Should i mist my plants

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin More. Credit: Shanna Sullivan. Comments Add Comment. Back to story Comment on this project. Tell us what you think Thanks for adding your feedback.

Close Sign in. There are two kinds of houseplant keepers in the world: Those who mist and those who do not. And believe it or not, it's a topic of hot contention. Team Mist says that houseplants from tropical climes like the mist since they are humidity lovers; Team Don't Mist says that misting doesn't actually increase humidity, and may in fact lead to other problems like the spread of pests and pathogens.

I have swung both ways, and have found that my misted plants thrive. And it's good for us humans too; there are bona fide health benefits from interacting with houseplants , and misting is a nice way to spend some quality time with your plants.

In the end much depends on the type of plants you have and the climate you live in. But in support of misting, here is what you should know. Many popular houseplants hail from jungles with moist air and do well when the humidity is between 30 to 40 percent.

Many homes are drier than that — and while most houseplants can handle it, adding some moisture can help them thrive. Leaf curling, yellowing, and leaves with brown edges and tips are all signs that plant may not be getting enough humidity.

Some plants don't need extra moisture, but here are some that love it: Zebra plant Aphelandra squarrosa , anthurium, orchids, fittonia, palms, African violet but see next point , ferns, philodendrons, spathiphyllum, corn plant Draceana fragrans 'Massangeana' , ctenanthe, banana, schefflera, arrowhead plant Syngonium , pilea, caladium, croton Codiaeum and begonia.

Do not mist plants with fuzzy leaves, like African violets and piggyback plants Tolmiea — water on their leaves will lead to permanent spotting. Here you can use a humidity tray. Fill a tray, plate, or bowl with pebbles, river stones, et cetera and fill with water just below the top.

Place the plant on top, being sure that the water isn't touching the pot. Some plants require daily misting as they constantly need a humid atmosphere to survive. On the other hand, some indoor plants prefer drier conditions and would love it if you mist them once or twice a week. By observing their growth rate with one week of constant misting.

If you see better results, then mist your plant babies regularly. But, if you see curled leaves or some other signs, then stop misting them regularly. As stated earlier, different house plants have different misting requirements. If you have dramatic plants that are always thirsty, like Peace Lily and Begonias, then you need to mist them regularly. But, for drought-resistant plants, like a spider plant, cactus, snake plant, etc. Here, we would tell you a bunch of common houseplants that thrive when you mist them.

Read on to find out. These beautiful creatures are from tropical areas and love when the atmosphere is humid and grow properly in such conditions. Though they love misting, you need to check for the species type before planning a mist routine for your begonia. They only need misting twice a week, and due to their great water retention capability, these plants can thrive properly with minimum misting. But, do not overdo it, as these plants will suffer from root rot and will eventually die.

Arrowhead plants are from the tropical areas of Latin America and make for a perfect indoor plant.