Best Humidifiers for Plants

Growing house plants is a great way to add a touch of greenery to your home, not to mention it can be pretty fascinating watching your plants sprout new leaves, or grow taller, day by day. However, not all plants are the same, and different plants thrive in different temperatures and conditions. 

You may not have thought much about it, but where in the world you live will impact the amount of sunlight and humidity your plant is exposed to, which could be too much, or too little. Just like us, plants have adapted over time to their natural environments, so some need less moisture, while others need more. 

If you’re lucky to live in a country with a pretty much constant stream of sunlight flooding through your windows, you may find that despite frequent watering, your plants aren’t quite getting the optimal conditions they need. 

This is where a humidifier comes in. Humidifiers are intended to benefit humans rather than plants, and they can be great for combatting issues like dry skin, insomnia, or nosebleeds. On the other hand, plants also need added moisture from time to time – especially if you live in a hot, arid climate. 

Humidifiers are compact, easy to use, and cheap to buy, but where to start? There are many different types and brands of humidifiers to choose from, so we plan on showing you the ropes with our top humidifiers for plants, as well as taking you through our handy buyer’s guide so you know what to look out for. 

Before you start, here’s what you need to know: 

• It’s unlikely you’ll find a humidifier specifically for plants. Most are for people, babies, or even reptiles!
• You can get warm mist or cool mist humidifiers, though the difference in temperatures between these is quite minimal 
• You can also purchase humidifiers with both warm and cool mist options.
• In terms of cost, humidifiers can be bought for anywhere between $30-$100. While quality does tend to increase with the cost, you can get the most bang for your buck around the $50 mark.

Summary of reviews

Product name	Cooling Capacity	Color	Dimensions (inches)	Product link
Honeywell HCM350B Germ-Free Cool Mist Humidifier Black	300 to 450 square feet	white	17.9 x 15 x 30.7 inches	Check Price
Evergreen Pet Supplies Reptile Humidifier	250 to 400 Sq. Ft.	black and white	18.90 x 15.70 x 31.30 inches	Check Price
Vicks Ultrasonic Humidifier Cool Mist Humidifier to Help Relieve Cold and Flu Symptoms	up to 500 square feet	Platinum and Black	16 x 19 x 35.5 inches	Check Price
TaoTronics 4L Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier	up to 275 sq ft	white	17.13 x 13 x 29.13 inches	Check Price
Homech Quiet Ultrasonic	up to 400 square feet	white	34 x 18.5 x 18 inches	Check Price
LEVOIT Cool Mist Humidifier	up to 400 square feet	white	34 x 18.5 x 18 inches	Check Price

Honeywell HCM350B Germ-Free Cool Mist Humidifier Black

This humidifier has a 1-gallon tank and can run continuously for 24 hours on the low setting. Thanks to evaporative technology, moisture is blown off a wicking filter helping it to evaporate into the air quickly. This technology makes it impossible to over-humidify, as it only adds the amount of moisture the air can hold.

The humidifier’s tank is easily removed via a handle for quick filling or cleaning and has three different levels so you can set it to your ideal humidity level depending on what your plant needs.

The Honeywell dehumidifier gradually releases cool mist into the air and is virtually invisible, so it won’t damage any wooden furniture you have nearby your plants. It also operates at a super-quiet noise level, meaning you’ll barely notice it’s switched on.

The humidifier’s scientifically-proven process uses patented Ultra-Violet light technology to kill up to 99.9% of bacteria, mold, fungus, and virus in the unit’s water, so the moisture that reaches your plant’s leaves will be of the cleanest and purest quality.

Evergreen Pet Supplies Reptile Humidifier

This humidifier may be intended for reptiles, but it’s ideal for plants, too. This dehumidifier has a handy adjustable cool fog output, meaning you can control moisture output to 300ml per hour, ensuring you find the perfect balance for your plant.

The tank holds up to 2 liters of water at any one time, and the dry-run protection shuts off the device when the tank is empty.

Another feature we love about this humidifier is the flexible hose, which you can adjust between 1.5 – 5 feet to get the perfect angle for your plant depending on its size and height – plus you get a far more even and precise application of moisture.

Vicks Ultrasonic Humidifier Cool Mist Humidifier to Help Relieve Cold and Flu Symptoms

With a pretty large capacity, the Vicks Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier will run for up to 24 hours on the lowest setting. The unit offers various mist output settings that are controlled with the analog control knob.

The ultra-quiet operation means you’ll hardly notice the humidifier when it’s switched on. Thanks to the ultrasonic technology, the mist from this humidifier is super fine and barely noticeable, plus the replaceable filter will strain out impurities from the water meaning you’re left with only the purest mist.

One drawback of this product is the lack of an automatic shut-off feature, – which could wear the machine down over time and ultimately give it a shorter lifespan.

Otherwise, this humidifier is perfect for small-medium sized rooms and will work best when placed on a higher platform such as a countertop, to reduce excess water falling on the floor.

TaoTronics 4L Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier

The TaoTronics humidifier produces less than 38 dB of noise, making it barely audible. Over a gallon of water in the tank will last for 12-30 hours, depending on the mist level you use. The built-in Humidistat tells you the current RH, which is useful for misting plants that require different levels of humidity.

This unit will automatically shut-off when the tank runs out of water, and the microporous cartridge filters the water from micro-organisms and bad odor. This humidifier also stands out for its LED screen which shuts-off when the machine is switched to Night Mode, meaning you won’t be disturbed by any light pollution.

Homech Quiet Ultrasonic Humidifier

This Homech humidifier holds an impressive 4L of water allowing for more than 50 hours of continuous use at a humidity rate of 60 ml/hr, meaning you won’t have to refill it as often as other humidifiers on the market.

