Plant humidifiers are gadgets that add humidity or moisture in the air to help preserve moisture in plants. This helps reduce the rate at which evapotranspiration takes place. In this post, we shall discuss how to go about choosing these gadgets?
Are humidifiers good for plants?
Do you live in tropical regions? If you do, you understand that there’s a high circulation of cool and sometimes warm humid air in the environment. For plants to thrive in such areas, they’ll need proper humidity levels which you can achieve by using specially designed humidifiers for plants.
These play a huge role in creating a humid environment inside your garden or home for your plants. Remember, some plants require a high level of humidity than others to thrive. Still, you need to understand that high humidity levels can destroy your plants. What this means is that humidifiers are great for plants only when they are used to create a proper environment.
How to Choose the Best Plant Humidifier for Your Needs
There are various considerations to make when it comes to choosing the humidifier that best suits your indoor plants. These include:
The Size of Your Room
Many plants need a humidity level of up to 60%. Desert plants, however, need humidity level of approximately 40%. If you have indoor plants, ensure the humidity level is between 50 to 60%. You’ll need a small humidifier for a room measuring 300 square feet.
A medium-sized humidifier will be ideal for a room measuring between 399 to 499 square feet, and a large gadget for a room measuring more than 500 square feet. Using the right humidifier size helps prevent regulate humidity levels in small and large rooms.
Location of Your Humidifier
While you want to ensure proper humidity to your plants, avoid placing the unit overly close. Make sure they don’t face the plants directly. Remember, humidifiers utilize fans that rotate to discharge moisture. If the unit is overly close to the plants, this can cause wilting.
Maintenance
A plant humidifier will need to be maintained from time to time to function effectively. For instance, you will need to clean it regularly to prevent the accumulation of bacteria and other harmful components. Further, you’ll need to change filters regularly to guarantee hygiene. Establish whether or not you can manage the duties that come with owning this unit.
Type of Humidifier
What’s your preferred humidifier? What are you looking to achieve? While some humidifiers are specially designed to add warm moisture in the air, others do the opposite. Whatever your choice, you want to ensure that the humidity level is right for your plants to avoid damaging them.
With low humidity levels, your plants will dry faster. Such conditions create a proper environment for bacteria and viruses to thrive which causes diseases. When exposed to such conditions you’re likely to notice tipping and dulling of the leaves and drooping of the plant in severe conditions.
High humidity, on the other hand, makes the room damp. This not only converts the environment into a breeding ground for bacteria, but it also encourages mold buildup.
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What to Consider when Choosing a Humidifier for Your Plants
Where possible, buy a portable and mobile ultrasonic or an evaporative cool mist unit. Humidifiers are beneficial to plants but the unit releases heat to the environment which can damage the plants, especially if you place it too close to the plants.
One of the advantages of using a portable humidifier is that you can move it quickly and place it within a secure distance to guarantee the safety of your plants. Cool mist humidifiers consume more energy more and less efficient compared to a warm mist humidifier.
Noise Level
Where do you keep your plants? If you store them close to your bedroom you need to consider the unit’s noise level. Remember, humidifiers use fans that rotate to discharge moisture in the environment and this makes them slightly noisy. Conduct research and read reviews to establish how loud your preferred gadget is before you invest in it.
Size of the Water Tank
Ensure that the humidifier you choose has a large water tank. This way, you don’t have to keep on refilling the tank which can be inconveniencing.
What Type of Humidifier is Best for Plants?
Here are some of the best humidifiers for plants you can find in the market.
Honeywell HCM350W Germ-Free Cool Mist Humidifier
The Honeywell HCM350W measures 13” and weighs 9.55 pounds. It’s a large and effective humidifier that circulates invisibly albeit soothing moisture to eliminate the harsh effects of dry air.
This unit can function for up to 24 hours for each filling. It also operates silently, which means you can comfortably use it in your bedroom and still get good quality sleep. The three-speed setting allows users to adjust the sound level and moisture output.
