Are humidifiers good for plants?

27 Feb Are humidifiers good for plants?

Plants are excellent elements of home decoration, but their functions go beyond the beauty they provide to a certain place. A healthy plant offers a renewal of the air in a closed environment through photosynthesis. The process in which the captured carbon dioxide is converted into oxygen to later be thrown out of the plant.

The ideal environmental humidity for plants is between 20% and 60%. It is a somewhat difficult factor to control. That is why it is a great option to resort to a high-quality humidifier that has efficient humidity control, which can be modified according to the tastes and needs of plants and people. It is important to have a humidification device since it is the best alternative to increase the missing humidity in an interior space automatically and easily. You can read the humidifiers without filters.

Diseases of a plant due to poor humidity

A plant’s symptoms due to poor humidity are the sudden appearance of certain types of pests such as mites. There is a darkening in the final edge of the leaves and the outline of the same turns a yellowish color to finally fall slowly. The cocoon or bud also dries up and falls. Plants that require a humid environment are a bit more complicated to care for than plants that can handle drier environments; these sensitive plants require better transpiration.

For example, azaleas and African violets demand a humid climate and constant watering. Due to the delicate nature of these and other species, it is recommended that they are continuously and perseveringly wiped with a damp cloth to keep the plant fresh and at the same time clean it of any impurity that could appear on its leaves. You also have to be aware that species of plants do not require as much watering as gardenias. It is mandatory to maintain them with soil and a humid environment.

It is important to emphasize that winter is a great enemy, and it is essentially because we are forced to turn on artificial heating to keep ourselves warm. That is why the plants suffer an even more intense dryness, causing a fall in the leaves. And deterioration in the flower petals, forcing them to die; that is why it is essential to resort to an artificial humidification device, which maintains a satisfactory vaporous environment. Keep reading Is it worth getting a baby bouncer?

How to get the right humidity for indoor plants?

In their natural habitat, plants grow in optimal temperature and humidity conditions, which can be a bit complicated to achieve inside the house. Not so much the temperature, because after all, humans and plants appreciate living with a similar temperature, but the humidity. Environments that for us can be bearable, for our plants will be too dry. This is what we are going to analyze in today’s post, the problems with humidity and its effect on indoor plants.

Moisture contained in any object evaporates when exposed to dry air. It leaves that object. On a sunny and slightly windy day, clothes will dry very quickly because the air is dry and the humidity in the environment is low. You will have noticed that the clothes take longer to dry or even do not dry completely on cloudy and humid days. It is precisely because of the humidity.

When it comes to indoor plants and humidity, the water will more easily evaporate from the leaves if the plant is in a low humidity environment. Typically, the plant’s roots will absorb more water to replace what has been lost, the soil will dry out faster and you will need to water more. If the loss of water is too great and the plant cannot replace what is lost, secondary effects such as crisp brown leaf edges, leaf drop, and sometimes loss of flower buds will appear.

You might think that the solution is to leave water available in the roots so that the plant can absorb as much as it needs. Well no! If the humidity is very high for a long period of time, you will avoid the above problems, but you can attract pests or cause fungal diseases such as white mold on the soil surface or even root rot.

Humidity in the home

Low humidity and houseplants are often a problem during the winter months because most homes have heating that dries out the air considerably. Luckily, during those months, the plants are in their dormant period or don’t grow much, so they don’t need much water. The substrate’s dryness and low humidity are not usually a big problem at this time of year.

The bathroom and the kitchen are the houses where the humidity is usually higher. Hot water is usually used to create steam and, therefore, humidity in both places. These rooms can be ideal places for plants that demand a lot of humidity.

Increase humidity

If you have a place with low humidity and year-round houseplants like an air-conditioned office or a very dry floor, you will probably notice that your plants suffer. You need some method to increase the humidity of that site. Here are some possibilities that work.

Tray with gravel or pebbles

Place gravel, sand, or pebbles in a large, shallow tray filled with water. Then put the pot on top. Under the pot, there will be a quantity of water that does not get to wet the plant’s roots. By evaporating, it contributes to increasing the humidity that surrounds the plant. Be very careful that the water does not wet the pot so that the roots do not rot.

Nebulization

By far, this is the easiest solution to temporarily increase humidity levels. You just need to buy a spray bottle and spray the plant from time to time. Keep in mind that you may need to spray several times a day if the temperature is high.

Grouping plants together

Several plants together can help each other by creating a microclimate. If you group some plants, they alone will take care of creating a natural increase in humidity.

Humidifier

If you don’t have time to constantly mist, refill pebble trays with water, or can’t group multiple plants together, another option is to install a humidifier in the room where your plants are. These machines provide moisture to the air and can be useful for everyone: plants and humans. There are people who do not tolerate constantly dry air and humidifiers can alleviate respiratory problems.

Reduce humidity

What can you do if you notice problems arising from high humidity levels, such as mold in the substrate or damaged leaves due to excess water?

Ventilation

It is not normal for an area of ​​the house to be so damp that mold will appear if good ventilation is provided, but it can happen. Have you ever noticed a dark stain on the wall that looks dusty when you touch it? That’s mold. In winter, it can be a problem since the windows open less and there is less ventilation. If you can’t increase ventilation, try one of the following methods.

Be careful when watering

Water the plants with special care so as not to overdo them. Check that the substrate is completely dry before pouring the water. If you notice that you have overdone it, drain as much of the soil as possible with a dry cloth or kitchen paper. Remove any excess water that accumulates in the drip tray.

Move the plant

Move the plant to a drier spot in the house. But be careful, do not do it in a corridor or a place with drafts because that is not good either.

If the above does not help you, you can consider purchasing a dehumidifier. It’s a machine that removes moisture from the air, keeping your plant happy and eliminating problems in your home associated with high humidity, like powdery mildew that can appear on walls and ceilings.