Should I Mist My Houseplant?

As we’ve covered, watering houseplants is essential for keeping them healthy. But did you know that getting moisture on the roots alone isn’t enough for most plants? If you want many species to look their best, you’ll need to mist their leaves as well.

What Houseplants Should I Mist?
Just like a gentle rain, misting houseplants has a cleansing, nourishing effect. It’s especially beneficial for tropical plants, which naturally grow in rainforests with high humidity, often over 40%. These plants tend to struggle when grown in places without moisture in the air.
Likewise, thinner leaves tend to need the most misting.
Note: Refrain from misting succulents, as you may cause them to rot!
How to Mist Houseplants

All that’s necessary to mist houseplants is a spray bottle filled with filtered water. Refrain from using tap water, as it might cause calcium deposits to build up on the leaves. Gently spray the plant so that you coat each leaf, taking care to get the undersides as well.

Ideally, you want to mist your houseplants at least once or twice per week. Do it daily if the plant is placed next to a heating or air conditioning vent — otherwise the constant air exposure may cause the leaves to shrivel and turn brown.

An easy way to increase humidity is to group plants together. Transpiration — the process through which plants lose water through their leaves — increases a room’s relative humidity, and plants can absorb water from each other.

Final Tips for Misting:
  • Room humidifiers are an easy way to keep plants moisturized.
  • If a plant seems dry and stressed, temporarily move it into the bathroom and take a hot, steamy shower to raise the relative humidity.
  • Along with misting, consider placing potted plants on trays filled with pebbles. Pour in water to cover the stones to create a humid microclimate for the plant.
  • Stop misting any plant showing water damage, including soft or blackening flesh or soil that never dries out.