The question, “Do Philodendrons like humidity?” is one that resonates frequently among horticulture enthusiasts, especially those who are partial to tropical plants. Originating from tropical regions, Philodendrons have a high preference for environments with ample humidity. These lush, verdant plants thrive in conditions that mimic their natural habitats, where the air is heavy with moisture. As such, they tend to perform at their best in environments that have abundant humidity.
Do Philodendrons like humidity?
Yes, indeed, Philodendrons do like humidity. Their natural hot and humid home typically has high humidity, so they’ve adapted to do well under these conditions. When grown in less humid places, like indoors, they may need a little extra love to keep them in top shape.
As plants that grow under bigger trees in the wild, Philodendrons do well in the shade, sheltered from the harsh direct sun but basking in the high humidity that marks these ecosystems. The high humidity levels help with good water movement, the process by which water and nutrients move throughout the plant, contributing to their general health and strength.
How Does Humidity Affect the Philodendron?
Coming from the humid rainforests of South America, where humidity often goes above 80%, philodendrons have adapted to not just survive, but to do well in high-humidity conditions. Asking, “Do philodendrons like humidity?” essentially reveals this deep connection between the plant’s natural habitat and its love for humidity. However, to fully understand and connect with this link, it’s important to look at how humidity affects different parts of the philodendron, especially its leaves and root health.
Humidity affects philodendrons in many ways, mostly by shaping their growth patterns and the process of soaking up nutrients. A humid environment is a kickstarter for the bright, rich growth that philodendrons are loved for, as it helps the plant save water. The humid air reduces water loss from the leaves, thereby saving the plant’s energy for growth and development.
On the body’s level, the perfect dampness helps philodendrons take up nutrients effectively. Nutrients are soaked up in a dissolved form through the roots and excess moisture is let out through tiny pore-like structures called stomata, found on the leaf undersides. This process of soaking up nutrients and letting out moisture is a delicate balance, heavily affected by the surrounding dampness.
When this balance is messed up because of either too high or too low humidity, the plant’s health definitely gets hurt.
What level of humidity is ideal for a Philodendron?
The perfect humidity level for philodendrons is usually between 65 to 80 percent, giving the right mix of their hot and humid roots and doable indoor settings. It’s worth pointing out that this could go down a bit to around 55 percent overnight without hurting your plant.
The usual home setting has a humidity level from 40 to 60 percent. While philodendrons can put up with these levels thanks to their natural flexibility, they will definitely be happier and show more bright growth if humidity is kept closer to what they naturally prefer.
Many philodendron types show great toughness to lower humidity levels, however, long times in really dry air can badly affect the plant’s health. So, it’s a good idea to aim for a humidity level around 60-70% for most philodendrons, hitting the right mix that makes strong and thriving growth happen.
While philodendrons show adaptability in getting used to lower humidity levels, close watching of your plant is super important. Signs of trouble like wilting, curling, or browning leaves may suggest that your indoor humidity levels need changes.
Discover the causes and solutions for Brown Spots On Philodendron Leaves in our comprehensive guide
How does high and low humidity Affect the Philodendron?
While philodendrons are known for loving humidity, it is crucial to remember that both ends of the humidity range can make things tough for these tropical natives. Understanding the subtle effects of high and low humidity levels is a key part of growing healthy and bright philodendrons.
High Humidity
Indeed, philodendrons have a love for damp conditions, echoing their rainforest roots. However, a tipping point exists where humidity becomes too much, and it is super important for plant parents to remember this. Too much humidity can lead to a bunch of problems for your philodendron, including the chance of getting fungus diseases and root rot.
Really damp conditions make a perfect place for fungi and bacteria to grow, creating a place where these germs can grow and hurt your plant. If you see a really high reading on your humidity gauge or start seeing signs of mold, it’s time to step in and lower the moisture levels near your plant. Remember, while philodendrons appreciate humidity, balance is key, and it’s just as important to make sure there’s enough air to prevent disease outbreaks.