The Honeywell HCM350W also features a wicking filter that absorbs all minerals from water to block them from being released. This helps to contaminate the environment with white dust.
Replacing the Filter
When it comes to replacing the filter, you should utilize the HAC504 filter model. This is because it’s been treated with Protec antimicrobial which prevents mold growth.
Clean Mist Generation System
The Honeywell HCM350W is specially designed to feature a clean and stylish mist production system. It also comes with an extra chamber which utilizes ultraviolet lights to destroy germs up to 99.9% in the water before it’s converted into mist.
This unit is made with cool mist technology which can increase the humidity levels inside a 645 square feet apartment up to 25% during the cold weather and 35% in warmer temperatures.
Pros
- The Honeywell HCM350W operates silently allowing you to use it for your plants in the bedroom at high speed.
- It produces a white noise which helps you sleep better and more comfortably.
Cons
- It can be expensive
- It doesn’t feature an auto shut off control and this makes it inconvenient because you need to manually monitor it to prevent it from surpassing your desired humidity levels.
Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier comes with a 360-degree mist nozzle, night light, and a large tank that can accommodate up to 1.5 liters of water. This unit weighs 1.75 pounds and can operate on a high setting for up to 16 hours, meaning that it can operate longer on a low setting.
This way, you won’t need to refill it regularly. The 360-degree mist nozzle allows you more accuracy when the mist is released into the air. The refilling process is easy and it features an easy to dismantle section at the top side of the tank’s inlet.
Silent Operation
This unit operates silently making it ideal for use both during the day and night. You can use it for your bedroom plants and still sleep comfortably. If you’re a light sleeper, you need to understand that this gadget features a light at the power button and optional night light.
Auto Shutoff
The Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier comes with an auto-shutoff safety feature that activates when the tank is full or dismantled. This unit is ideal for both medium and small-sized rooms and is perfect for you if you’re working on a budget. What’s more, it comes with a two-year warranty.
Pros
- It features a long runtime
- It’s easy to clean
- It has an auto-shutoff feature
- It operates silently
- It’s cost-effective and
- It comes with a long runtime
Cons
- It has a beeping sound
TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier
The TaoTronics cool-mist humidifier measures 3.5 pounds and comes with an LED display that helps you monitor the amount of moisture inside a room. It also comes with a micro cartridge that filters water to eliminate microorganisms.
Utilizes Ultrasounds
This unit utilizes ultrasounds which facilitate a silent operation. If you have plants in your bedroom, you can comfortably use this gadget and still sleep soundly. The TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier has a 4-liter capacity tank that can supply moisture in a 500 square feet room for approximately 15 hours. You can use the 360-degree rotatable nozzle to regulate the amount of moisture inside the room.
Timer
With the timer, you can set the humidity level from 1 to 24 hours. The unit comes with an auto-shutoff option which comes in handy when water levels drop.
Pros
- It’s cost-friendly
- It features a multi-directional mist discharge option which facilitates the proper supply of moisture in a room.
- It doesn’t leave white dust
Cons
- Removing the tank for refilling can be an arduous task
- Cleaning it can be a daunting task and this encourages the buildup of bacteria
Vicks Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The Vicks Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier features a large tank that can operate on the lowest setting for up to 24 hours. This gadget allows you to change the mist output from high to low settings using the analog control knob.
This unit operates silently, which means you can use it for your bedroom plants. Remember, the Vicks Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier will produce white dust should you use hard water. Always use distilled water to avoid this problem.
You can also buy a demineralization filter separately from the humidifier package. This filter is designed to remove minerals that are inside tap water which triggers the production of white dust. This humidifier is ideal for use in small and medium-sized rooms and is quite cost-effective.
Pros
- This unit is specially designed to destroy bacteria and produce hot vapor which warms up the room
- It doesn’t feature filters and this saves you from purchasing replacement filters
Cons
- Lacks an auto shut off feature
- You need to use demineralized or distilled water which adds up operational costs
MistAire XL Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The MistAire XL Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is a 12-inch high unit that weighs 36 pounds. It can produce moisture continuously for up to 12 hours. It comes with a large tank that can fit up to 1 gallon of water.
