6 Ways to Increase Humidity for Plants

If any of the following indoor plants are part of your in-home bloomscape, you will need to provide them with some extra humidity to mimic their natural environment.

1. 1. Prayer plants: Also known as the calathea (and a member of the Marantaceae family), this low-maintenance plant is famous for its flat leaves, which come in various colors and fold up at night, appearing like hands in a prayer position. Prayer plants do best in high-humidity, low-light conditions (partial to full shade), and moist but well-draining soil.
2. 2. Philodendrons: Philodendrons are tropical plants native to Central and South America, and are a popular houseplant amongst indoor gardeners. These evergreen perennials belong to the Araceae family—the same family as pothos plants. There are hundreds of philodendron species, each with its own unique cultivars. The most common philodendron plants produce long vines or stems adorned with thick, waxy, dark green leaves.
3. 3. Ferns: Ferns are low-maintenance indoor plants, but it's important that you mimic their natural outdoor environment when you grow them in your home. Ferns (such as the bird’s nest fern) grow best indoors when kept in the shade and misted with water daily to simulate humid outdoor conditions. These perennial plants are flowerless and seedless, reproducing by spores released from the undersides of their leafy or feathery fronds.
4. 4. Orchids: Orchids are tall flowering tropical plants with an evolved lip, three petals, and sepals surrounding it. Orchid blossoms are popular houseplants that come in a wide range of colors, from white to orange to pink. Some tropical varieties of orchids are epiphytes, which, in the wild, grow in the air rather than soil. Their aerial roots extend out from the soil to absorb moisture, so to mimic their tropical environment, you’ll need to provide the plant with added humidity.
5. 5. Bromeliads: Bromeliads are flowering plants from the Bromeliaceae family, containing over 3,000 different species including the common pineapple, Spanish moss, air plants, and aloe-like plants with a series of cascading leaves. Many varieties of bromeliads have large green leaves which form a rosette pattern and distinctive flowers or colorful bracts. Bromeliads are terrestrial plants (growing inside the ground with soil) or epiphytic plants (which grow without soil). Bromeliads grow naturally in tropical environments with high humidity levels, and must be kept in a humid place when growing indoors.
6. 6. Peace lilies: The peace lily plant is from the Spathiphyllum genus and blooms large, shell-like white flowers with a large seed pod inside the flower. The peace lily is not actually a true lily but is part of Araceae family, and is a relative of the philodendron, anthurium, and alocasia flowers. Peace lilies are native to warm, humid environments in Central and South America and parts of Southeast Asia.
7. 7. Monsteras: Also known as the Swiss-cheese plant, the monstera plants are evergreen tropical shrubs that grow wildly in Panama. They have perforated leaves that can grow up to two-feet wide. As vining plants, Swiss cheese plants are easy to care for and can grow exceptionally tall in the warm, humid air of their native regions, clinging to trees and other support structures with aerial roots (roots that grow freely out of the soil).
8. 8. Moss: Moss is a spore-producing, non-flowering plant that thrives in shady, humid conditions with compact, moist soil. Mosses absorb water, carry nutrients, and are important to the ecological balance of an environment. Homegrown mosses are often kept in terrariums, but you can keep them in most damp, low-light conditions.
9. 9. Chinese evergreen: This popular bathroom plant, part of the Aglaonema genus, has leathery leaves that can adapt to fluorescent light and is one of the best plants for beginner indoor gardeners to grow. The Chinese evergreen is a low-maintenance plant that can tolerate three weeks without water, but also happens to be extremely forgiving of overwatering.

Some indoor plants need more moisture than others. (Pro tip: you can use a hygrometer to help test the humidity levels in your home). You may notice the leaves of certain plants turning yellow or brown, wilting, or becoming crispy, which means that they aren’t receiving enough humidity. However, there are a series of ways that you can increase humidity for your moisture-loving indoor plants.

1. 1. Build a terrarium, cloche, or greenhouse. Creating a separate enclosure for your plants can help establish a humid microclimate for your greenery. If you only have a few small plants, a terrarium will help lock in moisture for your little greens or mosses. A cloche—which is a glass, bell-shaped enclosure that goes over the top of a plant—can work for both indoor and outdoor plants, and greenhouses can provide a larger growing space for your plants.
2. 2. Use a pebble tray. A pebble tray is a tray filled with pebbles (or marbles) that cover a small amount of water. As the water evaporates from the tray, it provides your plants with the humidity they crave. Place your plant pots on top of the tray (without the water touching the bottom of the potted plant) to give your plants a little extra humidity.
3. 3. Buy a humidifier. A humidifier turns water into a light mist that helps keep the air moist and increases indoor humidity. Aside from providing some relief for dry noses or certain allergies, humidifiers will moisten up the dry air and help increase humidity levels to create a humid environment for your plants.
4. 4. Group plants together. Placing plants in close proximity to each other creates a beneficial microclimate that can generate moisture and maintain a humid environment.
5. 5. Place plants near moisture. It makes sense that humidity-loving plants thrive in areas of your home that are naturally more humid or have water sources. Group your high-humidity plants in places with lots of moisture like the laundry room, near the kitchen sink, or near a bathroom window.
6. 6. Mist plants. Misting plants with a spray bottle full of room temperature water is a quick way to give them some moisture. However, some plant leaves cannot tolerate being consistently wet, so always follow the care instructions for your specific plant. In addition, keep an eye on how much you water your plants, as too much water plus misting can lead to leaf and root rot.

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