Houseplants that love humidity are not hard to find. In fact, most of the common plants we grow indoors are tropical and thrive in rainforest conditions. If you’re looking for green things that will be happy in your bathroom or kitchen (the most humid rooms in the home), there are many beautiful options.
There are more houseplants that like higher-than-average humidity than those that don’t. Your succulents will wither with too much. There are some species that will tolerate dry air but it is not ideal for most. Here are some wonderful examples of houseplants that thrive in high hunidity environments. But first, how can you raise it if your home is too dry?
How to Raise the Humidity in Your Home
As I mentioned, the bathroom and kitchen tend to be the most humid rooms in the home. A well-lit bathroom is just about the best place to build your tropical indoor garden. In the kitchen, above your sink or dishwasher are great spots. In other parts of the house, you may need to supplement these and most other houseplants.
A humidifier is the best and most effective method. It reliably adds moisture to the air in an amount that most tropicals are content with. This is my chosen method, as it’s the most sure thing.
As far as maintenance goes, this falls in the middle. A humidifier is a daily commitment, but in most cases, running it every other to every third day should suffice. This is especially true in the summer when the air is not as dry, and you’re not drying it out further by running the heater. You’ll need to remember to run it and refill it regularly, but it truly is the most effective method.
One thing to be aware of is that you’ll need to clean your humidifier regularly to prevent the growth of mildew. Running one on a regular basis can be detrimental to certain other objects in the home. If your wallpaper starts to bubble, back off of the humidifier a bit. Most are adjustable.
This is the easiest, and lowest maintenance of the methods. You place pebbles on a tray and fill it with water so that just the tops of the pebbles stay dry. Set your plant close by and as the water evaporates, it raises the ambient humidity around that plant.
This works well if you only need to deal with a couple of plants, but it can get to be more work if you’ve got a larger collection. It’s also not as foolproof, and it’s harder to measure the levels.
This will work for some, but in general, you’d have to mist several times a day to make this effective for some plants like orchids and ferns. That can get to be a lot of work, and if you’re anything like me, remembering to do that is unlikely.
Orchids
Orchids make the top of my list because they tend to be one of the most elusive of houseplants. Humidity is often the reason that they fail to thrive. This applies specifically to tropical orchids, as there are orchids native to many climates from Zone 2 to Zone 12. Most of the ones we keep in the house are tropical, though.
Depending on the species, tropical orchids thrive in levels between 40-80%. Those that require less, like phalaenopsis and cattleya, are easier to grow. Others, like vandas and ludisias, do best in greenhouses and terrariums as they need levels that are difficult to achieve in the house without making the paint peel.
Bathrooms are the best place for your orchids. If you don’t have a window there, I highly recommend a humidifier. A pebble tray may be sufficient for some, but it’s not as reliable. If you notice wrinkled leaves and roots, it’s a moisture issue. Both should be smooth and plump.
Monsteras
Monsteras are amazing. They grow quickly and reach impressive sizes, even indoors. M. deliciosa is the species we think of most often when it comes to this plant, but there are others that also make lovely houseplants. Those large, fenestrated leaves can turn a room into a tropical paradise in no time.
Monsteras are native to the rainforests of Central America from Mexico to Panama. Naturally, they get plenty of moisture in this environment, so that is what they thrive in. 60-80% is the ideal range for these leafy beauties. Indoors, the lower end of that range will suffice.
Peace Lilies
Peace lilies are tropical understory plants native to Southeast Asia and Central America. They prefer levels around 40-50%, which is not difficult to achieve, and you might get by with a pebble tray or daily misting of this one. If you want something noteworthy in the bathroom, this is a stunner and a great bloomer, even indoors.
If you notice the leaf tips turning brown and crispy, it’s a moisture issue usually related to humidity. These can be surprisingly resilient, though. If you alter their care to an ideal situation, they bounce back quickly and grow new leaves rapidly.
Prayer Plants
There are several genres that fall under the umbrella of prayer-plants. They are all members of the Marantaceae family, however. They all have an interesting characteristic in common. In response to sunlight, these will raise their leaves at night and lower them during the day, like praying hands, which is where they get their common name.
Overall, plants in this family prefer a humidity level between 50 and 80%. Some need more than others. Calatheas are happy at 50-60%, so these are better for indoors. Stromanthes and marantas prefer slightly higher but will survive around 60-70%. I recommend the bathroom for these, but a humidifier will work if you’re diligent about it.
Spider Plants
Native to tropical Africa, spider plants are great for beginners, as they are easy to care for and forgiving. It’s easy to propagate them, as they create offsets easily. Be careful not to over-fertilize this one. Brown tips can be an indication of too much fertilizer.
Their attractive variegated foliage is the main attraction to spider plants. The variegation becomes more high contrast when they get plenty of bright but indirect light. They are happy with moderate humidity, in the range of 40-50%. Overall, they are tolerant and flexible to different conditions.
