You have already invested in setting up a beautiful indoor garden when suddenly, you realize that your plants are not looking as great as they used to, and you may wonder why. It may have something to do with the low humidity in your home.
The level of humidity in the environment has a significant impact on our health as well as the growth and survival of plants. Plants need an optimum amount of moisture to grow. Luckily, there is an easy solution to this problem: a humidifier!
A humidifier will help add excess moisture back into the air, making it easier for your plants to absorb the needed water.
When you search online for a plant humidifier, you may be overwhelmed with all the available options. In this guide, we have selected what we consider to be THE BEST plant humidifiers on the market and provided you with all the information you need to know to make an informed purchase.
5 Best Humidifiers for Plants Reviews
Here are our recommendations for the top plants humidifiers. All have proved to be the best quality. They also have attractive design units to fit your stylish home.
The five humidifiers are:
- Best of All: LEVOIT Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier
- Best Design: Miro Cool Mist Humidifier
- Best 2 in 1 Humidifier: GENIANI Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifiers
- Best On the Go: Portable Mini Humidifier
- Best value for Money: AquaOasis™ Cool Mist Humidifier
1. Best of All: LEVOIT LV600HH Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier
- Warranty – 1 year
- Ultrasonic Warm and Cool mist
- Remote control
- 6 liters
- Coverage: 753 Square Feet
- Running Time: 10-60 hours
Humidifiers can be tricky to use, but the LV600HH is designed with your needs in mind. The dual temp feature allows you to choose between warm air or cool mist at any time and offers unique benefits for each type!
Unlike other leading humidifiers that only output one type or style of vaporizer at a time, this product has both options for those who want it!
For example, for plants that require higher humidity, the cool air or mist function is perfect because it can raise the moisture in the air without making it too humid.
On the other hand, the warm mist function is ideal for plants that benefit from a more temperate environment because it can help prevent them from drying out.
The LV600HH is an excellent choice for large spaces because it can easily humidify continuously for 50 hours with just one refill. The 6-liter tank means you won’t have to worry about constantly refilling or worrying when your next break from work will be so that the machine turns itself off!
Also included in this package is remote control functionality, so you don’t even need to get out of bed or stop what they’re doing whenever your device needs attention.
The best part about this humidifier is that it can be set to automatically adjust mist levels and maintain your desired percentage of humidity. You’ll never have trouble sleeping again because the low noise level ensures there are no distractions while also shutting off when you’re done using moisturizer!
This humidifier has no filters. It might seem like an empty victory if we leave without mentioning anything else, but wait until YOU see how quickly those filter costs add up (trust us – they do)!
2. Best Design: Miro Cool Mist Humidifier
- Warranty – 1 year
- Cool mist
- 4 liters
- Coverage: 600 square feet
- Running Time: 24 hours
If you need a humidifier that you can rely on and is easy to clean. The Miro cool mist humidifier is a great option. It’s whisper-quiet, last longer, and stays perfectly clean. You can refill the 1-gallon bowl without stopping the operation.
This humidifier has 3 levels of humidity. When its capacity is 8hr, running it at max power lasts 24hr at minimum power.
The Miro includes touch-panel controls and colorful, softly glowing LEDs. You can actually choose your favorite color or turn the lights off!
MIRO is powered with an electrical wall adapter, not a USB plug. It doesn’t come with an auto shut-off feature. The humidifier goes off when the water goes below the required level, but the LED lights stay on.
The Miro humidifier is an excellent choice for those who are looking for an easy-to-use and easy to clean humidifier.
3. Best 2 in 1 Humidifier: GENIANI Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifier
- Warranty – 2 year
- Cool mist
- Remote control
- 4 liters
- Coverage: 220 square feet
- Running Time: 18 hours
This is a very popular humidifier for indoor plants. It’s made by one of the top manufacturers in the industry. It has an easy-to-fill design and can give up to 18 hours of moisture before needing a refill!
The 2-in1 Humidifier and Diffuser will fill your room with essential oils while you enjoy the cool mist. SMART MODE automatically maintains a healthy humidity level. Still, if it’s not perfect for whatever reason, there is an easy manual adjustment system where YOU can choose low or high settings! TOP FILL humidifiers are also super simple – just pour water into the insert at the top of the unit, then wipe clean when done using.
