Humidity for Houseplants
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor present in the air surrounding a plant. Many popular houseplants hail from tropical rainforests where relative humidity regularly exceeds sixty percent, making indoor humidity management an important aspect of their care.
What Does It Mean?
Relative humidity is the percentage of moisture the air holds compared to the maximum it could hold at that temperature. Most homes maintain humidity between thirty and fifty percent, especially in winter when heating systems dry the air. Tropical plants like Calatheas, ferns, and Anthuriums thrive at fifty to seventy percent humidity, and will show stress when levels drop too low.
Why It Matters
When humidity is too low, plants lose water through their leaves faster than roots can replace it, leading to brown, crispy leaf edges and tips. Some plants may also fail to unfurl new leaves properly or develop curled foliage. Persistently dry air can also make plants more susceptible to spider mites, which thrive in arid conditions.
How to Apply It
Group humidity-loving plants together so their collective transpiration raises the local moisture level. Use a plug-in humidifier nearby, aiming for fifty to sixty percent relative humidity, and monitor levels with an inexpensive hygrometer. Misting provides only temporary relief and can promote fungal issues on leaves, so it is generally less effective than a humidifier or a pebble tray filled with water placed beneath the pot.
Examples
- •A Calathea orbifolia developing brown, crispy leaf margins in a room with thirty percent humidity.
- •A Boston Fern thriving in a bright bathroom where showers keep humidity naturally high.
- •Grouping a collection of Marantas and Philodendrons near a small humidifier during winter.
Related Topics
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