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I’ve seen people in videos using a humidifier for their plants. How… | Anything about plants | Planta-fællesskab

Christine

I’ve seen people in videos using a humidifier for their plants. How do you know if you need a humidifier for your plants?

1 like 7 kommentarer

7 kommentarer

  1. Bri

    Depends on the plant ! Just gotta do a little research, most tropical and subtropical plants need a little more humidity. 😄

    3 likes
  2. Danii

    You can get a super cheap temp/humidity gauge and keep track. If my humidity drops below 40% I’ll turn it on (like during a heat wave). My place averages around 50%-60% and my plants are doing fine. Most plants will acclimate to regular indoor humidity unless special care is required.

    4 likes
  3. MikeNeedsMorePlants

    Hey Christine! You've opened up a big can of worms but here's the gist of it: Many tropical plants need humidity that's above 40% and ideally 50-60%. I think tropical plants have the prettiest foliage, so I feel like many people are attracted to them without realizing their humidity needs and struggle with care. My Calathea orbifolia, for example, gets crispy and drops leaves in low humidity. So it can't exist in my space (runs 30%) unless there is a humidifier present (which I have). Interestingly, humidity is also essential for some plants during the growth of new unfurling leaves so that dry air/friction doesn't prevent and damage the leaf as it's opening up.

    4 likes
    • MikeNeedsMorePlants

      There's a lot of discourse out there about whether alternative methods to mimic humidity are even effective (misting plants, pebble trays, grouping plants together) so I'd do some research or test some methods at home to come to your own conclusions :) Definitely by a humidity gauge (hygrometer) to see where your room/house is at. You'll get readings that are +/- 5% of your actual humidity but I wouldn't worry about the margin of error. I personally believe humidifiers are the only legitimate solution for humidity. Grouping plants together increases humidity slightly because as plants "breathe" or transpire they release water into the air through their leaves. So grouping plants lets them share water.

      4 likes
    • MikeNeedsMorePlants

      I did LOTS of research on humidifiers before purchasing mine (Levoit 6000s) because I have asthma/allergies and wanted something I could trust was the safest out there. Humidifiers are tricky because you REALLY need to keep 'em clean so that bacteria and mold (pathogens) don't grow in the standing water or on the filters. Some humidifiers also leave white dust (dried minerals) on furniture if you don't used distilled water, which is pricey. Here are the types of humidifiers I've found online: (Disclaimer: PLEASE do your own humidifier research; this is just what I've found on the internet and it's such a big place with many conflicting views or recommendations. And I am by no means a doctor, allergist, chemist, or epidemiologist. This is just what I've used to guide my own decision that feels best for me.) Steam/vapor humidifiers - Your classic humidifier that releases hot steam into the air (steam can cause burns if you/child comes in contact with it). Leaves white dust, and aerosolizes pathogebs that aren't killed by the heat. Ultrasonic humidifiers - Uses a fast vibrating plate to expel cool mist into the air. Leaves white dust and aerosolizes pathogens. Impeller humidifiers - Uses a fast rotating disk to expel cool mist. Same risks as ultrasonic humidifiers. Evaporative humidifiers - E.g., My Levoit 6000s model. Uses a fan to evaporate water that passes through wicks. No white dust and releases little to no pathogens at all (according to the internet). The option I felt safest with :)

      3 likes
    • MikeNeedsMorePlants

      Just make sure to clean your humidifier regularly and as directed by the manufacturer. And change the water often. There are humidifier bacteriostats that kill bacteria in water, but they creeped me out because you need gloves to apply them and I don't like the idea of handling chemicals in that way. There was also academic discourse online about the actual chemical irritating lungs as it was released into the air and breathed.

      3 likes
    • MikeNeedsMorePlants

      Again. PLEASE do your own research! I am not a doctor, allergist, chemist, nor an epidemiologist, just a guy who likes plants :) Good luck!

      2 likes