The GENIANI Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifier is the best plant humidifier for people on a budget. It will nourish their houseplants with a high-quality device.
4. Best On the Go: Portable Cool Mist Humidifier
- Cool mist
- USB powered
- 500 ml
- Running Time: 6-12 hours
The Portable Mini Humidifier is perfect for those looking to take care of their plants anywhere! Its small size means it can easily fit in small areas e, so no matter where your plant is located, it will get sufficient humidity.
This mini humidifier has two modes: continuous misting for 6 hours or intermittent spraying (stop 2 seconds), lasting 12. This means it can provide you with much more moisture without worrying about filling up the tank! The 500ml large tank capacity also allows longer sprays – just what we need during these dry winter months!
The built-in water level sensor will turn off the power when it senses that there is no more liquid in your tank.
This portable USB humidifier is an easy to use device that takes the hassle out of Climate Control. With just one button, you can have all your needs met!
5. Best Valur for Money: AquaOasis™ Cool Mist Humidifier
- 100% percent money back
- Cool mist
- 360 Rotation Nozzle
- 6 liters
- Coverage: 400 Square Feet
- Running Time: 48 hours
You can now have a perfect climate in any room of your house with this 6-liter tank that lasts up to 48 hours! The analog knob lets you control the mist temperature and level more precisely than buttons, and 360 rotatable nozzles allow for customizing where it falls.
What’s more, this device does not need expensive filters, which means lower running costs.
It has an auto shut-off function that works perfectly when you need some time away to work or sleep and do not want to worry about anything else and is also extremely quiet.
This makes AquaOasis one of the best humidifier for plants for the price you’ll need to pay.
Why is humidity important for plants only for some plants?
Humidity is good for keeping plants from drying out. It’s a must for orchids and other exotic plants that are being grown indoors as houseplants.
But high humidity can be an enemy if you want to grow vegetables like tomatoes or carrots.
The humidity level in rainforests can reach 100% all year round. So the plants that grow there don’t create a robust root structure due to high water availability. They do not need to draw water from the soil like other plants.
But once you get a plant from this environment and bring it into your home, you need to mimic the same ambient humidity levels again.
Keep in mind the ideal percentage of humidity indoors is around 35-50% in the summer and 15-25% in the winter.
Houseplants and Their Ideal Humidity Levels:
- Leafy greens – 50-70%;
- Tropical plants – 40-60%
- Herbs – 40-70%
- Orchids 40-70%;
- Cacti – 10-20%
- Ferns – 40-50%
By plants stages:
- Germination stage – 90-100%
- Vegetative stage – 50-60%
- The flowering stage of mature houseplants – 40-50%
Do I need a humidifier for my plants?
The easiest way to test this is to look at them with a magnifying glass. Then examine their leaves for signs of dryness or wilted spots.
To decide if you need a humidifier for your plants, consider the following:
- What type of plant are you growing?
- How big is your indoor garden?
- Do you live in an arid environment or near water sources such as lakes and oceans?
Each of these questions will help determine how much humidity your plants need and which one to buy.
What Type of Plant Are You Growing?
This is the most essential factor in determining whether you need a humidifier. Plants with thick, tough leaves, such as succulents, do well without extra humidity. In contrast, plants with thin and fragile leaves are more sensitive to dry air. A humidifier is sometimes needed when starting seeds because of the importance of moisture for germination. The soil needs to be kept moist for the seedlings to emerge, which can be difficult without increasing relative humidity levels.
Where do you live?
Living without plant humidifiers can worsen plants’ growth rates in many geographical areas. Plants will need some supplemental moisture to thrive when you live in a drought climate. If you live in a tropical one with lots of rain, you will need to humidify less often but still be vigilant.
How big is your indoor garden?
The size of your garden is the most critical factor when deciding which humidifier type to buy. Cool or warm mist humidifiers best serve large areas. In contrast, small rooms benefit more from tabletop and ultrasonic models.
What kind of humidifier is best for plants?