Bromeliads
Bromeliads are tropical air plants or epiphytes. Orchids also fall into this category, which is another reason they need higher humidity. The exposed roots of these plants take in a significant amount of the moisture they need to thrive. The lack of soil surrounding their roots means that they need moisture in the air.
Most bromeliad houseplants need between 50-75% humidity. Otherwise, they are fairly tolerant. They can handle temperatures in a wide range from nearly freezing to 100°F (38°C). They will bloom if they receive enough bright light. They need 12-16 hours per day, so indoors, it’s far less common.
Dracaenas
Dracaena is a large genus of semi-succulent plants that, unlike most succulents, prefers high humidity. They are adaptable, however, and can tolerate dry air, too. They are wonderfully low-maintenance, and as such, they are great for beginners. This group also includes what were previously classed in the Sansevieria genus, or snake plants.
Hostas and agaves also belong to this family of Asparagaceae. You’ll find them growing in both deserts and rainforests. Keep the humidity about 50-60% for these easy-care houseplants. Some can grow up to 60 feet tall in their native habitat but generally will remain smaller in containers.
Elephant Ears
Elephant ears are a group of plants in the aroid family that encompasses several genres. They are all moisture lovers and prefer an environment with higher humidity. They perform best in the range of 60-80%, which is quite high. I find these a tad difficult to grow indoors.
They vary in terms of sun exposure, with lighter varieties happiest in indirect light. Darker varieties tend to retain their color best in full to partial sun exposure. Depending on the variety, these can grow large. I have some in my yard that top out around ten feet tall. They will stay smaller in a container, though.
Philodendrons
Philodendrons are one of the most common houseplants. With a wide range of species, these can have different appearances and growth habits, but they all like humidity. Most philodendrons are tropical rainforest understory plants. Some grow on trees, reaching for the light, while others creep along the forest floor, and still others grow upright.
Philodendrons are great air purifiers, but they are toxic to animals. They can become invasive outdoors, so be careful about planting them in your yard in warmer climates. Their humidity needs range from 50-80%, but at 60%, most are content. In terms of exposure, variegated types will do best with more light.
Pothos
Pothos are incredibly easy to grow, which is why they are so common. If you’re just getting started, I highly recommend a pothos as your first plant. They are highly adaptable and able to grow in low to medium light conditions. They’re also forgiving about moisture.
Regular pruning of your pothos will encourage bushier growth. Use those trimmings to propagate! These are happy with humidity in the range of 40-70%, but again, they are adaptable. Brown leaf tips indicate that the air is too dry.
Peperomias
Peperomias are native to many tropical parts of the world. While we find the greatest number of species in Central and South America, they also grow in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. They are warm-weather lovers and members of the Pipereace (black pepper) family. You’ll find them growing in the understory of rainforests.
There is a lot of variation between species. Some have fuzzy leaves, while others are smooth. Some have prominent veins or variegation, often in shades of red and pink. In their native environment, they often get as much as 90% humidity, but in the home, you can keep them happy at about 50%.
Pitcher Plants
Pitcher plant is a common name for carnivorous plants in two different families. They have similar needs but different growth habits. Some grow on the ground and can tolerate cold temperatures. These are in the Sarracenia genus. The Nepenthes genus is tropical and epiphytic.
What makes these and most other carnivorous plants similar is their need for acidic soil and a lot of moisture. They grow in rainforests and bogs, where they have near-constant moisture exposure. Both houseplants will be happy with a high humidity level of about 70%.
Ferns
This covers a large group of plants with different needs and climates to which they are native. Some are highly cold-tolerant, and others are tropical. They can range in size from a few inches to treelike specimens up to eighty feet tall.
Something all houseplant ferns have in common are high humidity needs. Ferns perform best between 40-50% and will start to suffer if it drops below 30%. Ferns will let you know they need moisture with shriveling leaves.
Anthuriums
Anthuriums are native to the tropical areas of the Americas, including the Caribbean. Most of them are epiphytes, like orchids and bromeliads. Most people go wrong with these by potting them in soil that is too dense and keeping the roots wet, leading to fungal disease.
Although they don’t like wet feet, they do need a lot of moisture. In the wild, this comes in the form of high humidity. These houseplants like warm temperatures and a high humidity level between 60 and 80%. They are great for the bathroom; just make sure to pot them in a loose, well-draining mix and a container with adequate drainage.
Fiddle Leaf Figs
Fiddle-leaf fig is a wonderful tree that is native to Africa and has become very popular as a houseplant. They are long-lived and, with the proper care, can grow quite tall indoors. In the wild, they can reach heights of up to 50′, while in a container, they will grow to about 10′ if allowed. They do bloom and bear fruit, but rarely indoors.
Fiddle-leaf is a tropical tree, and it likes plenty of moisture. Ideally, keep the humidity around this houseplant between 30-65%. That’s a wide range, and the bottom of it is easy to achieve. If the leaf edges begin to turn brown and look dry, it’s a sign that the air is too dry.
