In addition to watering your houseplants regularly, some species also benefit from the occasional misting. Misting houseplants can improve humidity, which is beneficial to tropical varieties that thrive in humid environments. Additionally, plants that receive nutrients from the air can benefit from the occasional misting. Here, gardening experts explain which houseplants you should mist, as well as when and how to do it.
- Trey Plunkett, lawn and garden specialist at Lowe's, a supplier of plants, gardening tools, and other home improvement necessities
- Justin Hanco*ck, horticulturist at Costa Farms, a grower of more than 1,500 plant varieties on 5,200 acres
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The Benefits of Misting Houseplants
Many popular houseplants come from the tropics, including pothos, orchids, and ZZ plants. Humidity in the tropics is very high, and the air inside our homes is often dry, says Trey Plunkett, Lowe's lawn and garden specialist. Misting houseplants is commonly used as a way to boost humidity. The effects can be short-lived, however, so if your houseplants really like humidity, it's best to mist in addition to other humidity-boosting techniques.
For many gardeners, misting also gives them a reason to spend time with and pay attention to their plants. "The more attention you pay to them, the more likely you are to notice any potential issues when they’re small and easy to remedy," says Justin Hanco*ck, horticulturist at Costa Farms. "With pests, in particular, it’s so much easier dealing with an outbreak at its start and on one plant than if that pest starts to spread to other plants."
When to Mist Your Houseplants
If you mist your houseplants, the best time to do so is in the morning to midafternoon. "Wet leaves in the evening, when humidity levels typically increase as temperatures drop, can potentially encourage some fungal diseases," says Hanco*ck. "Happily, fungal diseases are not as common indoors as outside. So if you want to mist in the evening, it’s probably fine, but it’s safer not to take the chance and instead focus it earlier in the day."
What Water to Use for Misting
It's best to use filtered or distilled water when misting your houseplants. If you mist a lot, tap water can cause mineral build-up on your plant leaves. "Mineral buildup will typically look like white patches on plant leaves," says Hanco*ck. "Like dust, a buildup of these minerals can act as a filter, reducing the light that reaches the chlorophyll."
How to Mist Your Houseplants
If you want to mist your houseplants, fill a clean spray bottle that produces a fine mist. "You don’t want a lot of big, fat water droplets," says Hanco*ck. Fill the spray bottle with water and use it to gently mist your plants, creating a fine layer of moisture. "If you’re misting an air plant or phalaenopsis orchid, you may see the leaves or roots go from gray or gray-green to green in color," says Hanco*ck.
How Often to Mist Houseplants
Houseplants can be misted about once a week or more during colder seasons when humidity levels are lower. However, you should scale back your misting schedule if you notice signs of disease, like leaf spot, discolored leaves, or wilting of the new growth, says Hanco*ck.
Types of Plants to Mist
Air plants, which absorb moisture through their leaves, enjoy being misted. "If you grow epiphytic plants with exposed roots (Phalaenopsis Orchids are probably the most common example as houseplants), misting their roots can also be helpful," says Hanco*ck. "In both cases, you can direct the mist where the plants can absorb that moisture." Additionally, tropical houseplants and plants that love high-humidity will benefit from misting, says Plunkett.
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Types of Plants You Shouldn't Mist
Some cacti and succulents come from arid areas and don't require misting. While there is no need to mist these plants, doing so won't harm them unless you're misting a lot, especially if they’re in a decent-sized room with good airflow, says Hanco*ck. You should also avoid misting plants with fuzzy leaves, like African violets, which can cause spotting, says Plunkett.
If you want to mist your houseplants, use a clean spray bottle that produces a fine mist. "You don’t want a lot of big, fat water droplets," says Hanco*ck. Fill the spray bottle with water and use it to gently mist your plants, creating a fine layer of moisture. "If you’re misting an air plant or phalaenopsis orchid, you may see the leaves or roots go from gray or gray-green to green in color," says Hanco*ck.
Does Misting Replace Watering?
Misting doesn't replace watering. "Most plants (with the exception of air plants) absorb moisture through their roots, rather than their leaves, so getting water on their leaves doesn’t really help much," says Hanco*ck. "You can mist the potting mix, but you’d need to apply pretty much the same amount of water as you do with traditional watering—misting a cup of water can take a lot of time."