This unit is ideal for use in 500 square feet sized rooms, it features a mist knob that facilitates the regulation of mist in the room and two nozzles which customizes the flow of mist. This unit operates silently but produces white noise allowing you to use it in your bedroom or even office.
With the auto shut off option, this gadget goes off when the water level is low. All you need to do is refill the unit when it runs out of water. Remember, this gadget doesn’t have a filter which makes it cost-effective.
Pros
- This unit is easy to use. All you need to do is change the mist knob to get your desired humidity levels.
Cons
- Lacks a filter which means it’ll produce white dust. Use demineralized or distilled water as opposed to tap water
Evergreen Pet Supplies Humidifier
The Evergreen Pet Supplies Humidifier is specially designed to regulate humidity levels in the environment. This unit features an adjustable and flexible hose that you can easily attach to the gadget’s output to facilitate the circulation of mist to various areas.
It comes with a 2-liter capacity water tank which means you don’t have to keep on refilling it. With the auto shut off security feature, you can be sure that the unit will go off when the tank runs out of water. Refilling the tank is easy and it also comes with a no-spill valve to avoid a messy refill process.
This unit is specially designed for pets but you can also use it if you have indoor plants. It features an attractive design complete with a hose that features a suction cup. You can easily bend it to achieve the ideal shape thanks to its collapsible and expandable characteristics.
The Evergreen Pet Supplies Humidifier comes with an adjustable fogger which operates silently. It also has an adjustable output that allows you to choose various options such as dense fog and light mist. With the timer, you can choose to regulate the humidity level according to your preferences.
Pros
- It’s easy to refill
- It features an auto-shutoff option
- It offers a high mist output rate
Cons
- It can be noisy especially when operating on higher levels
- You can only use distilled water
How can You Mist Your Outdoor Plants?
If you’ve established your preferred plant humidifier, you’re probably wondering how to humidify your plants. The following tips should guide you.
When you’re using humidifiers for your plants, start misting them from below. Doing so ensures that the water goes to the plant’s soil rather than the leaves. Once the misting process is complete, a big percentage of the water molecules fall on the soil which helps the plant to absorb enough moisture through the roots instead of the excess water that results from heavy watering.
Remember, misting from above subjects the leaves to excess moisture and this exposes them to bacterial and viral infections. Where there’s poor circulation of air, moisture on the foliage creates a conducive environment for mold spores to thrive.
To avoid this, you want to increase the level of humidity in your house plants to the appropriate levels. Plant humidifiers help you achieve this by increasing humidity levels in the indoor environment. When stored within safe humidity levels, plants can absorb sufficient moisture for their growth and survival.
How Often should you Mist Your Indoor Plants?
Remember, the aim of misting plants is to maintain proper humidity levels for your plants to thrive. Experts recommend that you should at least mist your plants every morning to give them sufficient moisture to survive on across the day.
Whether you mist the plants again in between the day depends on the type of plants you have. For instance, orchids require between 40% and 70% humidity levels to thrive. Ferns, on the other hand, can thrive under 40% and 50% humidity levels.
Having this information helps you figure out the proper misting rate appropriate and the appropriate humidity level for your plants.
Can a Diffuser be used as a Plant Humidifier?
Diffusers are used to mix essential oils with water or any other substance and releasing them as mist in the air. This means they can’t be used as a humidifier.
Still, diffusers can add a certain amount of moisture in the air which won’t be high or sufficient enough to satisfy the needs of your indoor plants. Compared to a humidifier, a diffuser has a little amount of water and needs frequent refilling every hour. The frequency depends on its size.
Finally
Finding the ideal humidifier in the market for your plant’s needs doesn’t have to be a struggle any more. The humidifiers included here are among the best in the market and you can be sure that they will serve you effectively. This will help you keep your plants thriving regardless of the season.