The life of a plant is highly dependent on three variables: watering, lighting, and humidity. If you are able to reproduce these three aspects inside your home until they resemble those received by that plant in its place of origin, then you are assured of the survival, growth and development of that species. It may seem complicated, but it's not about transforming your house into a rainforest (although if you want to do it, you're free, we're not here to judge you) but about understanding the needs of the plant by understanding its origin.
One of the variables that confuses us the most when it comes to caring for plants is humidity, because although we can feel it, we cannot see it, which makes it a bit difficult to understand and control; unlike factors such as watering or lighting. That's why today I'm going to explain absolutely everything about humidity: what it is, why it's important, what your plants need, and how to control it.
What is humidity and why does it matter?
Simply put, humidity is the amount of water vapor that is present in the air. This amount of steam depends on many factors, such as whether it has rained recently, if you are near the sea or a lake, if there are many plants outside, and even the air temperature. If the air is very cold, it has little water vapour because it saturates quickly and transforms it back into a liquid; That's why when you breathe in winter you see smoke coming out of your mouth or nose. When the air is very hot, it can hold more water vapor and prevents it from becoming liquid. This is why when you hang wet clothes on sunny days and with some wind, they dry very quickly but if it is cold or cloudy, the clothes take longer to dry or do not dry at all.
Plants are living beings that have processes that allow them to regulate themselves. Just as humans sweat through their pores when it's too hot to regulate their temperature, plants evaporate water through their stomata to cool down and get rid of waste. This process is directly affected by the ambient temperature and humidity, since the efficiency of water evaporation depends on their balance.
If the humidity is high but it's cold, the plants won't be able to remove the water vapor. As that water vapor concentrates in the plant, the roots stop absorbing water and nutrients because they no longer have room to do so. Something similar to what happens with wet clothes in the example: the air is saturated, so it can't hold any more water vapor and the clothes don't dry.
On the other hand, if there is low humidity but the temperature is very warm, the plants will evaporate too much water; they will be like wet clothes that dry in a very short time. This will cause them to absorb more water through the roots to compensate for this loss, but by absorbing more water, they consume more nutrients. Excess nutrients will cause the tips of the leaves to burn, and the flowers and leaves will wilt. This is why the solution to low humidity can never be to water more, because soil that is too wet not only offers an excess of nutrients but is the perfect space for the growth of fungi, mold, attracts pests and can cause root rot.
But this is not the only problem. Photosynthesis, the process by which the plant processes its own food, stops when the plant is in an environment that is too dry. When there is low ambient humidity, the plant closes the stomata because it loses too much water. And if you close the stomata, there's no absorption of CO2 and without CO2, there's no photosynthesis. As if that weren't enough, when the stomata close, the excess heat from the plant doesn't escape, so it raises its temperature and causes heat damage. This is evidenced when the plant turns yellow. This is a defense mechanism, in which the plant stops supplying the chlorophyll in the leaf because it can no longer do so due to the immense energy cost. The next step is the burnt leaves, irreversibly damaged. That's why it's so important to have a perfect humidity balance depending on the type of plant you're growing.
The Perfect humidity levels for Indoor plants Humidity
levels depend on each species of plant, but you also have to take into account the stage that the plant is in. For example, young plants and cuttings are growing, their roots are barely developing, and they require a lot of water and moisture, between 80 and 85%. When the plant grows, humidity should be educated; Especially if there are flowers and fruits because an excess of ambient humidity can cause the fruits to rot. This applies to plants grown outdoors, but what about indoor plants? In this case, it is important to know its origin and type.
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Whenever we read about a species of plant, its country or region of origin is usually included in the information. This is not only an interesting fact, but it will allow you to have many clues about what the environment should be like that you should recreate to keep her happy. The vast majority of houseplants come from tropical or subtropical regions, where there are high temperatures throughout the year and grow protected by a canopy created by the tops of the tallest trees, which filter the sun's rays and provide very high humidity levels. Succulents and cacti, on the other hand, come from desert regions or regions with high temperatures and low humidity, so they have developed that mechanism that allows them to store water in their leaves.