Low Humidity
On the other hand, philodendrons, as tropical plants, can find it tough in low humidity conditions. Dry climates or fake heated indoor places during winter can cause trouble and even damage to your plant. The main signs of low humidity stress in a philodendron include browning and curling leaves, higher chance of getting pests and diseases, and an overall sickly look with yellowing leaves.
Constantly low humidity can dry out the philodendron, leading to crunchy leaf edges, stunted growth, or even leaf drop. Spotting these signs early and doing the right fixes is key to prevent long-term harm to your plant.
Helping Philodendron Deal with High Humidity
Too much humidity can create a bad setting for your philodendron, upping the plant’s chance of getting sick with things like mold and root rot. If your humidity gauge shows signs of high humidity, or if mold starts to pop up on your plant or its soil, it’s a quick sign to start fixing things. Below are some tried-and-true tricks to help your philodendron deal with high humidity levels.
Avoid Excess Watering
A lot of the humidity around your philodendron comes from the water in the potting soil, which the plant gives off by releasing water. A simple trick to cut down too much water is to let your philodendron dry out a bit between each watering.
This not only lessens the extra water in the environment but also does good for your Philodendron by stopping roots from getting soggy. The wetness level of the potting soil can be judged pretty accurately by simply sticking your finger into the top two inches of the soil. Don’t water unless the soil at that depth feels dry.
Since things like temperature, the rate of water release, and how well the soil holds water affect how often you water, there’s no one-rule-for-all schedule. Regular checks are the most reliable way to make sure you’re watering at the best times.
Also, a bright windowsill and opening the window now and then when it’s warm outside (but not super sunny) can help keep the right humidity level around your Philodendron.
Get Better Air Movement
Still air in a room can lead to an increase in humidity levels, creating a harmful setting for both philodendrons and people alike. This situation, though, can be easily solved by getting better air movement.
Simply cracking open a couple of windows for a few hours each day can seriously improve airflow and lower humidity. As the air changes with the outside, the indoor humidity level can be expected to drop, offering your philodendron a healthier environment to do well in.
In addition, leaving doors open at both ends of a room helps air move freely, improving the overall circulation within the space. This trick contributes to keeping the right humidity levels good for your indoor plants and your own comfort.
Choose the Right Potting Soil
The idea that potting soil can influence humidity may seem weird at first. However, it’s super important to understand that wet potting soil could potentially be one of the things that hold water most in your room.
Philodendrons prefer their roots to be in a space where water drains well, not waterlogged. So, no matter what the humidity levels are, it’s recommended to opt for a potting mix that helps water drain well.
A balanced blend of good indoor plant potting soil and perlite in a 1:1 ratio can do this job effectively. This mix lets water drain swiftly, yet keeps a nicely damp home for your beloved philodendron.
Be aware that things like peat or coconut fiber add to the extra water holding within the potting mix. If your potting soil contains these things, it’s likely to hold water longer, affecting both the wetness level around your plant and the overall room humidity.
Read more: Best Pot For Philodendron: Perfect Choosing For Optimal Growth
Make Use of Grow Lights
Proper lighting can decrease humidity, make water release faster, and promote plant growth. Philodendrons ideally need about eight hours of bright light each day. While some spaces provide enough natural light, darker rooms or places with long harsh winters may not meet this need. In such cases, grow lights can be helpful.
Choosing power-saving grow lights such as LED white lights and placing them right above your plants can help. Remember not to let the lights touch the leaves to prevent leaf damage. Using your lights with a timer can make them work best.
Methods of Improving Low Humidity
Grouping Plants Together
Too much dampness can make your philodendron’s home a bit of a rough place, boosting the chances of nasty stuff like mold and root rot. If your humidity reader starts showing high humidity, or if mold starts popping up on your plant or its soil, it’s a clear hint to start fixing things. Here are a few handy tips to help your philodendron deal with too much dampness.
