Humidifiers for houseplants: do you need one?
27 of 100 species in this database need it
27 of our 100 species need it. Buy a hygrometer first — they cost about ten dollars. Typically $25 to $90.
Buy a hygrometer first — they cost about ten dollars. Read your room in winter with the heating on. Above 50% and you need nothing. Below 40% and you have the answer to your brown leaf tips.
Depends on the plant. The only thing on this list that reliably raises humidity. Also the only one that is genuinely unnecessary for most collections, which is why the hygrometer comes first.
What it actually is
A device that puts water vapour into the air. For plants, a cool-mist evaporative or ultrasonic unit run near the plants during heating season is the one intervention that actually moves the number.
What to avoid
Misting does not work — it raises local humidity for about ten minutes. Pebble trays raise it in the inch directly above the tray and nowhere near the leaves. Both are recommended constantly and neither survives contact with a hygrometer.
Species in this database that need it
These species have a recorded humidity floor of 50% or more, which heated indoor air in winter does not meet.
| Plant | Why it qualifies | Water | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prayer plantMaranta leuconeura | 50% humidity floor | 4–8d | Moderate |
| Boston fernNephrolepis exaltata | 50% humidity floor | 3–6d | Demanding |
| Moth orchidPhalaenopsis amabilis | 50% humidity floor | 5–10d | Easy |
| Flamingo flowerAnthurium andraeanum | 50% humidity floor | 6–10d | Moderate |
| Nerve plantFittonia albivenis | 50% humidity floor | 3–6d | Moderate |
| Maidenhair fernAdiantum raddianum | 60% humidity floor | 2–5d | Difficult |
| Calathea orbifoliaGoeppertia orbifolia | 55% humidity floor | 4–8d | Demanding |
| Rattlesnake plantGoeppertia lancifolia | 50% humidity floor | 4–8d | Moderate |
| Triostar stromantheStromanthe sanguinea | 55% humidity floor | 4–8d | Demanding |
| Mini monsteraRhaphidophora tetrasperma | 50% humidity floor | 5–10d | Easy |
| Swiss cheese vineMonstera adansonii | 50% humidity floor | 6–11d | Easy |
| African mask plantAlocasia × mortfontanensis | 55% humidity floor | 5–10d | Demanding |
| Bird’s nest fernAsplenium nidus | 50% humidity floor | 4–9d | Easy |
| Staghorn fernPlatycerium bifurcatum | 50% humidity floor | 7–14d | Moderate |
| Scarlet starGuzmania lingulata | 50% humidity floor | 7–14d | Easy |
| Air plantTillandsia ionantha | 50% humidity floor | 5–10d | Moderate |
| CaladiumCaladium bicolor | 50% humidity floor | 4–9d | Demanding |
| Zebra alocasiaAlocasia zebrina | 55% humidity floor | 5–10d | Demanding |
| Blushing philodendronPhilodendron erubescens | 50% humidity floor | 6–11d | Easy |
| Rabbit’s foot fernDavallia fejeensis | 50% humidity floor | 4–9d | Moderate |
| Table fernPteris cretica | 50% humidity floor | 3–7d | Moderate |
| Creeping figFicus pumila | 50% humidity floor | 4–9d | Moderate |
| Baby’s tearsSoleirolia soleirolii | 55% humidity floor | 2–6d | Moderate |
| Lipstick plantAeschynanthus radicans | 50% humidity floor | 6–11d | Moderate |
| Goldfish plantNematanthus gregarius | 50% humidity floor | 6–11d | Easy |
| Rex begoniaBegonia rex | 50% humidity floor | 5–10d | Demanding |
| Coffee plantCoffea arabica | 50% humidity floor | 5–10d | Moderate |
This table is filtered from our own species records — recorded soil recipe, humidity floor, light floor, watering interval or growth habit, depending on the product. It is not a list of things a retailer would like to sell you.
Other supplies
- Perlite worth it
- Orchid bark depends
- Cactus and succulent mix depends
- Pumice depends
- Moss pole depends
- Grow light depends
Sources
- This database's own care records for 100 species — the recorded soil recipes, humidity floors, light floors and watering intervals this table filters on. Each species entry cites its own authorities.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — cultivation and pest records, cited per species
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — pest and disease guidance
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control — relevant where a product is used on a plant pets reach
Compiled and edited by Tony Valcarcel · 2026-09-12
Prices are hand-checked ranges stamped manual, not live figures, and they move with
pack size. We do not accept payment for placement and hold no merchant
relationships; there are no commission links on this page. How this is sourced.