers in a vase

how to keep flowers alive with flowers in vase against brick background

Bath temperature water works best for your vase. Warm water is lighter and easier for flowers to absorb, while cold water is slower for flowers to drink. Commercial cut floral food is best, especially when used as directed. Too little will do nothing, and too much can shorten the life of the flower. The three properties of preservatives are glucose (sugar), an anti-bacterial (bleach), and pH-lowering agent (lemon juice, lime juice, or vinegar).

This means that if you don’t have a floral-quality preservative, you can use (1) a capful of bleach, (2) lemon or lime non-diet soda, plus (3) a tablespoon of sugar. (I don’t believe aspirin or copper pennies do anything!) Keep the vase you need out of direct sun and, if possible, in a cool place.

Your cut flowers should be re-cut on their second or third day. Remove the flowers carefully so as not to change the design. A large rubber band or tie can keep them together until you re-cut the stems; remove any flowers that have passed their prime. Clean the vase and refill with warm water two-thirds full, plus more preservative. Remove the tie and replace the flowers in the vase.

How to keep flowers alive in floral foam

how to keep flowers alive with flowers in foam

A pre-designed arrangement in floral foam gives you little to do. You can’t re-cut the stems, but you must add water. It’s best to add water in the kitchen on a drain board, causing no furniture damage if it spills. If that’s not possible, add a few ice cubes to the back, directly on the foam. It’s hard to know if the foam has enough water, but you can always tip the container; if water drips out, it’s well saturated. If flowers growing in the garden are cut for in-home use, they should be cut early in the day as possible before they are stressed from the heat of the sun.

6 Plants You Need in Your Bedroom for Better Sleep

Poor sleep can be caused by many factors, including stress, too much caffeine, and even late-night cell phone usage (but let’s face it, when else are you going to catch up on your Facebook timeline?). That might be why the National Sleep Foundation found that lack of sleep affects more Americans than ever before — 130 million be exact.

But, believe it or not, some types of plants have been proven to help induce sleep. Here are the six best plants for your bedroom due to their effectiveness at making people feel drowsy.

1. Gardenia

plants good for bedroom with white gardenia flower

Simply smelling the gardenia flower can leave you feeling tired and groggy. After testing the effects of gardenia on mice, a German study found that these flowers had the same effects as valium on a neurotransmitter in the brain known as GABA. Many people in Europe have even begun supplementing their sleeping pills with gardenias.

2. Jasmine

plants good for bedroom with white jasmine flower blossoms

Odors have been found to have a powerful effect on our central nervous system. Jasmine’s aroma has been proven to reduce anxiety, helping you achieve a deeper, more restful sleep. Not to mention, its delicate pink and white flowers make it one of the best plants for your bedroom during the day.

3. Lavender

plants good for bedroom with lavender plants

Lavender’s beautiful, natural coloring isn’t the only thing that will leave you feeling calm and relaxed at night. As one of the most popular scents in hand lotions, body mists, and soaps, the smell of lavender can help reduce anxiety by slowing down your heart rate and lowering your blood pressure. Other studies have shown the plant’s scent can decrease rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep and the amount of time it takes to wake up in the morning.

4. Aloe vera

plants good for bedroom with aloe vera plant

One of the reasons people have a hard time sleeping is because their room is “stuffy” at night. That is especially common in the winter, when houses are closed up for months.

For those who don’t have a green thumb, aloe vera is one of the best plants for your bedroom. This low-maintenance plant emits large amounts of oxygen at night, which can help combat insomnia. It also requires a minimal amount of water and overall care.

5. Peace lily

plants good for bedroom with white peace lily flower close up

Not only is the peace lily a beautiful addition to any room, but it can help filter out harmful chemicals that are found in common household cleaning products, such as benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde. This plant is especially useful in the winter, when a home’s humidity can be at a low point. The moisture the leaves of a peace lily give off can improve a room’s humidity levels by as much as 5%, which can reduce the odds of waking up congested, with a sore throat, or suffering from allergies.

6. Snake plant

plants good for bedroom with indoor snake plant

Another plant that is easy to care for and has great health benefits is the snake plant. This plant needs to be watered only twice a week, and also requires very little sunlight, making it perfect for small apartments and alcoves. Best of all, snake plants help rid the air of toxins like formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene.