Plants produce and release oxygen during the daytime through the photosynthesis process in the presence of natural light. When nighttime comes, the plants release carbon dioxide and absorb oxygen, a process known as respiration.
But certain plants can also absorb carbon dioxide at night due to their ability to perform a specific type of photosynthesis called CAM or Crassulacean Acid Metabolism. This is why having these plants in your house can help improve air quality during the day and help people enjoy better quality sleep at night.
How about snake plants, though? Do snake plants produce oxygen at night?
Yes, snake plants are some of the popular indoor plants known to emit or produce oxygen at night. This can help eliminate the formaldehyde present in the air. Having a snake plant at home gives people a chance to breathe in a healthy and clean environment even as they sleep at night.
Snake plants are easy to grow and care for in areas with indirect light. These plants don’t need regular watering because they can grow and thrive just fine even in dry soil.
Do Snake Plants Emit Oxygen at Night?
Many plants release carbon dioxide during the nighttime because of the lack of photosynthesis. But unlike other common plants, snake plants continue to release oxygen and soak up carbon dioxide even during the night. This makes snake plants the perfect plants for bedrooms.
But how is this possible, you ask? Technically speaking, snake plants don’t “produce” oxygen at night. Instead, they “release” oxygen. Snake plants are CAM or Crassulacean Acid Metabolism plants that evolved because of the desert’s harsh climatic conditions.
Snake plants close their stomata in the daytime to reduce evaporation and maximize the photosynthetic process. This allows the oxygen to be trapped in the plant. Once it starts to get dark, the stomata will open up and slowly start to release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.
Research even suggests that a person can easily survive inside an air-tight room with six to eight snake plants.
Do Snake Plants Clean the Air?
NASA loves snake plants for a reason. The research conducted by NASA together with the ALCA discovered that snake plants can clean the air by eliminating the VOCs or volatile organic compounds.
VOCs are emitted by the usual items you use every day including fabrics, appliances, books, personal care products, plastics, paints, and more. These toxins tend to evaporate fast at normal room temperatures, and you can even absorb these into your system.
The researchers reached the conclusion that some indoor plants don’t just absorb carbon dioxide by release oxygen as well. These plants can even help in removing some VOCs present in all households.
The leaves, stems, roots, soil, and other related plant microorganisms have a significant contribution to the elimination of indoor pollutants.
After the snake plant became one of the successful test plants of none other than NASA itself, it gained tremendous fame and admiration not just among plant lovers but even health enthusiasts.
Just so you know, VOC is the hottest buzzword in today’s back-to-nature and go-green movement. These are toxic chemical substances you can find in your surroundings in the form of ammonia, carbon monoxide, benzene, xylenes, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde.
Can Snake Plants Fight Sick Building Syndrome and Allergies?
Now more than ever, people are spending long hours indoors. As a result, indoor pollution has become 200% to 500% higher compared to outdoor pollution, with the numbers even going higher in other buildings.
SBS or Sick Building Syndrome is the term used for describing a specific type of discomfort people feel every time they spend a significant amount of time inside closed buildings or rooms.
Symptoms of SBS may include blurred vision, cough, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, itchiness, odor sensitivity, and difficulty concentrating.
VOCs are the primary culprits for SBS, a very legit health condition these days that is increasing at very alarming rates.
This is why many workplaces are starting to add indoor plants including aloe vera, palm, peace lily, and snake plants. These lush additions encourage the well-being of the employees.
Benefits of Snake Plants
Aside from providing ambiance, snake plants also offer other benefits, including the following:
- If you are living in an office room that doesn’t have natural sunlight coming from the windows, it is recommended to have snake plants around. Even with just the office light, the photosynthetic process still occurs, leading to oxygen production. Photosynthesis also happens in low-light areas or shaded areas.
- The snake plant may offer relief to people prone to allergies and their symptoms like sneezing.
- Snake plants are like air purifiers that can absorb negative energy. The southeast, south, or east are the best directions to keep your snake plants.
- The snake plant can also be an anti-pollutant as it absorbs ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene present in most households’ indoor air. These pollutants are found to be dangerous to human health.
- Snake plants can produce oxygen round the clock. To do it, the plants open their pores to allow the release of the water present in their leaves. They also release oxygen as they do so. These plants can be kept anywhere inside the house, including your bedroom for better sleep.
- Snake plants can also soothe your tired mind if you are always in front of your computer.
- The snake plant is found to be one of the best plants for people with asthma and it is recommended to keep some in their rooms.
The Bottom Line
It is no longer uncommon to see snake plants beside many workplace desks these days. Aside from the touch of life they can add to any space, these plants are also soothing to tired eyes.
Since they also release oxygen at night, snake plants are also wonderful additions to bedrooms and other parts of the house.
As you already know, more energy is equivalent to better health so getting one of these plants is a decision you can make not only for aesthetic purposes but also for your well-being.
