Looking After House Plants - Humidity Control Is Crucial

When you have house plants there is more to keeping them healthy than just watering them with a Haws pot waterer. You also need to consider the lighting, air circulation, fertilisation, humidity control, potting and temperature control too. Here is a closer look at why humidity control is important and how to do it.

Plants need humidity

Plants do need a certain amount of humidity to survive and this is more than just watering can achieve. Succulents or cacti plants with their leathery thick and waxy leaves are more able to handle dry air than other types of plants. They are able to store water in their stems and leaves for when they need it. Similar to how a camel stores water in its hump for when it needs it. But all plants need some level of humidity it just varies from one plant type to another, how much. Herbaceous plants need water to stand up. When there is humidity it allows water to fill the plant cells. When there is a lack of water and a lack of humidity you see a plant go limp because it does not have enough water filling those cells.

When there is dry air around your plants they lose more of the water they hold in reserve to help themselves. The plants that have more moisture in the air around them have less moisture escaping. It is important then that not only do they have water in the roots but that there is water in the air around them too. You do not want to overdo it though with a garden trug Australia spritzer or the system you choose, as too much humidity can cause fungi to grow and damage the plant.

Pay attention to how your plant looks

If your plants have more fine and thin leaves then they are more likely going to suffer if there is a lack of moisture in the air. Just observe them and you can have a good idea of what they need. If it is too dry you will see things like dry leaf tips, curled leaves and flower buds that brown and fall down. As great as energy efficiency is in a home, for house plants it can be the cause of problems. In an energy-efficient home there is on average about 30% less humidity than in other homes. Even deserts have more humidity! Not even succulents can thrive in these conditions. Another factor that influences humidity in your home is the climate of where you live. And another concern is air-conditioning which removes moisture from the air to cool the home.

Improving humidity in your home

Some tips to add more moisture to the air include;

1. Put saucers of water under the plants and the evaporation process will add moisture to the air around the plant. Just do not use too much water as it will rot the plant’s roots.
2. Consider having a humidifier on and in the room where your plants are that are struggling. You might find your air-conditioning system has a humidifier option.

Use a Haws spritzer or mister to spray in the air around the plants affected.