There are four types of humidifiers for plants. Those are warm and cool mist plant humidifier, cool mist humidifiers, ultrasonic, and evaporators. Each has its own pros and cons, so choose the one that fits your lifestyle best!
- Cool Mist Humidifier
This is the most common humidifier for plants.
They offer the best combination of efficiency and rate-of-humidity output. Releasing water vapor can raise the humidity by 30%, running at its full capacity.
Cool-mist humidifiers use a filter system. This makes them more energy-friendly than the evaporation method of warm-mist humidifiers.
- Warm Mist Humidifiers
Warm mist humidifiers use heated steam from boiling water to increase the humidity. They’re ideal for gardens needing high humidity levels, such as greenhouses or conservatories.
Warm mist is the best for dry climates or when you want an extra boost of warmth during cold weather. It’s important not to overuse your unit by running 24 hours per day. This will increase energy costs without adding any extra benefit!
- Ultrasonic Humidifier
Ultrasonic Humidifiers use high-frequency sound to create water vapor. They are the most expensive and the best plant humidifiers. You can use them in any room without condensation on walls or windows, and don’t make a noise like other types. For example, these are the best humidifier for growing mushrooms.
- Evaporative Humidifier
An evaporative cooler passes airflow using a fan through a wet wick filter or pad to create water vapor. It is best for a small grow room.
Still, they make more noise than other humidifier models because they use a fan pushing air. Yet, they tend to use less energy than other types.
Is a warm or cool mist humidifier better for plants?
You might be wondering whether it matters if your humidifier puts out a warm mist or a cold mist. The answer is no.
Most plants will do fine with a warm mist humidifier.
Still, remember that you should also have a thermostat set at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If not, they might begin to wilt from the heat created by their pot and soil combined with a hot humidifier.
9 Essential Features of the best plant humidifiers
A humidifier is a device designed to provide comfort to humans and not plants. A humidifier can do wonders for us humans. Still, some features don’t work as well as others when it comes to our interior gardens.
Here’s what you should look for:
1. room size
Your room size will affect the size of the humidifier you’ll need. You should measure the square foot or meter of your indoor garden. For example, a small room will need a smaller plant-focused unit than a large open room.
2. humidity levels
All plants like different humidity levels depending on their type. Some prefer bathing in the humid air. In contrast, others do well with lower moisture in the air.
So, getting a humidifier that lets you adjust the room humidity levels to meet their needs is best.
3. humidistat
A humidistat is a feature that allows you to set how much humidity should be in the air at all times. Then it will release as much moisture as needed for this level.
Humidistats are a smart option for those who want to maintain a specific humidity level. This is crucial when growing plants indoors in colder months and with drier air than usual.
4. leak proof
When it comes to water tank size, bigger is better. You’ll have more water stored inside that can release into the air at once, which will help your plants grow. Yet, you want to ensure the tank is leakproof. It will ensure water doesn’t escape from the tank and into your room.
5. rotating mist nozzle
Some units have rotating mist nozzles, while others release in straight lines. This feature determines how much moisture gets removed from each blast of air.
Units with more than one nozzle or head over these heads allow for greater coverage. Still, those who prefer smaller, more compact humidifiers might find this too bulky.
5. Run time
Your humidifier run time will depend on the size of your humidifier’s water tank, and how often you would like to refill it.
6. Filter Cartridge
A filter cartridge is not required with every humidifier. But, it is necessary for those using an evaporative humidifier. You need to replace the cartridge every few months, and the cost varies depending on the size of your unit.
7. humidity Display
This is a newer addition to the humidifier market. It is beneficial to ensure your humidifier run time and output are functioning well.
8. Ozone
Some units produce ozone as a byproduct (usually those with an evaporation system). If this concerns you, it would be wise to research the chosen model properties before buying.
9. Noise level
Finally, many people find noise levels critical when picking out a new humidifier. So how loud should they run?
If noise bothers you, ensure your chosen humidifier has a built-in quiet operation.
How to best use your humidifier?
To get the most out of your humidifier, you must use it correctly.
What is the Best time to use humidifiers for plants?
Morning and evening are the best times to use humidifiers for your plants. Overnight is a great time as well. Interior humidity levels can drop during this period. Still, it’s important not to go too long without adding moisture. Since then, you’ll need to check on them more often, or they will dry out quicker.
