10 Ways to Increase Humidity For Your Houseplants
Depending on where you live, giving plants enough humidity can be hard, especially during the winter months.
This is a list of ten options that raise humidity and help keep plants in their happy place. Some can be done with items you probably already have at home.
1. Humidity Dome or Cloche
This is my go-to solution for humidity-loving plants. A cloche will significantly increase humidity around houseplants. You might need to occasionally lift the dome if condensation develops.
A similar frugal method is to use a plate and an upside-down flower vase.
2. Grouping Plants Together
Grouping houseplants together increases humidity due to a process called transpiration.
Have you ever seen water dripping from a leaf? That’s transpiration!
It’s the movement of water, up through the plant and out the aerial roots and leaves. The water evaporates and thus increases humidity around the plant.
When serval plants are grouped together, they all contribute to the surrounding humidity.
Grouping is even more effective when combined with other solutions. Read on to discover more.
3. Humidity Trays
Humidity trays increase humidity by evaporation. The basic idea is to have a tray of water below the plant. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plant.
If you already have saucers under your pots, all you need to do is add small pebbles, pour in water and sit the pot on top of the rocks.
It’s important that the water level is below the top of the rocks so that the roots aren’t sitting in water.
There are specially designed trays that sever the same function and you can get large trays to sit multiple plants on.
4. Steam From the Shower and Bath
Everytime you take a shower or bath you create a lot of humidity. Put all that steam to good use by leaving the bathroom door open so it spreads to adjacent rooms.
Another trick is to leave the bathwater in the tub until it cools. While the water is hot, steam will evaporate and increase humidity.
While we’re on the subject, don’t hesitate to keep your humidity hogs in the bathroom. As long as you have windows, those calatheas and ferns will LOVE the humid bathroom.
5. Metals Pans
This one is a little bizarre but it works…… unless you have pets that like to drink constantly.
Place a glass or metal pan on top of floor vents and/or in window sills. As the water warms up, it’ll evaporate and increase humidity.
I like to do this in combination with grouping. That way the pan is hidden behind plants and not such an eye sore.
6. Terrariums
Terrariums are a great way to create a mini greenhouse for your plants. They can be small bowls or large tanks.
It is not uncommon to house amphibians with tropical plants in these terrariums.
Terrariums are so good at increasing humidity that you will need to regulate it so that it doesn’t get too humid.
7. Leave the Dishwasher Open to Dry
Instead of using the dry cycle on your dishwasher, open it and let the dishes air dry.
Steam will pour out and increase the surrounding humidity as soon as you open it.
This saves energy and makes for happy plants.
8. Popup Greenhouse
Plastic greenhouses aren’t the most aesthetic option but they are a great solution if you are on a budget. These are perfect for increasing humidity and keeping plants warm.
Consider using them in a garage, laundry room, or pantry. These are popular for helping plants get through the drier, colder winters.
9. Plant Cabinet
Glass cabinets are one of the more popular ways to display houseplants, especially rare ones.
The enclosed space traps humidity and heat, keeping plants happy.
There are specially designed cabinets but it’s also easy to retrofit older ones.
Photo by @plantthoughtsandpots
10. Humidifier
Last but not least….. why did it take so long to get here?!
Humidifiers are a simple solution to any low humidity problem and plants LOVE having their own personal humidifier.
There are different ones available for most budgets.
The only downside is that they can be expensive to run.
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