Money Plant in Bedroom: Is It Good or Bad for You?

The Short Answer: Money Plant in the Bedroom Is Safe and Beneficial

Let us start with the conclusion before diving into the details. Keeping a money plant in your bedroom is safe, scientifically benign, and comes with modest but real benefits. The most common concern — that plants consume too much oxygen and release dangerous CO2 at night — is a persistent myth that is not supported by plant physiology. We will address this in detail below.

Money plant (pothos) is actually among the better plant choices for a bedroom because of its low light tolerance, low maintenance requirements, and air-purifying properties documented in various NASA and academic studies. Vastu Shastra generally supports bedroom money plant placement with directional guidance, and feng shui also considers pothos an auspicious plant for indoor spaces including bedrooms.

The Oxygen Concern: Myth vs. Reality

The most common reason people are warned against keeping any plant in the bedroom — not just money plant — is the claim that plants "steal oxygen" at night and make the air harmful to breathe while sleeping. This idea is based on a partial misunderstanding of plant biology that has been repeated so often it has taken on the weight of fact.

Here is what actually happens: During the day, plants photosynthesize — they absorb CO2 and release O2. At night, when there is no light, photosynthesis stops but cellular respiration continues, meaning the plant does consume some oxygen and release some CO2. This part is true. However, what is left out of the popular warning is the magnitude of the effect.

A single money plant in an average-sized bedroom produces roughly 5 to 10 ml of CO2 per hour during nighttime respiration. A sleeping human produces approximately 200 ml of CO2 per minute — that is 12,000 ml per hour. The plant's CO2 contribution is less than 0.1 percent of what your own breathing produces. In a standard bedroom with any ventilation, this level of CO2 variation is completely imperceptible and physiologically meaningless.

Plant physiologists and air quality researchers are universally consistent on this point: the quantity of CO2 produced by houseplants at night is of no respiratory concern to humans. You would need hundreds of large plants in a sealed, completely unventilated room to approach any meaningful CO2 elevation — a scenario that does not apply to a money plant on a bedroom shelf.

Real Benefits of Money Plant in the Bedroom

While the oxygen concern is a myth, there are genuine, evidence-supported benefits to having money plant in your bedroom:

Air quality improvement

The NASA Clean Air Study (1989) and subsequent research have identified pothos (Epipremnum aureum — the most common money plant) as one of the most effective houseplants for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from indoor air. VOCs like benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene are released by furniture, carpets, synthetic fabrics, and paint — all common in modern bedrooms. Pothos removes these compounds through leaf stomata absorption and through root-zone microbial activity in the soil.

It is important to have realistic expectations: a single plant in a bedroom will make a modest, not dramatic, difference to air quality. You would need many plants to significantly change measurable VOC levels in a real indoor space. However, even modest improvement adds up over the hours you spend sleeping, and any reduction in VOC exposure in the environment where you spend 7 to 8 hours daily is meaningful.

Humidity increase

Plants release water vapour through their leaves in a process called transpiration. A money plant with several large leaves adds modest humidity to the air around it. In bedrooms that are dry due to air conditioning or heating, this additional humidity can reduce dry throat, nasal dryness, and respiratory discomfort that affect sleep quality — particularly during winter and peak air-conditioning months.

Psychological and sleep benefits

Multiple studies on the psychological effects of indoor plants have found that their presence reduces perceived stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, improves mood, and increases feelings of calm and wellbeing. Bedrooms are particularly appropriate for this effect — the calm, natural aesthetic of a healthy money plant with its trailing green vines creates a more restful visual environment that can contribute to better sleep onset and overall sleep quality.

A 2015 study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that interaction with indoor plants suppressed autonomic nervous system activity and created measurable reductions in stress responses. While this study was not conducted specifically in bedrooms, the principle applies: a plant-filled bedroom creates a more relaxing environment than a plant-free one.

Biophilic design benefits

Biophilic design — the practice of incorporating natural elements into living spaces — is increasingly recognised in architecture and interior design for its profound effects on human wellbeing. Bedrooms with natural elements (wood, plants, natural light, water features) consistently score higher on measures of restfulness and emotional restoration. Money plant is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to introduce a biophilic element into a bedroom.

