Some indoor plants require higher humidity levels than what we often have in our houses. In fact, some people may even display health problems if they don’t obtain enough moisture in the air.
As worried houseplant owners, we frequently search for more obvious solutions (such watering or lighting) to address issues. When the problem could be resolved with a slight increase in humidity, we may instead overcompensate by giving our plant too little water or light.
Plants that need high humidity
High humidity is ideal for ferns, carnivorous plants, prayer plants, nerve plants, philodendrons, monsteras, orchids, fiddle leaf figs, anthuriums, and the majority of other tropical plants!
Symptoms of Low Humidity
Due to curling, the underside of this Calathea ornata leaf is visible and is a dark maroon color. The tip is dark as well. Both indicate low humidity.
Because some symptoms of low humidity can be confused with those of being underwater or having too much light, diagnosing it can be a bit challenging. The tips or margins of leaves are susceptible to drying out and turning brown. (Underwatering is typically observed more on the sides, whereas tips typically indicate concerns with humidity.) Flowers or leaves may wither and dry out. Some plants have leaves that curl downward or inward. A young leaf that unravels and seems deformed may have grown when the humidity was too low.
Symptoms of too High Humidity
Some plants, such as the majority of cacti and succulents, favor dry environments. For too long, extremely humid conditions can cause fungus problems, which can cause the plants to lose leaves or branches and eventually perish. Overwatering could potentially cause similar symptoms.
Seasonal Differences
During the warmer months, a typical residence has a relative humidity of between 40 and 60 percent. While many houseplants are OK with this, some might require some additional care in order to thrive.
The relative humidity of a typical home drops to between 10% and 40% in the winter, especially when the central heating is on. This will be difficult for many plants, so you might need to take some action to raise it. Of course, most succulents and cacti won’t experience any problems!
Humidity and Air Circulation
If you want to increase humidity using any of the following methods, please also provide adequate air movement. A combination of high humidity and poor circulation might lead to fungal problems.
How to increase humidity?
Placement of plants in an area of your home that is naturally more humid is one of the simplest ways to boost humidity. Examples are the restroom or the area around the kitchen sink.
Grouping Plants
You might also consider putting your plants that benefit from dampness together. Plants enhance the humidity in their immediate environment by transpiring. They form little micro-climates with enhanced humidity when they are gathered together.
Humidity trays
You may easily raise the relative humidity directly around a plant by placing pebble trays with water in them underneath your plants. Make sure the stones are keeping the pot’s bottom above the water if you don’t want the substrate to become overly soaked (potting media.)
Humidifier
If you want more control over your humidity levels, buying a humidifier can be the best option. Many allow you to choose a desired level of humidity, and they will adjust their moisture production to meet that target.
Fountains and Aquariums
Other alternatives include an open-air aquarium or a bubbling, moving fountain like the one shown at the top of this piece. Aqua-scaping ideas can also be found in aquariums. (As an added plus, aquarium water makes excellent, gentle plant fertilizer.)
Terrariums and Cloches
Making a humid environment inside a transparent enclosure or dome is a fun technique to raise humidity. Any glass or plastic container can be used for this. Remember to sometimes open your vessel if it is primarily closed to ensure that your plants receive enough air circulation.
What About Misting?
Misting is frequently recommended as a means to boost humidity, however it has a minimal overall impact and only temporarily raises humidity. Plants will absorb water drops that fall on their leaves, but misting can also cause water to remain on leaves for an excessive amount of time, which may result in fungus problems (especially in cooler temperatures.)
Which plants thrive under high humidity?
- Fern. According to Mast, several ferns, like the Kimberly queen fern, bird’s nest fern, and blue star fern, thrive in additional wetness and flourish nicely in a bathroom habitat.
- Gardenia.
- Viper plant
- Venomous plant.
- lounge palm
- Plant a prayer.
- Nerve tissue.
- Monstera.
Are houseplants tolerant of high humidity?
Since many of our indoor plants are native to humid jungle conditions, maintaining air moisture is essential to maintaining lush, healthy plants. In particular, during the winter when fireplaces and heaters dry up the air, the optimal humidity for houseplants is 40–60% higher than the humidity levels present in our houses. It’s critical to raise the humidity for your plants in the winter to give them the best possible living conditions.
There are a number of ways to keep your plants (and yourself!) healthy and happy during the dry winter months, in addition to watering them frequently.
Which plants do humidifier trays favor?
Homemade pebble trays are surprisingly simple to make. How can you tell if your plants need more ambient moisture before learning how to construct a pebble tray? A lack of humidity can result in browning leaf tips and edges, curled or wilted foliage, and malformed or damaged new growth.
Typically, tropical areas are home to plants that enjoy additional humidity. We particularly appreciate ferns, Begonias, and prayer plants (such as Maranta, Calathea, and Ctenanthe) as plants that thrive in high humidity.
- Locate a shallow tray or dish that can store water and is the right size for the plant or plants that require more watering.
- Put beautiful rocks or stones in the tray.
- Make sure to add water until the tops of the stones just barely protrude above the water’s surface. In this manner, the roots of your plant won’t be submerged in water when you set it on top.
