When it comes to houseplants, humidity plays a crucial role in keeping them happy, healthy, and thriving. Many plants, especially tropical varieties, need a certain level of moisture in the air to maintain their lush foliage and vibrant colors.
Without adequate humidity, plants can struggle with brown leaf tips, drooping, or slowed growth. Fortunately, there are several simple ways to create the ideal humidity levels for your indoor plants. Here’s everything you need to know about humidity and how to boost it in your home.
Why Humidity Matters for Plants
Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air. For plants, humidity affects essential processes like photosynthesis and transpiration. When air humidity is low, plants lose moisture faster than they can absorb it, leading to dehydration. In contrast, high humidity levels slow down water loss, allowing plants to retain moisture and thrive.
Some plants, particularly those native to tropical environments, naturally absorb moisture through their leaves. This means that when the air is too dry, tropical plants can struggle to get the hydration they need, which can cause leaf tips to turn brown or wilt.
Some Plants that thrive in high humidity:
- Ferns
- Calatheas
- Orchids
- Alocasias
- Peace lilies
Some Plants that do well in low humidity:
- Cacti
- Succulents
- Snake plants
- ZZ plants
Signs Your Plant Needs More Humidity
Understanding your plant’s humidity needs is the first step. Some common signs of low humidity include:
- Brown Leaf Tips: One of the most obvious signs of low humidity is brown tips or edges on leaves, especially in plants like ferns and calatheas.
- Wilting Leaves: When humidity is low, plants lose water faster, leading to drooping or wilting.
- Slowed Growth: Low humidity can reduce a plant’s ability to photosynthesize and grow.
- Crispy Edges: Thin-leafed plants, like maidenhair ferns, can become crispy and dry when the humidity is insufficient.
Creative Ways to Increase Humidity at Home
If your home is naturally dry or you live in an area with low humidity, there are several ways to create a more plant-friendly environment.
1. Pebble Trays
Using pebble trays is a simple and effective way to increase humidity around your plants.
- How It Works: Place a layer of pebbles in a shallow tray and fill it with water until it’s just below the top of the pebbles. Set your plant pot on top, making sure the pot itself isn’t sitting in the water. As the water evaporates, it adds humidity to the air around the plant.
- Best For: Small to medium plants that can sit on a tray, such as peace lilies, ferns, and calatheas.
2. Grouping Plants Together
Plants naturally release moisture through a process called transpiration. Grouping plants together helps create a humid microclimate, as each plant contributes to the humidity around them.
- How It Works: Place humidity-loving plants close to each other, ideally in a corner or on a shared shelf. Their collective transpiration will raise the humidity in that space.
- Best For: Plants with similar humidity needs, especially tropical varieties.
3. Humidifiers
A humidifier is one of the most reliable ways to increase humidity, especially in larger spaces or if you have many humidity-loving plants.
- How It Works: Set up a humidifier near your plants, ideally one that allows you to adjust the humidity level. Aim for 50-60% humidity for tropical plants.
- Best For: Rooms with several humidity-loving plants or in particularly dry homes.
4. Misting
Misting is a quick and easy way to add moisture to your plants’ leaves. However, misting is a temporary solution and works best as a supplement rather than a primary source of humidity.
- How It Works: Use a fine mist spray bottle to gently mist the leaves of your plants, ideally in the morning. This gives the water time to evaporate before evening, reducing the risk of fungal growth.
- Best For: Plants that naturally absorb moisture through their leaves, like orchids, ferns, and calatheas.
5. Bathroom Plants
Bathrooms are naturally humid spaces, thanks to regular showers and baths. Placing plants in your bathroom can be an effortless way to meet their humidity needs.
- How It Works: If your bathroom has a window or good indirect light, place humidity-loving plants like ferns, calatheas, and orchids near the window or on shelves.
- Best For: Plants that thrive in humidity and can tolerate lower light levels.
6. Using Glass or Cloche Covers
A glass cover, cloche, or mini greenhouse can help maintain humidity levels by trapping moisture around your plants.
- How It Works: Place a glass dome or cloche over small plants to create a humid environment. Make sure to remove it periodically to allow airflow and prevent mold.
- Best For: Small humidity-loving plants, such as ferns, moss, and seedlings.
7. Create a DIY Terrarium
For a beautiful and functional solution, create a terrarium—a closed environment that naturally retains moisture.
- How It Works: Use a glass container with a lid, fill it with layers of stones, activated charcoal, and soil, then add small plants. The closed system will recycle moisture, creating an ideal humid environment.
- Best For: Small plants that enjoy a tropical environment, like ferns, moss, and peperomias.
Monitoring Humidity Levels
It’s helpful to monitor the humidity levels around your plants to ensure they’re in the right range. A hygrometer (humidity meter) is an inexpensive tool that can tell you exactly how humid the air is in your home. Most tropical plants prefer humidity levels between 50% and 60%, while arid plants like cacti and succulents do well in lower humidity.
If you have a smart thermostat you may also be able to use that to check the humidity levels in your home.
Seasonal Adjustments
Humidity levels tend to drop during winter when indoor heating is on, so you may need to increase humidity for your plants during colder months. Summer air conditioning can also reduce humidity, so keep an eye on your plants’ needs year-round.
Quick Tips for Maintaining Ideal Humidity
- Avoid placing plants near vents or radiators, as these can dry out the air around them.
- Use a humidifier during winter or in especially dry climates.
- Regularly check humidity levels with a hygrometer, especially in winter or summer when indoor air is drier.
- Combine multiple methods: Pairing pebble trays with grouping or misting can often achieve better results than one method alone.