Vastu Guidance for Money Plant in the Bedroom

Vastu Shastra's position on money plant in the bedroom is generally positive with directional conditions. Most Vastu practitioners agree on the following:

• South-east corner of the bedroom is the recommended placement. This is the Venus-associated zone that Vastu considers most compatible with money plant's energy.
• North-east corner must be avoided. The north-east of the bedroom is the most sacred and spiritually active zone — Vastu considers money plant there to disrupt sleep and bring financial difficulties.
• Vine should grow upward — train it up a support rather than letting it trail across the floor or bedside table.
• Keep it healthy — a struggling or dying plant is considered more inauspicious than no plant at all in Vastu philosophy.

Some older or stricter Vastu traditions recommend keeping money plant only in the living room rather than the bedroom, arguing that the plant's "growth energy" can be overstimulating for a rest space. This view is in the minority — the majority of modern Vastu interpretations have no issue with money plant in the bedroom provided placement is in the correct direction.

When Money Plant in the Bedroom Is NOT Ideal

While money plant in the bedroom is generally safe and beneficial, there are some situations where it may not be the best choice:

If you have plant allergies

Money plant (pothos) contains calcium oxalate crystals in its sap and leaves. While these are primarily a concern if the plant is eaten (causing oral burning and irritation), some individuals with plant sensitivities may experience mild skin irritation after handling the plant, or respiratory sensitivity to the mould that can develop in overwatered soil. If you notice any allergic symptoms (runny nose, itchy eyes) that correlate with having the plant in your bedroom, move it to another room.

If you have pets that access the bedroom

Money plant is toxic to cats and dogs — it causes oral irritation, excessive drooling, and vomiting if eaten. A money plant in a bedroom accessible to pets must be placed out of reach. High shelves or hanging planters work well. If your pet sleeps in the bedroom and is an enthusiastic plant chewer, consider keeping the money plant in a room the pet does not access. See our full article on money plant toxicity for pets.

If the bedroom has very poor light

A bedroom with no windows, north-facing with very little natural light, or with heavy curtains kept permanently closed may not provide enough light for even the light-tolerant money plant to maintain its health. The plant will survive for a period but will become leggy, pale, and increasingly unhealthy over time. An unhealthy plant provides none of the benefits listed above and, from a Vastu perspective, is inauspicious. If your bedroom genuinely lacks light, supplement with a grow light placed on a 12-hour timer, or consider a different placement for the plant.

If you are a very light sleeper sensitive to sounds

This is uncommon, but some very light sleepers find the subtle sounds of water evaporating or soil settling from plant pots mildly disruptive. This is not a genuine concern for most people, but it is worth mentioning as an individual sensitivity some people have reported.

Best Position Within the Bedroom

Given the dual requirements of good plant care and Vastu alignment, here are the specific positions that work best:

On a shelf or stand in the south-east corner: This is the ideal position — satisfies Vastu completely and usually provides reasonable light access from nearby windows.

On the windowsill (if south or east facing): South and east-facing windowsills receive bright indirect light that money plant loves. If the windowsill is in the south-east area of the room, this is perfect. A west-facing window provides adequate afternoon light as well.

On a bedside table (not north-east side): A money plant on the bedside table on the south or south-east side of the bed works well aesthetically and practically. Avoid placing it on the north-east side of the bed.

Hanging from the ceiling in the south-east area: A hanging money plant positioned to trail downward in the south-east corner of the bedroom is both aesthetically beautiful and practically convenient — it is out of the way, gets light from nearby windows, and is inaccessible to pets and children.

Care Tips Specific to Bedroom Money Plants

Bedroom environments differ from living rooms in a few ways that affect money plant care:

Watering: Bedrooms often have lower light levels than living rooms, meaning the soil dries more slowly. Check soil moisture carefully before watering and allow the top 3 to 5 cm to dry before watering again. Bedroom money plants typically need 20 to 30 percent less frequent watering than plants in brighter rooms.

Dust: Bedrooms accumulate dust quickly (from fabric, bedding, and clothing). Dusty leaves reduce photosynthesis and make the plant more vulnerable to pests. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth monthly — this also contributes to air quality improvement by keeping leaf surfaces clear.

Air conditioning: Cold air from an air conditioning vent blowing directly on money plant causes cold stress and leaf damage. Position the plant away from direct AC airflow. AC also significantly dries the air — the humidity-adding benefit of the plant is especially valuable in AC bedrooms.

Night temperatures: Money plant prefers temperatures above 15°C. In bedrooms where temperatures drop significantly at night in winter, ensure the plant is not near cold glass windowpanes on freezing nights.