With central heating warming up homes you would think tropical houseplants would be delighted, but there is one key difference between a jungle and your home with the heating on
As the weather turns chilly and the heating gets put on more frequently it is important to spare a thought for your precious houseplants.
With central heating warming up homes you would think houseplants would be delighted – after all many of them are originally rainforest plants which thrive in tropical heat. But there is one key difference between a jungle and your house with the heating on, and that is humidity. Humidity is the amount of water in the air, and houseplants love it – apart from cactus and succulents, which like a nice dry air like their desert homes. But many more popular houseplants thrive in humid conditions and the hot dry air created by central heating can be bad for them.
So how can you recreate jungle conditions in your home and give your houseplants the best chance to truly thrive? Most plants will thrive in a humidity of 60% or more. Cacti, succulents and other dry area plants prefer humidity at around the 40% mark. Humidity levels above 70% can be really uncomfortable for humans so it is best to aim for 50-60% humidity range, so everyone is happy. It is important not to over water plants too, so don’t go drenching them – little and often is best but check the label.
The first thing you could do is buy a humidifier for your room – this will gradually add water into the air and increase the humidity. While this might work if you have a dedicated plant room, the idea of a humidifier on while the central heating is running feels like a recipe for black mould in UK homes in winter – perhaps too much like the jungle.
The simplest solution is to buy a spray bottle and mist your plants once a week. This is a way to increase the uptake of water through the leaves without affecting the surrounding environment too much – keeping cactuses and humans who prefer a lower humidity level happy too.
Finally you can make a humidifier tray. Simply fill a plastic or metal tray or saucer with water, put some stones or gravel in it and put your plants on top, making sure the plant itself is out of the water. This will ensure the plant will get the benefit of increased humidity as the water beneath them evaporates.
