Six Christmas Houseplants That Can Improve Sleep Quality

Whilst we all know that a plant can spruce up your space, did you know that some Christmas houseplants can help you sleep better, too?

Scientists from Beihang University in Beijing found that having a few houseplants in your home can reduce cortisol levels (which is your stress home), the time it takes to fall asleep as well as the number of times you come out of deep sleep.

So as we edge closer to Christmas, we’ve uncovered six festive blooms that can help you fall asleep faster - before sharing our top tips for getting the most out of your plants

1. Poinsettias

With its blooming and bold red petals, it's easy to see why this is many people’s favourite festive plant. However, it’s not just pretty but practical too as research shows that it’s one of the best festive plants for cleaning and purifying the air. This is due to it removing formaldehyde from the air which can occur from insulation, paint, grocery bags, and more.

Whilst it’s unlikely that we’d have high levels of formaldehyde in our homes, however at low levels, it can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation - which is why the poinsettia still makes for a popular choice.

2. Christmas cactus

Yes, you heard right, there’s a houseplant called the Christmas cactus (also known as schlumbergera). While these stunning pink blooms have little resemblance to a desert cactus, they bloom fully in December. Unlike most plants, they remove carbon dioxide and release oxygen at night which contribute to our quality of sleep.

While carbon dioxide is essential for us to breathe, we need higher levels of oxygen which encourages us to sleep better and results in us waking up feeling regenerated.

3. Boat orchids

The Christmas-flowering orchid variety Cymbidium won't only provide you with some festive cheer on cold snowy days. Since orchids are particularly adept at removing xylene from the air, they would also make the perfect gift for someone who has recently painted or renovated a room. Plus, what makes this plant even more of a perfect gift is that they tend to be low maintenance to look after.

4. Anthurium

This all-year plant is one of the longest-lasting plants with dazzling red petals. While there may be fewer blooms in the winter, with additional care you can keep yours carrying on into the colder months. The anthurium is effective at removing formaldehyde and ammonia from your house. Ammonia is commonly found in household cleaners and can result in difficulty falling asleep when it builds up.

5. Cyclamen

An attractive alternative to the poinsettia, this easy to care for houseplant displays their gorgeous flowers throughout the winter months in white, red, or pink blooms. Keep cyclamen in your house to absorb sulfur dioxide, which can arise from tobacco smoke, poorly vented gas appliances, and chimneys. This pollutant can interfere with your sleep quality so having it removed by a plant is an effective way for cleaner air for deeper sleep.

6. Begonias

Begonias blossom in a variety of showy colours in winter, however, their leaves are equally as stunning. These flowers enhance your air quality and remove benzene from your indoor atmosphere, which comes from household items such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.

Three tips for making the most of your Christmas houseplants

Naturally, homing your houseplant in your bedroom will help you reap the most benefits. However, there are a couple of other ways you can boost the plant's sleep-improving qualities.

1.Interact with your plants before bed-time. The Beihang University research revealed that interacting with your plants for just 15 minutes can improve your sleep quality. You can do this by watering them, touching them or even smelling them - all of which will help you feel less stressed.

2. Use your plants as a meditation prop. Whilst many studies have shown that meditating before bed can improve your sleep quality, why not improve your practice by involving your plants? It could be a simple interaction such as brushing your hand against them as you meditate, or sitting with your eyes closed and thinking about the plants.

3. Talk to your plants to help them grow faster. Research from the Royal Horticulture Society found that the vibrations that are given off from talking to plants can help them bloom more quickly. They also found that plants grow faster to the sound of a female voice than the sound of a male one. So much so that the women participants' plants grew an extra inch over the period of the month-long study.

For more info on how to improve your sleep - not just with Christmas houseplants - check out our Advice Centre or huge range of mattresses.