Humidifiers.

Why do Plants need Humidity?

Plants breathe a lot like humans do. Humidity is an important element in any plant’s breathing process. They inhale Carbon Dioxide, which is great for us since we produce so much of it, unfortunately. Plants also transpire, or sweat, like people do. When they open their pores to take in Carbon Dioxide, they transpire at the same time - kind of like when we breathe against a window or mirror. When we exhale, the surface is fogged by the moisture from our breath. Then our inhalation occurs, but by the time we exhale again, the surface is barely clear from the last exhalation. This transpiration causes plants to lose water throughout their systems, which can cause dehydration that’s detrimental to the plant’s well-being. The plant can look dull or droopy, but it wont’t recover its perkiness after you water the plant. In environments that are especially dry, plants can lose water through their leaves faster than their roots can safely absorb it. You could water and water your plant, but it wouldn’t replenish the moisture in the foliage. In fact, you’d most likely end up causing root rot in the plant. Plants like Epiphytes depend on the moisture in the air not only for hydration, but also to provide them with nutrients that they don’t get from their unique root systems.

You can help your plant be its best healthy self by providing adequate humidity - check with a humidity meter if you’re unsure of your levels. Misting is a great way to freshen up the foliage, and it’s easy to do! Plants love wet foliage every so often because they’d be experiencing rain in their natural environments. It’s only natural. A leaf bath in the sink is a great choice once a month or so. It’s great to employ your monthly plant shower when your plant is already due for watering, that way it isn’t over-watered inadvertently. A leaf bath or shower helps remove any residue, dirt, pet hair, or dust that has accumulated on the leaves from regular household conditions. These obstructions can prevent the plant from its process of inhaling and transpiring. Removing them regularly saves your plant from effectively suffocating over time. Another area to watch is the kitchen. Plants that live near the cooking area might love that heat and humidity, but cooking oils and residue can settle on the leaves, so bathing or polishing those leaves can help a lot. Trust me, I’ve lost more than one cooktop adjacent plant in my day.

On to the Humidifiers!