Dehumidifiers are brilliant for keeping damp and mould at bay, but while they’re great at managing humidity levels, they could be quietly working against your houseplants.
Most indoor greenery prefers a little moisture in the air, and when humidity levels drop too low, plants can start to show the strain. Crispy leaf tips, yellowing foliage and slow growth are all signs that your leafy companions may be feeling the effects of dry air.
Thankfully, you don’t need to choose between fresh, healthy air and thriving greenery. With advice from horticultural experts, we’ll explore how dehumidifiers affect houseplants and the simple steps you can take to keep your home humidity levels in check while ensuring your collection continues to flourish.
What do dehumidifiers do and why does this matter for plants?
Dehumidifiers work by pulling moisture out of the air to reduce humidity levels in your home. That’s excellent news if you’re trying to prevent damp patches on walls, reduce condensation on windows or cut down the risk of mould spores spreading.
But the problem is that most houseplants rely on a certain level of air moisture to stay healthy. While humans are comfortable with indoor humidity between 30% and 50%, many plants – particularly those that originate from tropical or woodland environments – prefer things a little higher.
When the air becomes too dry, they can lose water from their leaves faster than their roots can replace it, leading to stress and visible damage.
How could dehumidifiers harm your houseplants?
According to Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture, most houseplants don’t respond well when humidity levels get too low:
“Most houseplants do not like the air to be too dry, and some can suffer more than others if humidity levels are low,” he explains. “However, this will depend on the settings of the dehumidifier and how much it is decreasing the level of humidity in the room, as a setting designed to dry laundry faster will lower humidity much more than the standard settings.”
According to Angelika Zaber, horticultural expert at Online Turf, the signs that your plants are suffering from low humidity can be quite easy to spot:
- Brown and crispy leaf tips and edges.
- Wilting or drooping foliage.
- Leaves that feel dry to the touch.
- Yellowing patches across the plant.
- Stunted or slow growth.
All of these issues stem from the same problem – the plant is losing water through transpiration faster than it can take it up, leaving it dehydrated and stressed.
Richard Barker notes that, “Plants that are most sensitive to dehumidifiers are those that would normally thrive in high humidity environments or naturally grow in tropical areas, including peace lilies, ferns, calatheas (prayer plants), orchids and English ivy.”
By contrast, hardier plants like succulents, cacti, or snake plants are more tolerant of drier conditions and less likely to show distress.
With 4 years in the industry, Richard Barker is an expert in horticulture and the commercial director at LBS Horticulture. He is keen to share his knowledge with both experienced and beginner gardeners, and prides himself in keeping up to date in the latest horticultural trends.
Angelika Zaber is Digital Marketing Executive at Online Turf and Online Rock Salt, specialising in home and garden insights, seasonal trends, and practical advice to help homeowners make informed choices.
How to balance healthy air for people and plants
The key to keeping both your home and your houseplants happy is balance. Appliances like dehumidifiers and humidifiers can make a big difference to indoor air quality, but it’s worth understanding how they interact with your greenery. Here are some practical ways to keep both people and plants comfortable:
Consider your dehumidifier settings
Laundry-drying modes on dehumidifiers can strip moisture from the air quickly, so it’s better to use gentler, everyday settings if plants are nearby. Some appliances, such as The Meaco Arete® Two Dehumidifier from John Lewis, include a built-in humidistat that allows you to set a preferred relative humidity to prevent the air from becoming overly dry.
According to Chris Michael, MD of Meaco, the commonly repeated guideline of 40–60% relative humidity indoors may not be the best fit for the UK climate. With a background in humidity control for museums – where even small fluctuations can damage precious artefacts – he suggests aiming for 50–60% RH instead.
“It’s a waste of electricity to task a dehumidifier to work towards below 50% RH unless there’s a specific reason to do so,” Chris explains. Around 55% RH for the ideal balance, as it’s dry enough to keep damp and mould at bay, but not so dry that your favourite plants suffer. This setting will also reduce dehumidifier running costs.
Likewise, if you’re using a humidifier in your home, remember to keep the settings moderate. Too much moisture in the air can encourage mould growth and even cause harm to houseplants that prefer a drier climate. A hygrometer (a simple humidity monitor) can be a useful gadget for checking conditions in different rooms before you decide whether to run a dehumidifier or a humidifier.
Chris Michael is Managing Director of Meaco, a leading UK dehumidifier brand. With expertise in humidity control, he draws on experience in the museum sector to advise on healthier indoor climates.
Create a microclimate for your houseplants
According to Richard Barker, grouping plants together, misting leaves, or placing pots on a pebble tray can all help raise local humidity. You can even use a glass dome or cloche to trap moisture around delicate species.
It’s also worth thinking about houseplant placement. Kitchens and bathrooms tend to have higher humidity levels and can be ideal for tropical plants, provided there’s enough natural light. However, you should always avoid putting them near radiators, draughts or directly on underfloor heating.
Top Tip: If houseplants are sharing a room with a dehumidifier, they may need a little extra water. Just avoid leaving roots sitting in soggy soil.
Tp-Link Tapo T310 Smart Temperature & Humidity Sensor
This affordable hygrometer gives you precise readings of both temperature and humidity, thanks to a high-quality Swiss-made sensor. It refreshes the data every two seconds, so you can keep an accurate check on your indoor climate at all times.
Dehumidifiers can happily co-exist with houseplants as long as you keep an eye on settings and room humidity. If you’re unsure how to use a dehumidifier, start by checking for the signs you need a dehumidifier at home – condensation, lingering damp smells or patches of mould. Once you know the balance, you can keep both your plants and your indoor air in top condition.
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