- I’m done now! Regularly check in to refill the tray as necessary. This may occur quite frequently during heat waves and in dry places with air conditioning
Use of a humidifier or mister is another simple method to increase humidity in a space. Get a larger humidifier for large rooms and a smaller humidifier for small areas so that the humidifier is the right size for the space. Large water droplets shouldn’t ever remain on your delicate leaves for an extended period of time, hence misters should have a fine spray. The next time you take a shower, you might even think about bringing your plants along for a field trip to your bathroom so they can enjoy the steam!
In order to stop your friends’ tips from browning, just add some beautiful stones to a small bowl of water and let science take care of the rest.
Which houseplants are capable of absorbing humidity?
An excessive amount of humidity in your home leads to wetness, mustiness, and winter mildew. The problem also exists in hot, humid climates. Plants are a lovely, more natural way to reduce some of the damp air and humid environment. Dehumidifiers and other methods can have an impact.
Humidity-absorbing indoor plants provide a dual role by absorbing moisture from the air and releasing it outdoors.
Does pothos enjoy moisture?
accept low and medium light. In brighter light, the variegation will be more noticeable. Direct sunshine will not be good for your Pothos because it will scorch the foliage.
In the saucer, they gathered. Watch out for yellow leaves; they are a sign of excess moisture.
Although it will flourish in a more humid setting, such a bathroom or kitchen, this plant will survive in low-humidity areas. Brown leaf tips could be a sign of very dry air.
Use a general-purpose indoor plant fertilizer to feed your plants once a month or every other month in the spring and summer. Make sure the soil is moist before adding any fertilizer, regardless of form.
Both people and pets are slightly poisonous from pothos. Ingestion frequently results in tongue and stomach discomfort, as well as potential vomiting.
As they appear, remove any stems or leaves that are infected, damaged, discolored, or dead. In order to prevent ripping or bruising of the stems, use clean, sharp scissors. Just above a leaf node, trim stems; new growth will sprout from this cut.
Can plants thrive in a humidity level of 100%?
Around the world, people use houseplants to brighten up indoor spaces, add color and texture, change the mood in a space (like an office), and for health benefits (air purification).
Because they are typically (but not always) tropical or semi-tropical plants, houseplants should be able to handle low light levels and somewhat high humidity levels. In our living spaces, particularly in the bathroom where the inherent humidity can harm other plants, high-humidity plants are fantastic.
Why Humidity Is Important to Plants
You can think of humidity as how much water the air can contain. The reason why extremely hot air has a “a humid feeling. Plants require humidity because the relative humidity within a plant is almost 100%. Plants’ leaves feature pores, which “breathing in carbon dioxide while exhaling water and oxygen. Considering how humid its interior is, plants are continuously losing water. The amount of water lost by a plant decreases with the relative humidity.
The Right Environment for Different Plants
Most plants need a humidity level of 60 percent or higher. Cacti and succulents are examples of desert plants that can withstand substantially lower humidity, often between 30 and 35 percent but occasionally as low as 20 percent. Higher humidity is needed for tropical plants, and natives of rain forests may require up to 90% humidity. The best place to keep these tropical plants is in terrariums, where the humidity can be more readily managed.
Does humidity favor spider plants?
Although your spider plant will survive in lesser light levels, it will thrive in strong indirect light. With indirect lighting, the leaf stripes will be more visible. Avoid the sun’s direct rays since they will burn the leaves. Use a grow light if you don’t have the best place for your spider plant.
When the top half of the soil is dry, water your spider plant. till liquid passes through the water
Drain any excess water from the saucer using the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Browning leaf tips may be caused by chemicals found in water that lead to build-up. If so, either use filtered water or let the water lie outside all night before watering.
Although it will thrive with a little more humidity, your spider plant will survive in low humidity situations. If your spider plant’s leaf tips are brown, the air may be excessively dry; thus, spritz it frequently with a Mister.
Feed indoor plants once a month in the spring and summer using a liquid fertilizer like our All Purpose Fertilizer (20-20-20).
The “spiderettes,” or “pups,” of mature spider plants. These are fresh plant ramifications of the
mother plant from which you can cut off and grow a new plant from scratch. Cut the baby plant from the mother and put the bottom end in a glass of water to reproduce it. In 24 weeks, roots ought to start to appear. Plant the pup in soil once roots have formed, and water it frequently. Use clean, sharp Plant Snips to tidy up your plant if your Spider Plant needs a trim.
Do monsteras enjoy moisture?
Plants are better than just sitting there, going out of style like a checkered throw cushion.
You should provide your Monstera food for the optimal growth. Consider it like this: When a plant is grown in a pot, it only receives nutrients from the earth. The continuous cycle of new nutrients is not offered by nature. In order to guarantee healthy growth, fertilize your monstera. With an organic liquid fertilizer like Indoor!, you can feed it as infrequently as once a year (in the spring), or as often as the fertilizer’s packaging instructions advise. How much and how quickly you want your Monstera to grow will determine everything.
is a big plant that has a bushy appearance when young. It turns into a vine as it expands. If you
Justin Hancock, the Costa Farms Garden Guru, is passionate about plants. Justin is a passionate gardener who enjoys growing tropical plants, annuals, perennials, and houseplants. His experience spans from Miami to Northern Minnesota. Justin is always juggling marketing, research & development, and everything else at Costa Farms.