Do plants benefit from misting or is it a myth? Botanist answers
As radiators heat our homes in winter, indoor air becomes too dry for many houseplants. Many enthusiasts mist their plants with a spray bottle, but does it really help? This question is a constant topic of discussion on social media as well. We asked botanist Visa Lipponen for his expert opinion.
Botanist Visa Lipponen answers:
Misting increases the humidity of the air around plants if several are placed close together. As the misted water evaporates from the plants’ surfaces, it briefly creates a small, more humid microclimate around them.
For an individual plant, the benefit is smaller, and the humidity doesn’t increase much beyond the moment of misting. However, the water stays as a thin film on the plant’s surface until it evaporates. This reduces the plant’s transpiration and, for a short time, has a similar effect to increased air humidity. Misting also keeps dust away, which helps plants photosynthesize better.
Avoid misting plants when they are in direct sunlight.Visa Lipponen
How often you should mist your plants depends entirely on the type of plant and the humidity level in your home. Indoor humidity varies with the seasons and temperature; it is driest in winter when radiators are running at full capacity.
As a general rule, thin-leaved plants benefit most from misting. However, avoid misting plants in direct sunlight, as water droplets can act as lenses, burning yellow or brown patches onto the leaves.
Some plants should not be misted. These include most succulents and all plants with hairy or very downy leaves. You can occasionally mist succulents to remove dust. However, most have thick, waxy stems that channel water down to the roots, so misting them too frequently increases the risk of overwatering.
On hairy or downy leaves, on the other hand, water tends to bead up and linger too long. The hairs are intended to reduce evaporation, and they also slow the drying of water droplets. A droplet that remains on a leaf for a long time is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and can act like a lens, both of which can damage the leaves. Especially with long-haired plants, heavy misting can also cause the hairs to become matted, causing the plant to lose its decorative appeal.
