Some of the methods of increasing humidity, such as spraying and pebble trays, have been used for many years and are still recommended today. But does it work? What is the best way to increase humidity around houseplants and how high should the humidity level be?

Plants can become dehydrated quickly if they cannot replenish lost water at the same rate as they lose it. During the cold months, the heating dries out the air in our house a lot, which makes it difficult for indoor plants. In summer, the same problem can occur due to air conditioning. Tropical indoor plants are particularly vulnerable to dry air.

1. The best humidity for indoor plants

There is no “optimal” humidity level because it depends a lot on the plant’s origin. Cacti in a desert need very different growing conditions than a plant in a Central American jungle.

2. Basic humidity indicators for indoor plants

0% – 20%. The air is too dry for most indoor plants. But cacti and succulents can survive in about 10% humidity.

20% – 40%. The average humidity level in most rooms during winter. Some plants will survive, while others (especially tropical plants) will not flower and will have leaf problems.

40% – 60%. The ideal humidity level. This is available in homes during the summer and is the optimal humidity level for most plants. This level is also ideal for flowering and vegetation.

60% – 80% and above. This level of humidity is difficult and inconvenient to maintain at home but can be maintained in a greenhouse. It is best suited for tropical plants.

In winter, the humidity level in heated houses varies between 10 and 20%. At the same time, tropical indoor plants do not feel well already at humidity levels below 40%.

3. Signs of low humidity

• leaves with brown and crispy edges
• wilting of plants
• yellowing leaves
• drying leaves

Low humidity can also contribute to an increased likelihood of mite problems.

4. 2 less good methods + 3 good methods to increase humidity

Pebble tray

One of the most common recommendations for increasing humidity around plants is to set up a tray of wet pebbles, expanded clay and sometimes just water. These methods are practically ineffective. The water evaporates from the pebble tray and this raises the humidity just above the surface of the water tray, then the humidity is distributed throughout the room. The amount of water entering the room from the pebble tray is so small that it does not change the humidity level.

Spraying

Do you run from one plant to another and spray your plants daily? The only benefit is that it trains your forearms and hands, but that’s about it. Spraying is not an effective way to increase humidity. It can increase it momentarily, but it’s extremely short and ineffective. If you use a sprayer to wet the plant leaves so that you can wipe them to keep them clean, or maybe to spray the exposed roots of the Phalaenopsis orchid to keep them hydrated, that’s fine. Water those roots. But it won’t keep the air moist for long.

Terraria

You can mount a terrarium, put some stones on the bottom and plants inside. This will ensure much higher humidity for the plants. If you cover the terrarium, you can get close to 100% humidity even without water on the bottom. However, the problem with such a setup is that some plants get fungal diseases and die in this humidity and the plant species must be chosen carefully.

Grouping of plants

Placing all houseplants in one place can be effective. Each plant evaporates water from its leaves, creating a higher level of humidity around them. When several plants grow close together, they can produce enough water to maintain humidity around them. But if you don’t have many plants or a small room to put them in, this effect will be minimal.

Humidifier

The only way that really works is to increase the humidity in the whole room or rather the whole house. The easiest way to do this is with a regular household humidifier, which is abundantly available on the market and you can find a model that suits your needs. Such a gadget not only benefits plants but also helps a person feel more comfortable during the heating season.

With love,

F L O R A L  S O U L 🌿