Gravel Trays
A whole lot of the dampness around your philodendron comes from the water in the potting soil, which the plant lets out through sweating. A simple trick to cut down extra water is to let your philodendron dry out a bit between each watering.
This not only chops down on the extra water hanging around but also helps your philodendron by keeping the roots from soaking in water. You can pretty much tell the water level of the potting soil by just sticking your finger into the top two inches of the soil. Hold back on watering unless the soil at that depth feels dry.
Since things like temperature, sweating rate, and the soil’s water-holding properties affect how often you should water, there’s no hard and fast rule. Checking regularly is the best way to make sure you’re watering just right.
Also, a bright windowsill and occasionally cracking open the window when it’s warm outside (but not overly sunny) can help keep a good dampness level around your philodendron.
Using humidifiers
Humidifiers are cool gadgets to ramp up the dampness in the air, really helping out your Philodendron. You generally have two types of humidifiers to choose from: one that heats water to release it as steam, and another that stirs up water, shooting it out as a fine mist.
Cleverly placing these devices near your Philodendron allows you to tweak the humidity levels to match the plant’s exact needs.
While using a humidifier may seem over the top if you’re just looking after a single plant or a couple, its value shoots up when you add more green friends to your collection. This method shines, especially when the indoor humidity drops below 50%, offering a steady and trustworthy way to make sure your plants get enough dampness for their best growth. When picking out a humidifier, make sure it’s a good fit for your room size to keep up long-lasting and good dampness levels.
Using indoor mini greenhouses
Indoor mini greenhouses are a super handy fix, especially when dealing with dampness issues in larger rooms. Basically, these mini greenhouses, which you can set up within your home, are made from clear plastic or framed glass, typically housing up to six plants.
Their compact size creates a controlled environment, making it a lot easier to offer the perfect growing setup in terms of both temperature and humidity. Not only do they provide a mini world for your houseplants to thrive, but they also add cool looks to your home decor. In essence, investing in an indoor mini greenhouse is a fantastic method to up the humidity for your plants while adding an eye-catching vibe to your living space.
Misting for your Philodendrons
For years, old-school thinking for boosting humidity around houseplants involved a simple trick: spritzing the plant leaves with water using a spray bottle. This method was thought to work by letting moisture settle on the foliage, which upped the surrounding dampness levels as the water evaporated.
However, recent research findings have started to switch up our understanding of this practice. These new insights show that the dampness upping effect achieved by misting is short-lived, going back to initial levels soon after.
Furthermore, this practice also brings an unintended side effect: it raises the chances of the dampened leaves to stuff generally linked with too much dampness, such as mold and rot. Therefore, while misting has long been a go-to method for increasing humidity, these recent studies underline the need to rethink its overall benefits and drawbacks for the health of your Philodendrons.
Check temperature
Philodendrons are happy with indoor temps between 55 to 90 °F (12 – 32°C). One big deal impacting humidity levels is air temperature, as warmer air can carry more dampness.
However, this rule isn’t always true. For example, in super hot but dry places like deserts, the air stays dry because there’s not enough moisture for the hot air to soak up.
In a home setting, higher temperatures could potentially lead to increased humidity levels, especially if there are things making dampness like wet potting soil, a fish tank, or water gathering in plant saucers. Therefore, it’s crucial to regularly check your moisture meters to make sure you’re keeping the right dampness levels for your Philodendrons.
Conversely, during the chillier winter months, indoor heating systems such as central heating or fireplaces can whip up a warm but dry environment that leads to low humidity. Philodendrons are not naturally equipped to handle these sudden shifts, so it’s crucial to keep an eye on and tweak dampness levels throughout the year as needed.
Conclusion
The answer to “Do Philodendrons like humidity?” is a resounding yes. With Famiplants‘ tips and guidance, you can craft the ideal humid environment for your Philodendrons, promoting their growth and vibrancy in your home.
