Humidity

Not only do plants need moisture in the soil, but they also need moisture in the air. Humidity is dependent on the temperature of the air. Plants lose water through their leaves during a process called transpiration. If the air is too dry plants lose water faster than it can be replaced. Heated rooms during the winter may feel comfortable to us, while feel like a desert to plants because of the low humidity. If the air is to humid then water can be trapped on the leaves or in crevices and decay can set in.

Here are some signs and symptoms of excessive humidity.

• Soft leaves soon decay, moisture becomes trapped around hairs on leaf surfaces.
• Leaves that clasp stems trap water.
• Flower petals may become covered with a furry mold.
• Plants with leaves closely paced together become infested with decay

Here are some signs and symptoms of a dry atmosphere

• Tips of leaves shrivel and brown.
• Whole plant may wilt and lose leaves.
• Flower colors fade and buds wilt and fall off.
• Leaf surfaces become dull.
• Tips of shoots wilt and shrivel

There are many ways to increase the humidity around plants. One method is to use a humidifier. This will increase the humidity within the whole room and may not be useful in big rooms. Another method is to double pot your plants. As with pot holders the outer pot should be around an inch bigger than the plants' pot. Fill the space between the pots with peat and keep the peat moist but not saturated.

Another method is to mist or spray plants. The best time to mist or spray is in the morning, water evaporates before the sun hits it, and leaves dry before the onset of night. You shouldn't mist or spray when the sun is shining on a plant, because the moisture may bead up on leaves and act like a magnifying glass and burn the leaves. Misting in the evening water doesn't have time to evaporate and may sit on the leave causing decay. Care must be taken when misting and spraying plants with flowers, water may collect on the petals and cause them to decay.