In daylight, plants take water, sunlight, and CO2 from its atmosphere and generate oxygen in return. Sunlight is an essential element for photosynthesis. That is why in the night, plants carry out respiration only, i.e. inhaling oxygen O2 and releasing carbon dioxide CO2.
But there are some plants with exceptional cases. These are the plants that perform photosynthesis at night as well.
This kind of photosynthesis is distinguished as Crassulacean Acid Metabolism CAM. CAM primarily occurred in desert plants that live on other plants for a living.
These plants do not open their stomata in daylight and store water. In the night they open their stomata and use the carbon dioxide and store them in the form of malate. Later they breakdown this malate to produce sugar like in photosynthesis.
But the oxygen they provide in the night is much less than the oxygen produced by photosynthesis in daylight. So, the CAM process in plants depends upon different factors like whether they can store water or they are an epiphyte or not.
How Do These Plants Work to Produce Oxygen at Night?
Photosynthesis, the process in which plants take in carbon dioxide and produce glucose (sugar) and oxygen molecules. During this process, plants use sunlight as an energy source to power chemical reactions.
This is quite useful for us humans because when you exhale after a breath of air, you are releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere! The plants then use this carbon dioxide to produce more sugars and oxygen molecules.
However, not all plants that photosynthesize also release oxygen during the night. This is because they are capable of a process called 'dark respiration' in which glucose is broken down by the plant without light to create energy for the plant. This causes them to release carbon dioxide just as we do.
On the other hand, some plants also have a unique ability to release oxygen at night. These plants are often called 'nocturnal' and many of them only release oxygen after dark and not during the day. The word 'nocturnal' means that they do things such as this at night.
One of the most important things that a plant needs to survive is water. In fact, a lot of nocturnal plants can only be found in wet habitats. This means that they live in places such as marshes, swamps and forests which are always moist or even flooded. They usually absorb water from the soil through their roots and some also absorb water through small pores in their leaves! Water is very important because it helps to move the glucose and oxygen that is produced by photosynthesis throughout the plant.
It might come as a surprise then, that some nocturnal plants actually produce oxygen during the night using processes that require water! This is possible because these plants can store oxygen which they produce during the day inside special air cavities within them. These special air cavities are often called 'aerenchyma' and they allow oxygen to diffuse into them from the surrounding cells. The cavity itself is filled with air, so this means that it can be surrounded by water without oxygen being released into the water.
This is just like having a balloon filled with water that allows an ant to live inside it! The interesting thing about this process is that it produces oxygen at night using glucose and oxygen produced by photosynthesis during the day. The plants keep these air cavities separated from each other so that there isn't enough oxygen in one cavity to cause an explosion when it comes into contact with water. This is because oxygen is very flammable!
30 Plants that produce Oxygen at Night
10 Plants that produce Oxygen at Night:
Aloe Vera
Peepul
Snake plant
Areca Palm
Neem
Orchids
Gerbera (orange)
Christmas Cactus
Tulsi
Money plant
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera Plant is best known to remove toxins from the air like aldehydes and benzene.
Unlike most plants, it releases the oxygen at night as well and well suited for bedrooms and indoor environment.
They grow slowly and have thick pointed leaves with white transparent gel.
It is a medicinal plant used for different treatments.
It mostly flourishes in a sunny atmosphere and overwatering can damage its roots.
Golden buddha with peaceful tree leaf with sunlight
Snake plant
Snake Plant
Snake plant is a houseplant with delicate upright leaves.
It is also known as mother-in-law's tongue and grow up to 3 feet high.
It holds a unique property that it continuously absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and also removes formaldehyde to create a healthy environment even during the night.
It is easy to grow low maintenance plant that does not need water regularly.
Orchids
Orchid Plant
Orchid Plants belongs to one of the two largest flowering families.
It can develop in dry soil too.
Orchids are a beautiful and useful choice to be placed in the bedroom.
It also purifies the air as it removes Xylene a toxic element mostly present in paints of our furniture and walls and cleans our indoor environment.
Orchid is also associated with Shaoxing (China), as their city flower.
Neem
Neem Tree
Neem Plant has many benefits and is known for its anti-bacterial properties.
It is also used to purify the air and have a cure for various ailments.
It also acts as a natural pesticide that is why advised to plant in the middle of the yard.
They are rich in providing oxygen at night because of its high transpiration factor.
These plants require an adequate amount of soil and proper drainage.
They can also be grown indoors but with a little more effort than usual.
Elecampane
Elecampane plant is known for its medical properties and usage.
It is a perennial herb that belongs to the aster family and holds the capacity of providing oxygen at night.
Its flower has a bright yellow colour and the overall appearance of the Elecampane plant resembles that of a sunflower plant.
Elecampane
Valerian Plant
Valerian plant is a flowering plant that blooms pink and white scented flowers during summer time.
These plants have the tendency to provide generous amount of oxygen at night.
Their roots are also made to use to cure insomniac.
Valerian Plant
Conclusion
Plants are the central pillar of our ecosystem. Living organisms require oxygen to stay alive. Plants provide this oxygen to balance ecosystem in the world. Lack of greenery can cause serious health issues and can pollute our surroundings on a large scale. So, people should plant more to contribute their part in the refinement of the ecosystem.
Christina Lopez grew up in the scenic city of Mountain View, California. For eighteen ascetic years, she refrained from eating meat until she discovered the exquisite delicacy of chicken thighs. Christina is a city finalist competitive pingpong player, an ocean diver, and an ex-pat in England and Japan. Currently, she is a computer science doctoral student. Christina writes late at night; most of her daytime is spent enchanting her magical herb garden.
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