Thoughts on Humidifiers.

I just finished adding my thoughts on all of the humidifiers I own (you can visit the actual page here) and may one day own into the page, so I thought it might be worthwhile to add it here and reflect the update. This same info as well as pictures of the units can be found under the Indoor Gardening Must-Haves, my latest area of focus. I hope to have that section finished soon!

I know there’s debate in the houseplant world about the necessity of running a humidifier. Monstera Adansonii, for example, really thrives with the extra humidity. Aglaonema in my home, on the other hand, don’t really seem to mind if it’s there or not. This all goes back, of course, to the native environment of each plant we’re keeping in our home. Many plants thrive in the dense jungles of Central and South America where the humidity helps epiphytic plants hydrate, feed, and grow.

The EPA recommends a household humidity level of 30-60% to help combat unwanted household invaders like mold. Being a houseplant enthusiast, however, provides a different reason to monitor humidity levels. My plants feel most comfortable with the levels being over 50%, with a few wetter spots in the house where smaller humidifiers (designed to accommodate ~250 square feet) cater to plants with more specific humidity needs. True, clumping plants closely together helps take advantage of their natural transpiration, but humidifiers can really make the difference in the thick of winter, or for those who live in an arid environment.

Geniani Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifier.

I got this humidifier on Amazon.com when there was a coupon. The features that appeal to me are the convenience of pouring water directly in the top of the unit, the calming blue light, and, should I ever need it, the ability to diffuse essential oils along with the water. It doesn’t run a full 24 hours, unfortunately, even on the lower setting, but it puts out a great amount of humidity and I’m really happy with the performance overall.

Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier - 1.5 Liter

I was drawn to Pure as a brand because the warranty is so appealing. It’s 5 years warranty if you register the product, though I’ve never had a problem in the year that I’ve owned it that would be cause for alarm. This humidifier is small, but it lives in my bathroom where it provides humidity for my Hoya between showers. For that small space, it’s perfect and the blue light also works as a nightlight. It has a low and a high setting, though I only ever use the low setting and it gives 24 hours + of humidity for my plants.

Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier - Premium Humidifying Unit

I bought this humidifier because I liked the other Pure unit so much and again, I was impressed by that warranty. This one has been just as reliable as its counterpart, but it humidifies the plants in a small nook in my bedroom. It also has two settings, but I keep it on the low setting and adjust the nozzle every day or so to ensure everybody is getting their fair share.

Safety 1st Ultrasonic 360 degree Cool Mist
Humidifier

I got this humidifier ages ago, years ago. I love the 360 degree feature, it helps the humidifier reach a larger area. About a year ago, the original humidifier malfunctioned and I was suddenly left without humidity for some of my plants. I contacted Safety 1st and was so thankful for their amazing customer service. I just wanted to order a part so I could repair my humidifier, but they replaced the entire unit for me! Highly recommend for plants and humans.

LEVOIT Humidifier

Let me start by saying that I do not own this humidifier. I have seen it highly recommended by other houseplant enthusiasts and I have considered buying it simply based in their experience with the product. If I should find myself in a place where I need a larger model of humidifier, I’m looking at this one.

It’s really important not to skip the weekly cleaning of your humidifiers, as tempting as it may be. I know it might be a pain, but it’ll be even worse if they quit running. White Vinegar is a helpful cleaner, and some companies recommend it as the cleaning agent. The Pure humidifiers come with a helpful little brush for cleaning, and for my others, I just use an old toothbrush.

I used to use distilled water only in my humidifiers, but as my plant collection grew, that got really expensive and I wasn’t in alignment with my own desire to move away from single use plastic. Though I did recycle the jugs, there got to be a lot of jugs, so I opted to go with tap water.