Should I Mist My Snake Plant?

Misting is a common practice among most houseplant owners. However, we need to understand that every plant has different needs, and not every plant likes to be misted. Belonging to a dry and arid environment, the snake plant doesn’t need a lot of water. But what about humidity and misting? Does snake plants like to be misted? Let’s find out.

Snake plants should not be misted at all. Being succulents, they prefer to remain dry. If we mist our snake plant, it is likely to make the foliage wet, resulting in root rot and pest problems in them. Snake plants thrive in average humidity levels ranging between 40-50%, and we must help the plant maintain the same.

While some tropical plants like pothos and monstera enjoy being misted, it is not the same for snake plants.

These plants can suffer from a lot of problems if their foliage remains wet. Thus, we need to maintain the ideal humidity level without misting the plant.

So, without much delay, let’s dive right into it.

Do snake plants like to be misted?

No, the snake plant doesn’t like to be misted. These plants have thick leaves that help the plant store a lot of water in them.

When you mist the snake plant, and the humidity of your room is already above 60%, then it might take a lot of time for the water to evaporate.

Thus, it is likely that your snake plant will suffer from leaf disease and pest problems.

Most hobbyists are likely to mist their snake plant in the evening when they are misting all their other plants. While this may do wonders for some plants but it is a terrible recipe for snake plants.

The water droplets will keep the leaves wet, leading to fungus, brown spots, and eventually root rot.

It is believed that misting can help with the humidity. But is it that effective?

No, In fact, if you want to increase the humidity level of the room just by misting, then you need to mist your plants every 15 minutes, which is practically impossible.

But what is the ideal humidity level and what should we do to maintain the ideal humidity level for your snake plant? Let’s find out!

Does snake plant like humidity?

Humidity levels are crucial for the growth of all houseplants. While some tropical houseplants prefer medium to high humidity levels, snake plants do well in average humidity levels.

Originated from the dry and arid regions, the snake plant prefers to stay on the drier side. Thus, we must aim to maintain an average humidity level for them. But what is the role of humidity in the growth and survival of the plant?

When the humidity levels are too low, the plant will lose a lot of moisture during transpiration. That can hamper the overall growth of the plant.

On the flip side, if the moisture level is too high, the water droplets will not dry, resulting in bacterial infection and other leaf diseases.

How to check humidity level of your room?

Checking the humidity level of a room is quite simple. It would be best if you had a hygrometer for the same. Just place the hygrometer in the room, and it will tell you the exact humidity level of the space.

Please note that the humidity level of the room will differ in different parts of your home. You need to check different spots of your home to get it right.

For example:- The humidity level of the bathroom and kitchen will be higher than your bedroom. The same spot’s humidity level might also vary depending upon the temperature, season, and various 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.

Also read: Best placement for snake plant

How much humidity does a snake plant need?

Snake plants can survive in a wide range of humidity levels. However, an ideal range for your snake plant would be anywhere between 40-50%.

Anything lower than that can make your snake plant droopy, and anything higher can result in leaf spots and pest infestation.

A room temperature of 60°F-80°F alongside higher humidity levels would be ideal for the growth of your snake plant.

Signs your snake plant needs more humidity

Snake plant does prefer to remain on the drier side, but if the humidity levels are too low, your plant will show the following sings:

• Brown edges
• Yellowing of the leaves
• Drooping and curling of the leaves
• Wilting of the snake plant

Most of these signs are similar to watering issues; you need to understand your plant’s cultural conditions to determine the appropriate cause.

If all other cultural conditions are perfect, then humidity is likely the cause behind these problems.

Also read: How much water do snake plant needs?

How to maintain the humidity level for the snake plant?

Maintaining the ideal humidity levels for your snake plant shouldn’t be so difficult. The solution to the humidity problem is dependent upon the space you live.

If the humidity level is too low, then we need to take a few steps to raise the same, and if it is too high, we need to bring the level down.

Let us discuss more about the same.

Use a dehumidifier

If you live in an area where the humidity levels are high, then you might need a dehumidifier to bring it down.

Too much humidity can be detrimental to the health of your snake plant. Thus, using a dehumidifier is one of the most efficient ways to control humidity in your home.

For a small space, I personally love this Lonove dehumidifier that I brought from Amazon. These are economical and does the job well.

Keep away from heat source

It is crucial to keep your snake plant away from the heat source. The air vent or spots near your wood-burning stove can have a varying degree of humidity that can stress your snake plant. Thus, it is crucial to keep your snake plant away.

Increasing the temperature will also lower the humidity level because the air that higher temperature holds a lot less moisture than at lower temperature.

Keep a small aquarium in the room

Keeping a small aquarium in the room can help a lot in raising the humidity levels. The small-medium sized aquarium acts as the waterbody in nature. The water evaporates naturally, raising the humidity of the room.

Apart from that, you can also use the water from the aquarium in your houseplants. Aquarium water is an excellent source of nitrates, which are crucial for the growth of your plants.

A reptile terrarium like this one will also serve the purpose.

Keep your plants grouped together

Grouping a variety of houseplants has been a common practice. It helps to raise the humidity levels of your space as all plants release a small amount of moisture into the air when they transpire.

When grouped, the plants will take advantage of added moisture and thrive together.

Use a mini greenhouse

Using a small terrarium or mini greenhouse can help maintain the humidity levels for your snake plant.

If you live in a place where conditions are not ideal, then this could be an ideal choice. It helps create a mini-environment of its own that can help some demanding plants thrive even in adverse conditions.

You can choose from the wide range of terrariums and mini greenhouse on Etsy.

---

Source: The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, University of Minnesota, Snake plant profile, Lighting Indoor Houseplants

Sharing is caring!