In a world with a myriad of facial creams and skin-plumping lotions, you would assume that hydrating your indoor plants could be a daunting feat in comparison! The truth is that it only takes one simple element to keep your tropical houseplant leaves hydrated -- Water! The caveat is that the water must be in that mysterious vapor form, known as humidity. Since many of the indoor plants that you see are from regions of the world that naturally have high humidity it is sometimes necessary to add a little extra moisture to the air that surrounds them to make them feel at home and free of blemishes. Some indoor plants will require humidified air at times like calathea, ferns, geogenathus, alocasia, and begonia to name a few. Here are four easy, and at times, beautiful ways to infuse the air with water.
1. Plug and Go
The most effective and quickest way to raise the humidity in your home is to add a humidifier if you live in a dry climate, or during the winter in colder climates when you are heating your home. Dry climates can be tough on tropical indoor plants, so consider using a cool-mist, ultrasonic, or warm mist humidifier near your indoor plants for at least 6 hours a day. You can weigh the pros and cons of each type of humidifier to see which type is best suited for you. We recommend that you keep your humidifier off the floor as some tend to drop a ring of moisture around the device. Try setting the humidifier on a water-resistant tray and keep it away from a heavily trafficked area. Avoid having the mist spray directly on the leaves as this could cause mold, mildew or other issues if the leaves are wet for long periods of time!
2. Vapor Vessels
Another effective way to increase the humidity around your indoor plants without having to use electricity is to fill a decorative vase with fresh water and place the vase near the base of the plant. The water will evaporate and expose the leaf’s surface to a slow, but constant supply of centralized humidity. If you have low humidity levels in your home, you might be surprised by how often you need to refill the vessel. This is a prime opportunity to up your plant styling game and you can add touches of color, texture, and whimsy with your favorite vase, bowl, or pitcher!
3. Trays for Days
If you love trays, and we mean head over heels for all sorts of decorative trays, then you might have no choice but to select this option! Use a waterproof flat tray with a solid surrounding lip and fill the bottom of the tray with pebbles, smooth colorful glass, or ceramic tiles to about half the height of the lip. Add water to the top of the materials you selected and then place your plants in the tray. The larger the tray the better as it will create more surface area evaporation and you will be able to place more houseplants in it and soak up the moisture as it rises and circulates. The concept here is to never submerge the roots of your plants in water, and the pebbles, glass, or any material you use will support the weight of the plants while keeping them from touching the water.
4. Crowd Moisturizing
Many indoor plants find comfort in a crowd. Placing houseplants close to each other can increase the humidity around them as they can utilize the moisture that the surrounding plants give off during transpiration. Try grouping plants together that have the same care requirements and create a micro-environment for your humidity-loving plants! Be sure to leave a little room between each plant to allow for good air circulation.
Your plants will speak to you and let you know they need a little more moisture in the air by showing you signs of dry distress. If the tips and edges of the leaves are turning brown and dry, try using one of these 4 humidity adding tips. Your plants will thank you!