This makes us notice a couple of things: these plants are not acclimatized to the outside life of our continent, but they can live happily indoors because thanks to the technological advances of our era, we live in spaces that maintain a more or less stable temperature all year round and that is compatible with what this type of plants need. But it's not the temperature that's the problem, it's the humidity, because the devices we use to regulate the temperature, such as air conditioning, fans or heating, are responsible for leaving the environment dry as bone.
In fact, it is estimated that the percentage of humidity in our homes in winter can reach 20%. It's just that even your skin and respiratory system suffer in these months because of the dry environment. In the warmer months they don't improve much either, as they reach a maximum of 40% and this is not suitable for your poor tropical plants. This is one of the reasons why many people water their plants, take care of them from the sun, fertilize them, and the poor ones keep dying or not growing properly.
The ideal humidity level
according to the type of plant
Indoor plants of tropical origin, such as the Monstera, Peace Lilies, Anthuriums, Calatheas, among others, require an ideal humidity level between 60 and 80%, although this is difficult to maintain indoors, but if you manage to maintain it between 50 to 60% it will be adequate and you can help your plants by spraying a a little water on its leaves from time to time.
If you have succulents and cacti, you should know that these plants store water inside their leaves, so they can survive in drier environments. This is why the ideal humidity levels for succulents are around 30%. If they are in environments that are too humid, they can develop fungus or rot. This is why it is best to have them separated from tropical plants, however succulents require direct sun while tropical plants prefer indirect light.
How to improve
humidity at home Before you getdepressed because the humidity levels in your home are too low to have that collection of calatheas or that army of Monsteras you dream of, you need to know that it is quite easy to modify the humidity levels. First of all, you should take into account the region in which you live, that it is not the same to have an apartment in Madrid than in the Canary Islands. The second step is to determine if your plants are suffering from a lack of moisture. Look for signs such as dry leaves, burnt tips, yellow leaves, and slow or no growth. In any case, there are a few tricks you can apply to improve humidity in your space:
- Group your plants
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Plants remove moisture through transpiration, so when you group them together, it creates a microclimate that will benefit your plants. This is wonderful, not only because they will take care of the problem themselves, but you will have the perfect excuse to buy more plants and increase your collection. Remember to leave cacti and succulents out of this group.
- Pebbled trays
This is an old trick. Place trays with pebbles and place your plants on them. Place water in the tray, but let it reach halfway through the pebbles, without covering them completely. This will protect the roots from overwatering, while offering the plants moisture as the water in the tray will slowly evaporate. Remember to rinse and replace the water in the trays frequently, to prevent them from attracting insects. You can also put glasses or containers of water between the pots to let it evaporate.
- Spray your plants
A water spray is the best friend of those who love tropical plants. Get a sprayer to cover your plant with a fine mist, because if you get them too wet you can attract fungus and other diseases. Use filtered rainwater or mineral water to avoid deposits or limescale stains on the leaves. If your plant has velvety leaves, such as African violets, you shouldn't spray them because it can cause leaf disease. Likewise, succulents or cacti should not get wet either.
- Use a humidifier
Technology is your ally to take care of your plants, no matter the environmental conditions. You can buy a nice humidifier, which will take care of keeping the water vapor levels in a perfect balance. In addition, I am sure that your skin and hair will also thank you for the presence of this little device.
What if the problem is excess moisture?
Your problem may be the opposite. Most people suffer from an environment that is too dry, but it is possible to inhabit a place that is too humid, which can cause rot in some plants. In this case, it is also possible to use some tricks:
- Ventilate the space
Open the windows, let the sun and wind sweep over the place and do their job. It is important to allow air to circulate and be recycled. Check for dark, dusty stains on the walls, it may be mold and indicate that there are problems. This is typical in winter, when the windows are opened less.
- Moderate watering
Water the plants very carefully. Avoid overwatering, it is better to wait until the substrate is rather dry before watering again. Remember to empty the drip tray, to negate any possibility of increasing the ambient humidity.
- Relocate the plant
If you notice that the humidity levels are not improving, move the plant to a drier location, even temporarily. Be careful with drafts and put it near the heater, because it could affect it.
- Get a dehumidifier
If the humidity problem is already excessive, you have mold on your walls, and your plants are suffering, you can get a dehumidifier. This little gadget will do wonders for your spaces, remove dusty mold and swallow moisture, creating a suitable environment for you and your plants.