Mist for Plants: The 1 Step 95% of People Forget When Misting Indoors

Georgette Kilgore headshot, wearing 8 Billion Trees shirt with forest in the background.Written by Georgette Kilgore

Eco-Friendly Natural Products | January 11, 2024

Tropical indoor plants in pots, with a brass can mister in the center with mist for plants surrounding them all.

Have you ever wondered about the humidity needs of your tropical indoor plants and when you should use mist for plants? You’re not alone. Many indoor plants love moisture. With increased humidity, they can easily thrive for a long time, but when misting plants indoors, there’s one thing that most people forget.

Misting Indoor Plants: People Always Forget This One Thing in Mist for Plants

For increasing humidity, mist is a great solution. Unfortunately, many people consider misting as a huge mess. Water droplets on the floor, walls, and furniture can be a big deterrent.

The reason is that 95% of people forget one crucial step, and it’s often the most important: They forget to use drip trays, which can make the process highly convenient.

Undoubtedly, indoor plants need detailed care and management. But, instead of just taking the spray bottle and ‘going to town,’ always do the preparation. Placing a drip tray under your plant is key. If a drip tray is not available, simply put your plant in a basin, mist it and then put it back to its former place.

Top 3 Indoor Sprayers to Mist for Plants

Before we explore all the aspects involved with misting indoor plants, we’ve reviewed three of the best sprayers to use. Check them out.

What’s the Best Mist Bottle for Plants? Top 3 Sprayers Reviewed

1

Most Economical Sprayer: Flairosol Clear

This sprayer makes the list for its low cost and undeniably perfect mist of water.

2

Best Style Mister for Plants: Haws Brass Mister

This sprayer is both lovely to look at and effective for using mist for plants.

3

Best Sprayer Volume: Haws Village Brass Mister

Both sustainable and practical.

Misting your plants is easier with the right misting bottle tool. These bottles are available in various styles and features. Some of them are ideal for tall plants, while others help in reaching the tough parts.

But, always remember the first mistake that we commonly make when misting the plants… and don’t forget to add your drip tray before misting and go slowly at first to avoid a mess.

1
Flairosol Clear: Most Economical Sprayer

Photo that shows the characteristics of beech tree.
Price: $8
Mist for Plants Pros: Awesome, smooth spray to deliver equal amounts of water to plants.
Mist for Plants Cons: Plastic Construction
Rating: 4 out of 5

Why We Like this Sprayer: Equal Mist for Plants

This 5-ounce bottle looks more like a salon bottle, and is one of the most economical options when using mist for plants. Even if you keep it full, it stays light in weight. Besides this, it is small in size so won’t require a lot of space. It provides a consistent and gentle mist, as opposed to many other misting bottles that create big water droplets. You can even make a solution of eco-friendly insecticidal soap and store it in this bottle to remove mites and other houseplant problems.

If you want to store more quantity, you can opt for the bigger version of this bottle, which is available in 24 ounces.

The downside of this bottle is that it’s plastic. So, be sure to check out one of the best carbon offset providers to purchase tree planting offsets to erase it’s emissions.

2
Haws Brass Mister: Best Style for Mist for Plants

Photo that shows the characteristics of beech tree.
Price: $30
Mist for Plants Pros: Push plnger makes it perfect for delicate plants, plus it's sustainable.
Mist for Plants Cons: Only appropriate for small plants.
Rating: 5 out of 5

Why We Love this Sprayer: Small Mist for Plants

If you are searching for a sophisticated styled mister, Haws Brass Mister is the right choice. Designed in gold color, the mister looks great when placed with plants. Even if you keep it in direct sunlight, it won’t lose its color.

Besides being a contemporary piece, it provides a great mist. Tiny droplets spread evenly on the leaves and provide good moisture. It can hold 10 ounces of water.

It’s perfect to use with succulents and other small indoor plants that don’t need much water.

3
Haws Village Brass Mister: Best Sprayer Volume

Photo that shows the characteristics of beech tree.
Price: $52
Mist for Plants Pros: Same great steady mist, tilting nozzle and larger capacity
Mist for Plants Cons: A little pricey
Rating: 5 out of 5

Why We Love this Sprayer: Mist for Plants Volume

Just like the Haws Brass Mister, this Village Mister also looks like a piece of décor, and it’s available in multiple options like brass, copper, and nickel. Furthermore, it is super easy to use and provides a consistent stream of mist. One great feature is the turning option of its nozzle. It can provide mist even to the toughest part as you can tilt it upward or downward.

Additionally, you do not need to worry about corrosion, it comes with a high-quality body designed to last, so it makes a great gift.

How To Water Indoor Plants: Are Warm Mist Humidifiers for Plants Okay?

From warm mist humidifiers and regular hand misting to double-pot watering and sink bathing, there are plenty of ways to water the indoor plants. Some common methods include:

Saucer Method

Here you just need to place a deep sided saucer underneath the plant. When it’s time to water the plant, fill this saucer with water.

Ice-Cube Method

Just put two ice cubes on the soil in the plant, as they melt, your plant will get water without any mess.

Soaking Method

If you have a lot of indoor plants, this method is for you. You need to soak all of your plants in a big tub or a basin. Leave them for a few minutes and then let them dry.

Self-Watering Pots

If you are in doubt about over watering, purchase self-watering pots. They have a water reservoir that releases water as needed, and you just need to refill the reservoir when it’s empty.

Are Warm Mist Humidifiers for Plants Okay?

