Should houseplants be misted?

Article for :Beginner and plant killerExperienced plant lover

At Monstera, we recommend misting your houseplants. But this technique is not universally accepted by plant addicts. For some, it's simply a waste of time. But is it really?

What's the point of misting houseplants?

More and more of us are growing houseplants from the four corners of the globe in our living rooms. In their Central American rainforests, monstera deliciosa, goeppertia makoyana and ctenanthe burle-marxii are accustomed to a humid environment, far removed from that of our homes. The same applies to chlorophytum comosum and indoor ferns.

These tropical plants need a humidity level of over 70% to thrive. But in our latitudes, the air is naturally dry in summer. In winter, heating dries it out. Humidity rarely exceeds 50%. Even with regular watering and the right soil, the edges and tips of the leaves turn yellow and eventually fall off.

To remedy this, we recommend misting houseplants. This technique, also known as foliage misting,increases humidity without the need for additional watering. The moisture is absorbed directly by the limbs, so there's no risk of rotting the roots. By spraying a fine mist of water onto the leaves, you help your plant to increase its hygrometry and regain some of its natural environment.

Is it really useful?

You don't have to be a weather expert to realize that your spray doesn't have the same power as a tropical downpour. Can a few sprays of water replace the rain your plant experiences in its native environment?

The answer is obviously no. The effect of misting wears off after a few minutes. However, during this time, it provides your houseplant with welcome freshness and moisture.

While the effect of spraying on hygrometry is short-lived, vaporization has other, longer-lasting virtues. Fogging your houseplants helps combat invasions by mites such as red spiders. It's also an effective way of quickly dusting foliage without damaging it.

But to be effective, misting, like watering, must be regular. At least three times a week is recommended. Some very assiduous plant lovers even spray their mini jungle every day, and even several times a day.

Most houseplants love humidity - Photo by Gabriel Caparo

Which houseplants to spray?

To begin with, you need to identify the varieties that require foliage spraying. These are plants that grow in tropical areas, particularly forests and undergrowth. You can therefore spray :

asparagus ;
asplenium ;
bromeliads
banana plants ;
calathea ;
alocasia ;
crotons ;
ficus ;
monstera ;
philodendrons ;
schefflera ;
yucca.

Not all houseplants can be misted. To avoid killing them, do not spray :

carnivorous plants with waxy leaves ;
plants with downy foliage, such as Saint-Paulia and certain begonias;
coleus (Plectranthe);
cyclamen.

You can mist your orchids, azaleas and Anthuriums, provided you manage not to wet the flowers.

Finally, misting is unnecessary for plants native to desert environments, such as cacti and succulents.

Afraid you'll forget? No need to panic. The Monstera app takes care of that for you. Once your plant has been added, we'll let you know when you need to mist or water it.

Our tips for spraying water like a pro

To mist your houseplants, you need a sprayer and water. Choose an adjustable sprayer that distributes water in a fine mist. For the water, avoid hard water: it leaves white spots on the leaves. Use rainwater or demineralized water instead. You can also filter tap water.

Set the sprayer to the lowest setting. Spray the water onto the foliage, standing about 20 cm from the plant. Two or three sprays are sufficient for medium-sized specimens.

After each spraying session, remember to air the room. This will prevent the appearance of mould or fungus.

The mister, the ultimate weapon for spraying your plants - Photo by Marco Vertch

Increase humidity without drenching foliage

Don't want to spend your life with a spray bottle in your hand every time the temperature in your living room rises above 20 degrees? Tired of spraying the wall, the furniture and everything else in the vicinity of your houseplants every time you spray? There are alternatives for increasing humidity levels without the need for misting.

You can invest in a humidifier. For a few dozen euros, the machine will diffuse water continuously and you can store your spray bottle. Another (almost) free and equally effective method is to place the pot on a dish filled with moistened clay or perlite balls. The water that evaporates will be captured by the foliage. Finally, choose a terracotta pot rather than a plastic one. This material favors evaporation and contributes to better hygrometry.

If you live in a really dry environment, we advise you to install your green plant in a humid room that receives natural light. Your bathroom with a window or your kitchen, for example.

Last but not least, there are a number of small steps you can take to increase the humidity in your room, in addition to or instead of misting. For example, you can dry your laundry near your Alocasia 'Black Velvet, open your windows when it's raining or place a bowl filled with water on your radiator.