Should you run a humidifier all day or at night as well?
Most experts agree that running a humidifier all day is not necessary. Moisture can be built upon your furniture and floors, leading to mold, bacteria, or other problems.
A good rule of thumb is to turn it on for one hour in the morning and evening when you’re home. Let it off while away from home.
How often should I change my water?
This depends on how much you use it. If you need more moisture, consider doing so every two days or even once per day if required. If your plants need less humidity, then weekly changes may suffice.
Where should I put the humidifier?
Place the humidifier near the plants but not too close to damage them with moisture. The best place is on a table or surface that projects some air under the pot. So there is good circulation for aromatherapy and humidity. This will keep your home smelling nice while also keeping your plants moist and happy!
Maintaining your humidifier
Keeping your humidifier clean is key to keeping it running well. If it’s not too complicated to dismantle for washing, you should empty it often and wipe it with warm, soapy water. You can also boil the wick once per month to eliminate bacteria that may have built upon it!
Is there anything I shouldn’t do while using my humidifier?
Never use any oil or chemicals on the surface of the humidifier wicks. This will damage them over time and make them less effective. The same rule applies when you change filters. Avoid oils whenever possible. They are hard enough for humans without adding these extra challenges!
How to raise My plant’s humidity without a humidifier?
So, can you humidify your room without a humidifier?
Yes! You can try a few things to raise your plants’ humidity without using a humidifier.
- One option is to use clay pebbles or stones from rivers outside in your planter. This will release water vapor that builds up over time into the dry air inside. This process takes about two weeks, so it’s not as fast as an electric humidifier. Still, if you’re patient, then this technique can be very effective.
- There are also methods for creating DIY projects out of plastic bottles. Make holes through one side and tape shut on top. When filling these containers with boiling tap water, their insides heat up and become thick steam! This method is that it’s not ideal for humidifying an entire room. The water evaporates quite fast, so you’ll need to constantly replace the hot tap water.
- Another popular option is to place a pot inside a pot. Select one or two sizes bigger pot than the pot of the houseplant. Fill the pot with water and place the houseplant in this larger pot. Keep in mind that the larger pot should be waterproof to prevent leakage. You can also place sphagnum moss in the gap or use biodegradable peat pots. As the water evaporates or the sphagnum moss dries out. Thus humidity level rises.
- Spraying plants with a fine water mist is the cheapest and easiest way to increase air humidity. When misting plants, moving them to a sink or tub is best as moisture can damage wooden furniture and soft furnishings.
Can I use an oil diffuser as a humidifier?
No, oil diffusers are not meant to be humidifiers and do a great job at what they’re intended for.
Essential oil humidifiers are not bad for plants. Still, these devices do not have the capability of raising indoor humidity levels. They’re best used as an alternative source of scent instead of a supplement to other types of humidifiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do ultrasonic humidifiers emit ozone?
Ultrasonic humidifiers don’t emit any form of harmful gases or chemicals. They use electrostatic atomization that produces large amounts of droplets without involving heat. In fact, this is one reason why people love using this particular type over others.
2. Do humidifiers cause mold?
No, humidifiers are not causing mold to grow in and around your home. Mold requires warmth, moisture, and food (cellulose) to increase. A humidifier does not offer all those three components so that it won’t cause decay.
3. Do I need a filter with my humidifier?
Some ultrasonic and evaporative humidifiers use filters. You need to replace them once they’ve reached their lifespan limit, which is anywhere from six months up to one year.
4. Is a vaporizer the same as a humidifier?
Humidifiers release cool water to create a fine mist in the air. Vaporizers first boil water and then release the steam. You should know that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends using a cool-mist humidifier.
5. Can you use tap water with a humidifier?
No, tap water quality may contain minerals that can clog the humidifier. It can cause it to break down. Your best bet is to use either distilled water or filtered water.
Conclusion
The best plant humidifier will keep plants looking great all year long.
In this article, you’ve learned that there is no one choice when it comes to plant humidifiers. There are many types and features available. Your plants will thank you for taking care of them!
