Plants in Bedroom: Dangerous?

I remember hearing that having plants in your bedroom, or at least at night, was dangerous. Why? Because plants compete for oxygen while you sleep, eventually causing you to suffocate to death. (Wow, how tragic of me, haha!)

Truth or Myth?

Myth! Plants are continuously engaging in cellular respiration, but can only photosynthesize during the day (they need light!). However, during the day, the amount of oxygen plants release as part of photosynthesis makes the amount of oxygen they consume for respiration seem so small as to be meaningless.

At night, when photosynthesis can’t happen, plants continue to consume oxygen but they don’t release any back into the room. "So plants really do compete with humans for oxygen?!"

Well, not really. The amount of oxygen the plants use at night is still minimal to even be able to take our share of available oxygen.