Monstera plant also known as swiss cheese plants, originates from the canopy of lush tropical forest where they thrive in a warm, humid climate. Thus, many people often suggest misting their monstera can help with the humidity making the plants thrive in our home. But do monstera like to be misted? Let’s find out!
You shouldn’t mist your monstera plant as it raises the humidity for a short period, which is not beneficial for the plant. Misting also increases the probability of pest infestation and fungal diseases, which can be counterproductive. Consider adding a humidifier or moss pole to raise the humidity level.
While some people beleive that misting can help their plants grow, there are other groups of people who don’t.
In either scenario, what’s more important is raising your room’s humidity level so that your monstera can thrive.
If you want some tried and tested solution to increase your home’s humidity level, then I would suggest you read this article till the end.
Should I mist my Monstera?
You can mist your monstera plant, but misting alone will not help with the humidity level required by them. If you live in an area where the relative humidity is below 40%, then misting won’t help you much.
But why? The air is dry and warm. As soon as you mist the plant, the water droplets will start evaporating, and within a matter of minutes, they will dissipate and spread around without helping much with the humidity.
You can still mist your plants, but we need to find other ways alongside this to deal with the humidity issues.
The second concern is if you live in an area where the humidity level is above 60%, the air is already saturated with water molecules.
Thus, the water droplets from misting will stay in the leaves for a longer period. And if the air circulation is not enough, you will end up with bacterial disease and pest problems on your monstera plant.
To get a better insight into the topic, I reached out to people in the community. I was overwhelmed with the reply.
People on the thread were divided into two groups. Some believed they need to mist their monstera, or it will wilt, and others were completely against it. From all the feedback, here is what I have learned:
| Pro-Misting | Against Misting |
|---|---|
| Helps with humidity | Humidity last’s for just a few minutes and doesn’t help much. |
| Helps clean the foliage and leaves | Can spread pests and diseases |
| Misting with a mix of neem oil can help prevent pest infestation | Misting can lead to leaf damage. |
I went through all the feedback and did some of my own research to find out how helpful it is to mist my monstera. Here is what I have found:
If you live in an area where the humidity level is low or not ideal, then you might have to mist your monstera every 15 minutes to maintain a high humidity level around your plant.
Is it practical? Nopes! Does misting your plant once or twice a day helps? Yes, a little bit but misting alone won’t help your plant thrive.
Thus, we need to look for a better alternative to raise our room’s humidity level for our monstera to thrive, and we shall discuss all the practical solutions later in this article.
Do monstera like humidity?
The Monstera plant comes from a warm and humid forest condition. They will thrive in their natural state; thus, a warm and humid environment is critical for their growth.
When we bring a monstera into our home, the environmental factors are totally different for them. But if we can provide them with adequate humidity, temperature, and other needs, they will thrive in our home as well.
But what role does humidity plays in the growth of the plant? Why is it so important?
Most tropical houseplants, including monstera, uses humidity as an indicator for transpiration.
When the humidity level is high, the plants will open their pores on the leaf’s surface to exchange air for the process of photosynthesis. But what does this have to do with humidity?
If the humidity is low and plants open their pores for transpiration, they will also lose a lot of water and moisture in the air.
Thus, they avoid transpiring in a low humidity environment. However, if the humidity is high, then the plant won’t lose a lot of moisture into the air.
Thus, humidity plays a vital role in the plant’s growth as, without it, the plants cannot photosynthesize and produce their own food for energy.
How to check humidity level of your room?
You can quickly check the humidity of a place by using a hygrometer. It is a reliable device that can help determine the relative humidity of the room.
Please note that the humidity levels can differ in different parts of your home. You need to check various spots to determine the right place for your plants.
For example:- Bathroom, kitchen, basements will have relatively higher humidity than your bedroom, living room, etc.
It may also differ as there is a change in temperature, season, and many other factors.
I would recommend you to get a few of these hygrometers. These are affordable and accurate, and it can make our work much more manageable.
Before reading further make sure you check out our houseplant coloring book!
This gorgeous houseplant coloring book will keep you entertained for hours. A perfect way to get to know a wide range of indoor plants!
