Ways to increase humidity for indoor plants

October 25, 2023

As the crisp autumn air starts to blow in and heaters get turned up for the next six months, beginner and seasoned plant parents alike may start to wonder: “How can I start to increase the humidity at home for my indoor plants?”

Keeping up with your plants’ health through the autumn and winter by changing up their routine may sound like a bit much, but making these changes can help your plants thrive through the seasonal changes and keep your home nice and humid for your own comfort.

Read about the best winter hardy indoor plants.

Increasing humidity is a great way to keep your plants happy through the colder months as they naturally settle into dormancy and prefer little and less frequent waterings. If you’re wondering why your plants sometimes don’t make it through the cold, our winter care guide is here for you.

Here are the five best and easiest ways to increase humidity in your home for your houseplants.

1. Humidifier

The easiest answer to the dryness problem is obviously investing in a room humidifier. Most indoor plants prefer a constant humidity level of 60-70% though that number varies on the higher side for tropical plants. Humidifiers can assure that you and your plants live in comfort throughout the autumn and winter though some may shy away from this solution because they prefer not to have another appliance around.

2. Rearranging your plants

Another simple way to get your plants through the colder half of the year is to make sure they get moved away from heaters. Radiators and anything that emits warm dry air (even hot pipes) can dry your plants out and cause a whole slew of problems that can be hard to bounce back from. Moving your plants and even grouping them together can be more effective than you think!

3. Misting

No matter what season, houseplants that prefer a bit more humidity such as tropical plants always do well with a bit of misting. Upping that routine through the fall can be equally as beneficial. Take a spray bottle and mist around all of your plants as a great alternative to watering (which can be a bit heavy-handed while they’re dormant).

4. Pebble tray method

pebble tray humidity method pebble tray humidity plants

One can also consider the tried and true pebble tray method as a way of increasing humidity for houseplants. This simple DIY trick can be accomplished by taking a small dish or tray, filling it with pebbles and a shallow amount of water, and placing your plant on top of the pebbles. The water will slowly evaporate and create humidity while also acting as a nice self-watering method that can help avoid root rot.

5. Relocate to the bathroom

Steamy hot showers in the wintertime produce a large amount of humidity and can be a water-saving way to make sure your plants get a healthy dose of moist air while you warm your bones.

Making sure your plants get the best care through the autumn and winter doesn’t have to be such a daunting task. In the end it’s also about what method works best for both of you. Try out these methods and keep listening to your plants through seasonal changes! More often than not they’ll let you know exactly what you need.