Misting houseplants is a very simple and effective way to boost humidity. "Misting is also an easy solution to the risk of overwatering your plants," he adds, instructing to, "pay attention to the color and texture of the leaves on your plant. Plants with brown or dry leaf tips will benefit from regular misting."
Misting is highly recommended at least once a month, and more often with species that enjoy it (see full list below). Be sure to spray the top and underside of your leaves, and if using for cleaning your leaves, wipe the leaves down with a cloth after misting to remove dust.
Misting your houseplants can be helpful to hydrate the leaves, cool the plant down in warm temperatures, and regulate water absorption. You should mist in the morning, taking care to spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves, and go for a nice, light coating.
“Some plants thrive in humidity,” explains Hank Jenkins of the Plant Provocateur in Silver Lake. “If you don't give them moisture, their leaves will dry out. If you want new foliage and growth, you need to mist them.”
As for misting — for the plants that need to be misted to thrive like air plants and ferns — it's best to mist them in the morning *and* the evening whenever possible. The morning mist helps to prepare them for the day ahead, while the evening misting helps create a little extra humidity.
Misting creates humidity, and some tropical plants appreciate it (though there are more effective methods for increasing humidity around your plants), but it should supplement watering. To water properly, pour water directly on the soil until it runs out the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
"Misting the surface can provide a bit of humidity to the foliage without directly spraying leaves," Resta notes, "and it can help oxygenate the soil." Additionally, she says misters can be really helpful during summer, or growing season. "Leaves are unfurling, and a mister is perfect to have handy," she says.
Examples of some plants that don't appreciate misting are succulents and other drought-resistant plants like Aloe Vera and Jade Plants, as well as any plants that have fuzzy or hairy leaves, as it is easy to cause these kinds of leaves to rot if they get too wet.
Misting is good," she says. Most houseplants will thrive just fine without the use of a mister, Gillette says. Epiphytes will benefit though from a light misting every morning.
One of the simplest ways to increase the moisture level is to mist your plants. Your high humidity plants will definitely love the dewy layer of moisture on their leaves. You can keep water in a spray bottle near your plants and mist whenever the air feels dry.
Some plants want daily misting; others are OK with two to three times a week.
Too much of anything is not always a good thing. We think that it is appropriate to mist in doses of 1-2 times per week depending on the plant's temperament and environment. Over-misting plants can attract pests. Make sure to spray the undersides of leaves, lightly.
Monstera Deliciosa enjoys a humid environment, which is why we recommend frequent misting of its leaves.
Plants exposed to excess moisture show the same symptoms as plants under drought stress. The primary symptom of excess moisture is wilting or yellowing of lower and inner leaves. If excess water continues, plants may show other drought symptoms, such as scorch, leaf drop, and/or plant death.
Your Spider Plant will do well in normal household humidity but will thrive with a bit more humidity. Brown leaf tips may indicate the air is too dry, so mist your Spider Plant regularly using a Mister.
2. Misting. This method of watering is not recommended for succulents at all. Instead, you should only mist your succulents when propagating cuttings, as mature succulents store water in their leaves.
A heavy mist is recommended every one to three days and always be sure there is plenty of indirect light and ventilation so the plant dries properly. For more information on air plant care, check out our Care Page.
Tropical houseplants and plants that love high-humidity—such as the Chinese Evergreen, Boston Fern, and Majesty Palm—will benefit most from misting, says Plunkett.
They normally need watering once or twice a week in the spring and summer, but less in the autumn and winter.
Transpiration occurs when plants release water vapor from their stomata, tiny holes in their leaves. They expel water vapor as part of photosynthesis and the conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen. Transpiration helps plants' leaves cool down in the sun's heat.
Clean leaves with a bit of soapy water.
Clean both the top and bottom of the plant's leaves; cleaning the undersides may help remove potential plant pests. Once complete, thoroughly rinse the plant of the soapy mixture and shake off excess water.
The effect of humidity on plants
The humidity impacts the amount of water plants evaporate through their leaves. If the humidity level is too high, plants cannot get rid of the water vapour, which stops the evaporation process and affects their growth. The plants' roots can no longer take on new nutrients.