When you bring your spider plant home for the first time no doubt there are a number of different questions that race through your mind in order to take care of your plants.
For example, you might find yourself googling such questions as; Do spider plants like humidity? Do they like to be misted? What is the best humidity level for my spider plant? Do they like bathrooms?
Well, in this post, we are going to address your questions so that your beautiful spider plant will thrive in its new home.
Let’s begin…
Do Spider Plants Like Humidity?
The answer: Yes, Spider plants love humidity. Overall spider plants are hardy plants. This means they can do quite well in low humidity, but they do the best in a high humidity environment. When trying to determine the best humidity level for your plant pay close attention to the color of its leaves. If they start to turn brown, this might mean they need more humidity.
What is the ideal humidity percentage for spider plants?
As previously mentioned spider plants do relatively well in low humidity environments, but in order for them to thrive, it would be best to keep them in an environment where the humidity level is between 50 to 60 percent humidity.
This is especially important during those hot dry summer days or during the winter when you might be running the furnace to heat the house.
How To Know If Humidity Levels Are Too Low For Your Spider Plants
During those cold winter months when the furnace is working hard to keep us warm, it is also doing a great job sucking the moisture out of the air.
You know the air is dry when you begin to notice more static electricity, dry elbows or you might suffer from chapped lips.
The same is true with our precious spider plants. There are signs that will tell you that the air is too dry and something needs to be done.
What should you look for
When spider plants are suffering from low humidity levels the first place to look at is the leaves. Wrinkly, drooping leaves are a clear indication that there is not enough humidity in the air and something needs to be done.
Another sign that your plant is suffering from low humidity levels is if the tip of the leaves starts to turn brown. If you notice this happening to your plants, put your plant in a high humidity environment such as the bathroom or around the kitchen sink.
You may also enjoy reading: Can Spider Plants Grow In Water?
4 Ways To Increase The Humidity Levels For Your Spider Plants.
Use humidity tray
One of the easiest ways to increase the humidity levels is by creating a small greenhouse environment around your plant.
This can be done with a shallow waterproof tray (as known as a humidity tray), some water, and decorative stones, beads, or pebbles.
First, take your tray and put down a layer of decorative stones, beads, or pebbles. Once that has been done, you are going to fill it with water to where the water level comes just above the stones.
Lastly, you are going to place the pots that have your spider plants on top of the pebbles.
The idea here is that as the water evaporates it will create a high humidity environment around your plants.
Like I said this is a low maintenance way to increase the humidity levels, but there are a few cautions.
One, be sure to check the water level frequently. In order for your humidity tray to work effectively, there needs to be water in the try. With that being said, be sure to check your humidity tray regularly.
Next, make sure that the spider plant’s roots are not in the water itself. This will make the roots rot and affect the overall health of the plant.
Finally, be sure to regularly monitor the humidity. Make sure it is working effectively before setting it and leaving it. If you don’t see an increase in humidity you may need to try another approach listed below.
Gardenista’s Tip: An easy way to monitor the humidity levels is with a humidistat. Simply plug it in and place it near your plants. From time to time look at it to make sure the levels are ideal.
You may also enjoy reading: Do spider plants like to be root bound?
Create a Humidity Tent
When the temperature is warm and the air is dry a simple way to trap moisture from escaping is to create a humidity tent.
This can be as simple as covering your plant with a piece of clear plastic. The idea here is by covering your plant you are preventing the moisture from escaping, thus creating a high humidity environment for your plants to thrive.
Gardenista’s Tip: Use this method in combination with the humidity trays for very dry environments.
Misting
Do spider plants like misting? Yes, they do! While they don’t need a lot of moisture to thrive a daily misting or a weekly misting can do two different things for your plants.
First, by making it a habit of regularly misting my spider plants, I find that I am more attentive to the humidity levels as well as the overall look of their leaves. So when I do notice that its leaves are starting to wrinkle or starting to turn brown I can act quickly before it is too late.
Second, a regular shower helps to wash your plant’s leaves. This regular cleaning helps to keep your plant healthy and it also helps to prevent such pests as spider mites from ruining your plants.
How to mist your spider plants.
As far as how to do it, well, it is a pretty straightforward process. Just get yourself a spray water bottle and start misting away.
The one drawback to this approach is that in many cases, you will need to regularly monitor your plants to ensure that you aren’t giving them too much mositure.
If you decide to go with this approach be sure to do it every day and be attentive to any signs of low humidity.
Purchase a humidifier
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to provide your spider plants with the humidity it craves is to purchase a humidifier.
One that I would recommend is the Pure Enrichment Humidifier. It is relatively small, allowing it to be placed just about anywhere and best of all it is quiet.
One caution when it comes to using a humidifier creating too much humidity. When you see signs of mold or fungus you know that it is time to cut back on the about of time you use the humidifier.
You may also enjoy reading: Are Spider Plants Poisonous To Cats?
Can An Spider Plants Have Too Much Humidity?
Yes, as with just about anything, too much of a good thing can actually be a bad thing. that is the same when it comes to humidity levels for your spider plants. Too much humidity can do more harm than good.
When the humidity levels are high, mold or bacteria can start to grow on your plants and cause them to die. In addition, too much humidity attracts pests that could feed on your plants.
For that reason, it is important to regularly monitor the humidity levels either by regularly checking up on your plants or by keeping a humidistat close by a all times.
Do Spider Plants Like Bathrooms?
Yes, they do! In fact, because bathrooms maintain a relatively good humidity level year-round they may be the best place to keep your spider plants during those hot dry summer months or during the winter when the furnace is running often.
One word of caution when it comes to keeping your spider plants in the bathroom. These plants enjoy a lot of indirect sunlight with that being said, be sure to put them in a bathroom where there is a small window or skylight where they can receive the amount of light they need to thrive.
Gardenista tip: Another great place for your spider plants is just above the kitchen sink. Kitchens and bathrooms maintain good moisture levels throughout the year. In addition, the window above the sink will allow them to get plenty of indirect sunlight.
You may also enjoy reading: 9 Of The Best Plants For Bathroom Odors
Final Thoughts….
While spider plants do well in dry environments they do like humidity. Try to keep them in areas with 50 to 60 percent humidity. If you live in a dry area, used the suggestions mentioned above to create an environment that your plants will thrive in.
Lastly, buy a humidistat. The best thing you can do for your plants is to monitor the humidity levels regularly and make adjustments when needed.
Now it is your turn. Please share with us your experience. What do you think, do spider plants like humidity? Do they like to be misted? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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