Reducing Humidity with Houseplants

As we enter into winter, most of us will experience instances of damp within our homes. Significant signs include condensation on windows and spots of mould. These are more often found in rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom where there are sources of water and heat, but you may also notice these signs in your bedrooms, especially in the morning when your body heat has warmed the room overnight. Depending on the level of humidity, damp can be harmful to your health and worsen respiratory problems. This is especially noteworthy in rooms where you spend the most of your time and is the reason air-purifying plants are recommended for bedrooms! Many plants can improve the quality of the air in your space, resulting in healthier breathing and better sleep. Dehumidifiers can be very helpful in keeping damp at bay, however, this winter most of us are trying to keep our gas and electric costs to a minimum. Luckily, specific houseplants are fantastic at reducing humidity, with no running cost!

Recently, our customers have been frequently asking about this very topic, and we have been helping them choose plants that will help reduce some of the humidity in their homes. Below are some of our recommendations:

Palms

Palms make for wonderful statement plants - often featuring tall growing stems and bushy leaves, they can fill up a large space with their fan-like shape. Palms enjoy high humidity and absorb moisture through their leaves. They like bright, indirect light, but they are also known to be lower-light tolerant. Palms like lightly moisty soil but like to dry out a little between waterings. In winter, check the soil between waterings to check the soil has dried, and water approximately every two weeks. Our favourite palms are the Kentia Palm and the Dypsis Lutescens.

Snake Plants

Extremely hardy and versatile, Sansevieria thrive best in warm, bright light but are also low-light tolerant. Not only do they absorb moisture through their thick, upright leaves, but they also help purify the air by absorbing toxins and producing oxygen 24/7! Snake plants need watering very infrequently, so their dry soil helps to reduce the levels of moisture in a space, and make for a very low-maintenance plant. Sansevieria come in many different colourways.

Peace Lilies

Peace Lily is another great plant that absorbs moisture through its leaves. Many damp areas in your home will be in dark areas, and Peace Lilies love a shady spot with high-humidity - perfect for brightening up a damp corner! Similarly to palms, Peace Lilies like slightly moist soil. Water when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch, or when the leaves begin to droop. Our current favourite variety of Peace Lily is the variegated Diamond Peace Lily.

Anthurium Andraeanum

The beautiful Anthurium andraeanum has lush green foliage and boasts colourful glossy flowers that bloom all-year-round! Decorative and hardy, this Anthurium loves higher humidity and can handle lower-light conditions in winter dormancy. They like evenly moist soil, and need watering when the top few inches of soil have dried. Similarly to Snake Plants, they also help to produce more oxygen into the air. You can find Anthurium Andraeanum in many different colours including bright pink!

Can houseplants really help reduce humidity?

Yes, they can definitely help! Houseplants naturally absorb water through their leaves, particularly those that are native to countries with higher humidity levels. However, depending on the levels of damp and humidity in your house, they may only make a small impact on your overall issue. It’s best to pay attention to your space and the plants you put in them to find the right balance. If too much moist soil or care gadgets like humidifiers are increasing damp in your home, consider opting for plants that enjoy drier environments like Cacti, Succulents, Ficus, and Sansevieria!

Winter Care

In winter, it is important to check your plants soil before watering. Because of the cold, their soil will not dry out as quickly and won’t need watering as often. Ensuring you don’t overwater your plants will also help to reduce humidity in your space! Keeping your house warm in the colder months is important for keeping your plants healthy, however, we know heating is not affordable for most of us this year. In dryer spaces, grouping houseplants together can actually help in generating natural heat, keeping you warm this winter!

We hope you found these recommendations helpful and now know more about the many benefits of owning houseplants!

Words by Phoebe Ingram