It also has 360° Degree Humidity Coverage thanks to the rotating nozzle that has a height of up to 24 inches, ensuring an even level of humidity is distributed in your home.

This humidifier has an adjustable level and maximum mist output of up to 300ml/hr. The mist particles are even and fine, and with a noise level of 26dB, this is one of the quietest humidifiers available.

This humidifier also has several features designed to prolong its lifespan, for example, the auto shut-off turns the machine off when the tank is empty or removed, while the dustproof sponge prevents dust from entering via the base, ensuring mist is refined and pure.

LEVOIT Cool Mist Humidifier

This humidifier is actually a 2-in-1 humidifier and diffuser, meaning you could use essential oils in it if you want to. It has an easy refill and clean-up design, and the lid simply lifts up so you can directly access the water tank.

The Spiral Air Duct Technology produces an ultra-fine mist that humidifies the room without wetting the floor or any furniture, and mist levels can reach speeds of 220mL/h and heights of up to 100 cm, meaning humidity is efficiently and effectively spread throughout your environment.

This humidifier is also BPA free, ETL listed, and CA65 tested making it safe for everyone, it will also automatically shut off when water level is low or the water tank is removed.

 

Best Humidifiers for Plants Buying Guide

Grow Room size

The humidifier you buy should be big enough for the space you intend to keep it in. For a 300 square foot apartment or smaller, a smaller humidifier should suffice, but for a larger room above 350 square foot, you’ll need a medium or large size humidifier, especially if you have a lot of plants spread out around one room. This will save you from having to use multiple humidifiers in one place. 

Type of plant

As we mentioned above, different plants require different levels of moisture and humidity. Generally, Orchids require humidity levels of between 40-70%, ferns between 40-50%, and most other houseplants 40-60%. 

Just like people and animals, plants have evolved over time and adapted to their surroundings. Plants that developed in regions of high humidity responded to this by reducing the amount of water stored in their leaves. Succulents on the other hand adapted to be able to hold a lot of water in their leaves, whereas plants that grew in areas of high humidity adapted to do the opposite. 

Plants with less expansive roots are unable to draw high amounts of water from the ground and therefore have adapted to cope with less. Some plants are epiphytes meaning they absorb water from their surrounding environments. However, this means they rely on a high amount of humidity in the air, which they can’t always draw from their environment, therefore meaning a humidifier might be necessary. 

Type of humidifier 

Humidity is basically a measure of the amount of water vapor present in the air, but you can get different types of humidifiers. 

Warm Mist Humidifiers: These types of humidifiers heat water up to a high temperature so that it turns into water vapor. It’s then dispersed into the air to increase humidity levels. 

Ultrasonic Humidifiers: These use vibration to increase the evaporation rate of the water. The mist that these types of humidifiers disperse is finer than other types and less visible. 

Evaporative Humidifiers: Evaporative coolers draw water from their tanks over a wicking material such as cloth or felt.

Temperature of the mist 

You may have noticed that some humidifiers disperse “cool” mist whereas others release “warm mist.” Actually, there isn’t too big of a difference between the temperatures of each, so you needn’t worry too much about this.

However, there are certain benefits to both types of mist. Warm mist is purer because these types of humidifiers create mist via evaporation so the water is purified first, however they use more electricity to heat the water temperature. On the other hand, cool mist humidifiers require less energy and therefore generally run for longer. 

Running time 

You don’t want to have to keep refilling your humidifier, so ensure it has a running time of at least 12 hours but can be used over 24 hours. 

Design

Ensure that the design of the humidifier is simple as you’re going to use it frequently and it will need topping up every day or every other day. Therefore, ensure it is easy to take apart and that the tank has a wide spout for easy refilling and cleaning. 

Multiple levels 

It’s also ideal if your humidifier can be set at different levels of humidity so that it can be used for different plants with various requirements. The more versatile, the better. 

Size/Capacity 

You want your humidifier to have a decent capacity so that you don’t have to refill it constantly, but at the same time, you don’t want it to be a massive eyesore that sticks out amongst your greenery. You want something discrete, simple, and effective. Something around the one-gallon mark is ideal. 

Noise level 

Nobody wants a noisy humidifier, no matter how effective it may be. Most humidifiers are built to be low-noise so that you barely notice them working, however, check the manufacturer specifications to ensure that this is the case, particularly if you have children or pets who are easily disturbed. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are humidifiers good for plants?

Humidifiers are usually designed for humans, not plants. They help boost moisture levels which can help dry skin, colds, and flu and improve sleep quality. However, they can be beneficial for plants, too.

Regions with a high level of sunlight and low humidity will need to increase the moisture in the air for plants to thrive, and using a humidifier is the easiest way to do this. However, not all plants need high levels of humidity, and, if they do need extra levels of humidity, this depends largely on the weather and climate in your country. 

When should I mist my plants?

This is actually quite important; you don’t want to mist your plants at night as the moisture won’t evaporate as easily due to a lack of sunlight, which means water will sit on the surface of the leaves and soil rather than penetrating it, and this will, therefore, encourage more diseases on your plants’ leaves.

The most optimal time to mist your plants is in the morning so that they can use the water throughout the day. This also depends on the humidity level that your plant requires. Do some research and then mist your plants as frequently or infrequently as required. 

Where should I place the humidifier?

Your humidifier shouldn’t be too close to the plant as it won’t be able to draw enough humidity from it, because the fan will actually draw in moisture rather than sending it out. However, you also don’t want it too far away either.

The optimal distance is about 3-6 feet away from the plant. You may also want to keep your humidifier elevated so that the moisture doesn’t just fall straight on the floor – on a table or countertop is probably the best place for it to evenly disperse moisture.