Have you ever been to tropical areas or visited a botanical garden? The blast of warm humidity is at its peak in such regions. This verifies how much humidity the tropical plants need. Some people consider increasing the humidity of the entire indoor garden. In this case, the other plants that hate high levels of humidity suffer a lot.

A humidifier presents an ideal solution, but there are many options. Experts suggest there is no difference in the impact of cool or warm mist humidifiers on plants. The purpose of both of them is the same. Therefore, if you are wondering about the warm mist ones, they’re fine, but keep in mind they do use energy.

Is Using a Warm or Cool Mist Humidifier for Plants the Best?

Both warm and cool mist humidifiers successfully fulfill the purpose of increasing humidity. The difference is just in the cost and the quality. Since warm mist humidifiers use water vapor (they boil the water), they purify the water. However, this is not the case in the cool ones.

Furthermore, if you are thinking about the cost of using a warm mist humidifier for plants, do not forget that it uses more electricity to boil water. Thus, it will cost you some extra bucks. In comparison, the cool mist humidifiers require less energy and can run for a long time.

However, you need to consider the overall features, size, and cost of the humidifier when deciding the best one for your plants.

Should I Mist My Plants? 3 Common Houseplants You Should Never Mist

We all know that misting is a technique for increasing humidity in your plants. Tropical plants need more humidity as they originate from the rainforests. Thus, such plants require more warmth, water, and humidity. So, misting can increase your plant’s health.

But, misting is not for every plant. If you have any of these indoor plants, you should never mist them. These include:

  • Succulents
  • Spider plants
  • Fiddle leaf figs

Additionally, misting is not ideal for hairy-leaf plants. These plants love the dry environment, and in the case of overwatering, these plants may die. Therefore, always check the soil before watering the plants.

Mist for Plants: The Most Common Indoor Plants That Need It

Though only a few plants wither with misting, many others enjoy it. Here is a list of ones that can grow healthy through misting:

  • Orchid
  • Zebra Plants
  • Aloe Vera
  • Pothos
  • Lucky Bamboos
  • Bromeliads

How Many Times Should I Mist for Plants?

There is no fixed formula for misting. Experts suggest looking at the texture of the leaves before misting them. Crispier leaves are dry and therefore need more misting than others.

You can also check the moisture level before misting it the second time. All you need is to check the soil. Just insert one inch of your finger in the soil and notice if it is dry or wet. If it is dry, lightly mist or water the plant.

Additionally, the humidity level of your area is important in determining the misting frequency. If the level is extremely low, you can opt for a humidifier that can provide consistent humidity. However, if it is moderate, misting regularly will be ideal for a plant’s health.

What Are the Dangers of Over Misting?

Just like over watering, over-misting indoor plants can be dangerous. If the water gets pooled up, it can bring fungus and also destroy the foliage. Apart from it, your plants will start attracting pests, which can become a big issue.

How To Mist Plants: Using Mist for Plants

When we know the right procedure of misting and all steps involved in it, we are likely to remember the first common step that people forget while misting.

Step 1 – Fill Your Mister

Fill your mister with lukewarm water. You can even use tap water but warm water is more suitable. Besides this, if it is possible, use filtered water. In this way, salt will not damage your plant.

Step 2- Check the Time

Experts suggest misting in the morning. This will allow the leaves to get dry during the day. So, check the time before you mist.

Step 3- Place a Drip Tray ( A Step That People Usually Forget)

Put a drip tray under your pot so that the water can fall into it. Also, make sure that it is neat.

Step 4- Check the Plants

Before misting, see which plant needs more misting. The one with brown or crispy leaves requires more humidity. Also, check the soil. Plants with wet soil do not require a regular mist.

Step 5- Start Misting

Mist gently on the upper and inner parts of the plant by setting the nozzle of the mist. A consistent and wide mist with tiny drops is always ideal.

I Forgot To Mist My Orchid, Lucky Bamboo, and Zebra Plant, Will It Live?

Do not worry, most of the plants do not die if you forget to mist them for a few days. Orchids can easily live without water for 2-3 weeks. The same is the case with Zebra and Lucky Bamboo. But, once you remember, make sure to mist as well as water them regularly.

Can Indoor Plants I Mist Improve My Health?

Apart from adding an aesthetic value, plants are greatly beneficial for our health. Indoor plants purify the air and help in breathing well. They naturally catch the allergens and save us from multiple airborne diseases.1

Similarly, they deliver several therapeutic features. From mood disorders and chronic stress, indoor plants can alleviate multiple mental health issues.2

Don’t Stop at a Green Thumb: Mist for Plants Is Just the Beginning!

So, keep arming your plant growing tactics and enhance your indoor gardens incredibly. Apart from adding to the décor of our houses, these green pieces of beauty are ideal for our emotional and physical health. They enhance our mood, decrease the probability of getting sick and ultimately increase our productivity levels.

Furthermore, plants are mandatory for our surroundings. By decreasing pollution, they provide us with a safe and healthy environment, plus, plants (especially trees) draw carbon emissions out of the atmosphere. (Check your personal emissions using an ecological footprint calculator.)

You can keep your indoor vegetation healthier by using mist for plants to recreate the humid environment they love… just don’t forget to use a drip tray.

Read More About Sustainable Products


References

1Ellison Chair:Health and Well-Being Benefits of Plants Texas, D.C 4 April, 2018. Web. Retrieved on 20 April 2018, from <https://ellisonchair.tamu.edu/contacts/>

2Better Health:Gardening for Health Victoria, D.C 5 May 2014.Web. Retrieved on 15 May 2014, from <https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/gardening-for-health-starting-out>