Do Pothos like humidity? (Pothos Humidity Requirements)

Pothos plants’ low maintenance and durable nature have earned them a devoted following. They prefer a bright, well-lit environment, but they can also tolerate lower light levels. 

Most of the houseplant owners often neglect humidity when they are asked about how to care for pothos plants. Is humidity not that necessary?

Of course it is. Pothos plants will reach their full potential only if you provide them with humidity levels that most closely mimic their natural environment. 

So, there comes another question. Do pothos like humidity? Do pothos like to be misted?

Well, I’m going to share with you all that I’ve learned about pothos and humidity in this article. To be more specific, we’re going to cover,

• Do pothos like humidity?
• How to measure humidity in your room?
• How to know if your pothos want more humidity?
• How to increase humidity for your pothos?
• How to know if your pothos need less humidity?
• How to reduce humidity for your pothos?

So, let’s dive right in.

Do Pothos like humidity?

The natural habitat of pothos plants are the tropical forests in Asia where the humidity levels are high throughout the year. As a result, Pothos plants do like to be in higher humidity than most of the average conditions in the west.

Pothos plants are tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels, and minor changes like grouping plants and using gravel trays can usually fix any issues.

However, even though it does well in low-humidity environments, it shines in humid ones. Too-dry air may show up as brown leaf tips. This complicates the situation since low humidity can exist even in an environment that is dry and hot, such as in the desert. This is because moisture can only form in the presence of both warmth and humidity.

With moisture present, warm air can easily absorb it, and humidity levels will rise as a result. You’re trying to keep the humidity level in your home at a level that’s just right for your plants.

This may appear complicated at first, but as you’ll see in a moment, all it takes is a few simple tricks and regular humidity measurements to keep your home’s humidity levels where you want them to be.

Your Pothos is a tropical plant that thrives or grows faster in high humidity and prefers temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It can withstand humidity levels as high as 85%.

How to measure humidity in your room?

A hydrometer is the only instrument that can accurately measure the relative humidity of the air. These little gadgets are cheap and straightforward to use for the most part. 

These days, most of them are digital and, if activated, will show you the humidity level and the temperature of the room without any adjustments.

Different room areas may have varying humidity levels, so be sure to take your reading near the plant. A Pothos prefers a temperature range of 65-85°F (18-30°C).

One or more hydrometers scattered throughout your indoor garden are helpful when you have many houseplants. As a result, you’ll be able to get the most accurate readings of humidity levels throughout your facility and take appropriate action.

The accuracy of the hydrometer is directly proportional to the frequency with which it is checked. Remind yourself that various variables, including weather, heating, and soil conditions, affect relative humidity. 

You can only get an accurate picture of the water level by checking the hydrometer frequently.

How to know if your Pothos wants more humidity?

Low humidity is far more common than high humidity in the United States and Europe when it comes to house plants. Our favorite houseplants including Pothos come from humid tropical areas, so this is the case.

Glasshouses and commercial greenhouses have higher excess humidity levels than the average home, but if you’re growing Pothos in the bathroom, this may not be an issue. 

Because we heat our homes and use double glazing to keep out the outside air, we have low humidity levels in our homes. You can tell if your Pothos is suffering from low humidity by looking for these symptoms:

• Brown leaf tips.
• Crisp and dry leaf margins.
• The leaves are wilting and drooping in all directions.
• In the end, the leaves may begin to turn yellow and fall.

How to increase humidity for your Pothos?

When it comes to increasing the humidity around your plants, you have a number of options. There are some inexpensive hacks that can make some really good changes.

1. Keep multiple Pothos plants together

If you group several plants together, you’ll notice an increase in relative humidity around those plants. 

As a result of the plants’ collective transpiration, the surrounding air becomes more humid, resulting in a mini-microclimate. First and foremost, this is one of the easiest and cheapest methods that has worked for me many times.

2. Add a Humidifier

If you have some money to spend for the wellbeing of your pothos plant, then adding a humidifier is the best way to increase humidity.

These gadgets are designed to raise the level of humidity in the air around them. They can be purchased from a variety of garden centers as well as online.

To accurately measure the temperature and adjust the humidity, they are equipped with a thermostat.

3. Mist your Pothos very frequently

This is a tried-and-true method for boosting the humidity level in a room. Scientific evidence says, spraying water can help increase the humidity temporarily.

And that implies, spritzing the leaves of plants with a fine mist of water can instantly raise the humidity level for those plants that are suffering from lack of moisture. 

But, misting is not a recommended method for improving humidity because you have to mist the plant very frequently (multiple times a day) to achieve some success. Also, misting your pothos very frequently can lead to pest attack and leaf damage.

How to know if your Pothos need less humidity?

Pothos plants have a few telltale signs that need less humidity than other plants. To ensure the survival of your plants, it is essential to be aware of these warning signs.

• Growth is stifled
• The soil has an offensive odor.
• Turning brown: The stems of Pothos
• Leaves that have begun to droop
• The fading of the leaves
• The browning of Pothos leaves

The change of color in leaves is a common symptom for a lot of pothos plant problems like root rot, root bound, etc. So, you need to double check the other symptoms in order to confirm what is the real issue.

How to reduce humidity?

If you are seeing a couple of the symptoms that show your pothos is getting too much humidity than what is needed, then it’s time to reduce it to a limit.

The following are some ways to reduce the humidity of your Pothos:

1. Change Potting Soil

Different types of potting soil can retain vastly different amounts of moisture. A good houseplant soil is ideal for planting your pothos. Also, make sure that your soil has good aeration and water holding capacity.

Water-retentive materials, such as peat or coconut husk, can cause a potting mix to retain a lot more moisture than it should. This isn’t a good idea if it’s humid out. It’s possible to improve drainage by adding 20% to 30% perlite or grit before planting your Pothos.

We have written an in depth article on best potting soil for pothos plants after comparing 20+ different potting soil options based on multiple studies.

2. Improve Aeration in surroundings

Another possible cause of high humidity levels in your Pothos is a lack of air movement. 

You may be able to lower the humidity in the room simply by opening some doors or windows and allowing the air to circulate more freely.

A windowsill can be a good place for your plant to grow if it isn’t exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period.

3. Never overwater Pothos

Avoid overwatering your plant as the first step. 

The potting soil will become too moist, and some of the water will evaporate if you water it too frequently or in excess. As a result, humidity levels will rise, and your hydrometer will tell you if they’ve gotten out of hand.

You can correct this by implementing a proper watering schedule. 

Allow these plants to dry out completely between watering, and only water them when the top two inches of soil are completely dry.

If you are not sure whether you are overwatering your pothos plant, check out this in-depth guide to explore the symptoms of an overwatered pothos plant.

Also, have a look at the article on how often to water your pothos plant and set a proper watering schedule for your pothos plant.

Do Pothos Like Humidity ? – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In this section, I will be answering some of the most commonly asked questions related to pothos humifty requirements.

Wrapping Up

Humidity is crucial to a plant’s health, even for the Pothos, because of its indestructibility. 

Even if your plant is doing reasonably well, you’ll soon discover that the Pothos will perform far better than you expected when you start providing the optimal humidity. 

The fact that this plant can tolerate a wide range of humidity levels means that only a few simple adjustments are usually required to bring it into the ideal range.

Sources

1. Production of Pothos in pots by Baltazar Barnal O, Gaytan Acuna E. A, Becarra Garcia in Colegio de Postgraduados Journal.
2. Shoot regeneration of Pothos by Liping Qu, Jianjen Chen, Russell D. Cladwell in Vitro cellular & Development Biology Plant.