Increasing the humidity in your home is key to keeping your houseplants healthy and thriving during the cold, dry months. Read about the Grow-How® Team’s favorite ways to increase the humidity in your home to keep houseplants healthy throughout the year.
Many of our indoor plants originate from humid jungle environments, so moisture in the air is vital to keep plants lush and healthy. The ideal humidity for houseplants can be 40-60% higher than the humidity levels found in our homes, especially during the winter when fireplaces and furnaces create drier air conditions. To provide your plants with an ideal living environment in the winter, it’s essential to increase the humidity for your plants.
What are the signs that your plants need higher humidity?
Your plant has many ways of telling you that it needs more humidity. A few signs include:
- Leaves begin to develop brown edges
- Plants begin to wilt and droop
- Leaves begin to turn yellow
- Foliage becomes crispy to the touch
If any of your plants are exhibiting some or all of the symptoms listed above, lack of humidity may be the culprit.
How to increase the humidity for your plants
Use a humidifier
A humidifier is an effective way to boost the humidity in your home. Not only is it great for your plants but it is also good for you too, especially during the drier months.
Mist your plants
Use a plant mister to mist the leaves of your plant. This will raise the humidity around the plant, but the effect is temporary.
Never mist plants with fuzzy leaves, such as African Violets, Purple Heart Plants, and Philodendron Micans Velvet to name a few. The “hair” on the leaves holds water in place, which encourages disease and leaves spotting on the foliage.
Use pebble trays
Using a pebble tray can be a great way to increase humidity around your plants. As the water in the tray evaporates, it increases the moisture in the air around the plant.
To create a pebble tray, place a layer of pebbles in a waterproof tray, add water until the pebbles are not quite covered, and set the plants on top. The pebbles hold the plant above the water so that the roots are not constantly wet.
Create a microclimate
Place several plants in a group, creating a pocket of humidity. If you are able to, place a dish of water or a small, full watering can in the center as a bonus, which can boost the humidity as it evaporates.
Give them a bath
Give your plants regular showers or baths during the winter months. Not only do they enjoy the extra moisture, but this will also clean any dust from the foliage where tiny pests like to hide. Remember to use lukewarm water.
Place plants in more humid rooms
Areas in your home such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms tend to have more humidity, so plants will be happy here. Try moving your plants to these areas during the drier months.