What humidity does Monstera like?
Monstera will survive in a wide range of humidity. An average humidity of 40-50% is the minimum requirement for these plants to survive.
But if you really want your monstera to thrive, raise the humidity level to 60% or above.
A room temperature of 60°F-80°F alongside a high humidity level is ideal for your monstera to proliferate.
Signs your Monstera needs more humidity
If your monstera is suffering due to low humidity levels, your plant will show the following signs:
- Crisp leaves
- Brown edges on the leaves
- Yellowing of new leaves
- Droopy and curling of leaves
- Your monstera will start wilting
Most of these problems can be an indicator of inappropriate watering and other related issues as well.
However, if everything else is in check, then humidity can be your culprit.
How do you keep Monstera humid?
If you get into the topic of humidity, then most people will suggest you to mist your plants and use pebble trays. These tips have been passed around for ages now.
But do these tips help? Yes, they do help, but not so much.
You cannot make your wilting plant thrive just by misting them or adding a pebble tray. These methods work for a short span and don’t make sense on their own.
If you live in an area where the humidity level is low, you need to take some additional measures to ensure your plant is healthy and thriving.
Indoor greenhouse helps maintain humidity levels
Adding a mini greenhouse made up of plastic or glass can not only help retain moisture but also adds to the decor of your house. You can either buy it online or do a small DIY build.
I personally loved this small glass box, as it works as decor and serves the purpose.
These small greenhouses like terrarium help create a mini-environment of their own, which helps some high demanding plants thrive.
If you have a smaller monstera, you can go with the smaller size greenhouse. You can also get a larger size wooden framed terrarium like this. It works like a charm as well.
A small aquarium can increase the humidity level of the room
A small-medium size aquarium acts as a waterbody in nature. The water in the aquarium evaporates naturally, raising the humidity of the room.
It slowly raises the humidity in your room, creating a perfect environment for your plants to thrive.
In addition to the decor of the room, the aquarium can also provide you with fertilizer in the form of water.
Yes, the water from the aquarium is rich in nitrogen, and it can be used on your houseplants regularly.
A reptile terrarium like this one will also serve the purpose.
Keep your plants grouped together
Grouping your houseplants together has been a common practice. It helps to raise the humidity level of that area as plants do release a small amount of moisture whenever they transpire.
When clumped together, they all can benefit from each other. However, you must be careful while grouping them, and you must never group low humidity plants with that of higher humidity.
Consider adding a humidifier to raise the humidity level
A good quality humidifier can be a gamechanger for your houseplants, including your monstera. They can be used to raise the humidity of your room by a marginal amount.
Humidifiers are considered one of the most efficient ways to maintain humidity levels.
I personally love this excellent humidifier that I found on amazon.
However, do remember that you need to choose an appropriately sized one that covers your room well.
Lower the temperature of your room
According to a study, warmer air tends to hold less moisture than cooler air. Thus, if you can lower the temperature of your room, you can increase the humidity quickly.
However, make sure you don’t stress your plant suddenly. Make sure the temperature is appropriate for the plant, and you bring it down slowly.
Thus, lowering the temperature can help with the humidity level of your room.
Add a moss pole
A moss pole can be used to support your monstera and increase the humidity around the plant.
Moss can absorb and retain water, which slowly evaporates and increases humidity around the plant.
It also helps in developing aerial roots that further enhances the overall growth of your monstera.
I personally found this moss pole on Amazon that worked well for me. You can also get them at your local nursery.
Conclusion
Monstera is considered super hardy plants. They can grow against all odds, even when the temperature and humidity levels are not ideal.
However, providing adequate humidity to them can make a huge difference, especially if you live in dry, arid areas.
Please note that just because the monstera comes from a tropical environment and loves moisture, you can keep them wet at all times.
Wet foliage can attract pests and lead to other common problems in your monstera.
We are not against misting your monstera, but what we would say is misting alone won’t help.
However, you can try some of the above-discussed ideas to raise the humidity level of your room. It will definitely make a difference in the long run.
Sources: Monstera deliciosa, Developmental changes in Monstera.