They say that the humidity, not the heat, kills you, but low humidity might be dangerous for plants. Diseases like root rot and fungal infection can result from excessive dampness. On the other hand, problems might also arise from inadequate humidity.
Low humidity in plants might present with the same signs as plants that only require watering, making it difficult to treat. It can cause the plant’s leaves to curl and this may make you think something else is wrong. The water in the air needs to be fixed, not the moisture in the soil, so that’s why thorough watering isn’t always enough to cure a plant’s low humidity symptoms.
Do not worry if you suspect that this is the cause of your plant’s problems. We’ll advise you on how to rapidly fix the problem and the telltale indicators of low humidity in plants today.
What Does Low Humidity Mean For Plants?
To better understand this text, we first need to define what we imply by “low humidity.”
The ratio of the volume of water vapour in the atmosphere to the maximum amount it can contain at a particular temperature is known as relative humidity.
For instance, if the humidity level is 75% at 80 ℉, 75% of the optimum amount of water that the air could retain at that temperature is present in every cubic foot of the corresponding region. The air will probably feel heavy and oppressive at a humidity level of 75%.
Is Normal Home Humidity Good For Plants?
We often maintain our homes at a modest humidity level since high humidity levels are often fairly intolerable for humans. The humidity in a typical home hovers at approximately 30% or less. However, even plants that like dry environments, like succulents, prefer a humidity level of 40% or greater. Many people simply survive at rates of 60% or higher but plants can not.
Although low humidity conditions can exist at any time of the year, they are more common during the cold winter. All the moisture that is present in the air gets sucked up when the heat is kept on all the time in your home. As a result, maintaining the humidity that indoor plants require becomes challenging.
What Signs Of Low Humidity Do Plants Show?
Low soil moisture situations might be mistaken for common humidity symptoms, as we already said, making diagnosis challenging. A lack of humidity is frequently to blame when symptoms of low humidity are mistaken for underwatering or excessive light.
Along their margins or tips, leaves often turn brown and dry. This is a crucial clue to determining if the problem is humidity or underwatering because humidity problems typically affect the plant’s tips while underwatering is more easily seen at the sides.
Additionally, you can observe that blossoms and foliage start to wither and dry out. The leaves of some plants may curl downward or inward. Even newly developed leaves may appear malformed or distorted due to this condition.
What Is The Effect Of Low Humidity?
Dry Air Indoors
Low atmospheric humidity immediately causes plants to rebel. The leaves will initially become yellow, or their margins or tips will turn brown. Another indicator is leaf curling. The plant will eventually come to an abrupt end with a stunning leaf drop. A plant will suffer if it is near a heater or air conditioning vent, even if the ambient humidity is acceptable.
Numerous variables, including your location, affect the moisture in your house. Most homes don’t have adequate humidity for houseplants, who typically need at least 45 per cent humidity. Homes in the interior are typically drier than those near the coast and the bay. Humidity is also reduced by heating and air conditioning.
How to Increase Indoor Plant Humidity
Elevating humidity levels is the most straightforward technique to address low humidity for indoor plants.
While most plants require higher relative humidity than what we humans like to maintain inside, it is easier said than done. You may increase your home’s humidity in a few ways to benefit your plants.
Use A Humidifier
When indoor humidity levels are too low for even us to enjoy in the winter, many people use humidifiers. Put a humidifier close to the moisture-loving plants you have and set it up to deliver the precise level of humidity they require. The humidifier should be filled with distilled or filtered water, and the warm mist setting should be used.
This environment’s warm dampness will be similar to that found in the natural habitats of many tropical plants that thrive in high humidity. When the appropriate humidity level is attained, some humidifiers include built-in hygrometers that will alert you to the fact; some more sophisticated versions even have timers that will turn the appliance off at that moment.
Growing Plants in More Humid Conditions
Taking the environment into account is a simple approach to giving your plants the humid climate they require. If possible, choose a location to grow in a damp space and not overly exposed to drying drafts.
Assemble Related Plants In A Group
Low humidity can also be improved by assembling specific plants. You’ll discover that it’s far simpler to provide your plants with what they need by making a “humidity island” rather than turning your house into a paradise for humidity.
Stack all the plants that enjoy humidity together. They will inevitably raise the humidity around them when they exhale, creating an ecosystem inside your house.
Terrariums And Cloches
Another choice is to generate a humid atmosphere inside a transparent mini-dome. This will probably only work for plants that fit within the container, like your clones. Still, it can provide plants extra hydration without raising the humidity in the entire house.
Humidity Trays
You could also think about placing pebble trays with water underneath your plants. This is a simple method for raising the relative humidity around a single plant.
Simply ensure the stones keep the pot’s bottom out of the water, so you don’t oversaturate the growing medium.
Misting
Even though misting can enhance humidity, its effects won’t last very long. In actuality, spraying the leaves of your plants will just temporarily raise humidity.
Additionally, over-misting your plants may result in fungal problems on the leaves, so use caution if you try this approach.
Which Plants Do Best in Low Humidity?
If low humidity is still a problem, you might want to think twice about the plants you are planting. Think about cultivating low-humidity-loving plants like:
Snake Plant
To maintain the humidity low, you should grow the snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue. The plant can easily handle low light, a range of temperatures, and low humidity.
Cacti
Cacti plants are succulents that thrive in environments with minimal humidity. While their requirements for light, moisture, and humidity vary, Cacti most prefer a lot of sunlight and thrive in media that drains well.
Young Rubber Plant
Dark green leaves and a limited growth rate characterize the baby rubber plant, a houseplant. Despite not belonging to this genus, it possesses soft stems like a succulent. Low humidity and bright light are conditions it can withstand.
Heart-shaped Philodendron
You can also cultivate the heartleaf philodendron, another low humidity plant. It doesn’t need much special upkeep or care and can live in low light.
What Size Of Humidifier Do I Need?
The area the humidifier can cover is what you need to measure to determine whether it is the correct humidifier. It’s essential to match the humidifier you choose to the space in question while you’re humidifier shopping. So pay attention to the floorspace range provided on the product’s box or website.
See, one product where bigger isn’t always better is a humidifier. Specific cold-weather symptoms, such as dry and itchy skin, may not be relieved by a humidifier that can’t discharge sufficient moisture into a particular room. However, a humidifier designed for a bigger space than your one may produce a moist atmosphere that nurtures the growth of mould and dust mites and allergic reactions.
Conclusion
Low humidity and indoor plants don’t mix well, so it’s critical to monitor the environment in your grow room and ensure it’s suitable for your particular plant.
The suggestions above should enable you to get your indoor growth environment back on track, even though plants’ low humidity isn’t always easy to handle.