Can You Use a Humidifier Around Succulent Plants? Yes, with These Tips

Well, this is not a no-or-yes kind of question and answer. The devil is in the details, so they say. Therefore, we shall delve into the details regarding humidifiers for plants.

But first:

What are succulent plants?

They are plants that thrive well in dry climates. They do not require a lot of moisture. In addition, they store water in their leaves, hence the name succulent. In addition, they tend to be thick and fleshy. Some species have thicker leaves than others.

In that light, therefore, are humidifiers good for succulents? A humidifier and succulent plants in the same room are not a good combination. When exposed to too much humidity, they develop fungal problems, which eventually lead to rot. Succulents do well when the soil dries up properly. Therefore, when using the best humidifier for plants, try to limit its usage in the room with succulent plants. The highest humidity should not be more than 80% for succulents.

Most plants require water to survive, grow, and flower. While water is a lifeline for most plants, succulents don’t need a lot of water.

They can endure long periods of drought, surviving on stored water and nutrients in their leaves.

However, most succulents thrive well in warm temperatures and may not survive freezing temperatures.

Freezing temperatures would only cause the plant to die or develop mushy leaves. They are better in warmer temperatures.

Succulent Humidifier Placement

In another article, we looked at when to use a humidifier for indoor plants. Therefore, if you live in a dry city, you might need the best humidifier for houseplants, including, to some extent, succulents.

However, indoor succulent plants don’t need a lot of humidity to thrive. Humidifying them at least once a week is okay.

They are a great option for indoor plants. These plants require minimal care and low maintenance.

You can humidify your other indoor plants excessively from time to time, but you have to be careful with the best humidifiers for houseplants if you have succulents.

Why is this so?

Because succulents have thick, waxy leaves, they are naturally equipped to absorb moisture effortlessly from the surrounding air.

The right humidifier placement is so important for succulents. Therefore, if you must use the ultrasonic humidifier for plants, place it a distance away.

Some of the mist will have dissipated by the time it gets to your succulent plants.

In addition, you need to know how long to leave the humidifier running. Fortunately, with succulent humidifiers, this should be just a short time.

Can humidity kill succulents?

If you keep watering your indoor succulents while the humidity is too high, well, that could kill the plants eventually.

Succulent plants are made to stay in dry conditions. They absorb water from the soil and keep it in the stem for future use.

If they are exposed to too much water, they will start rotting from the roots. So yes, in that way, high humidity can kill your succulent plants.

The recommended humidity level for most of the succulent plants is 40 percent. It is best to keep it this way.

Take special care of young and old succulents. They are at a higher risk of starting to rot when they are exposed to too much moisture.

Young leaves also start rotting. Those that don’t rot will grow mold. But there is a way to prevent them from rotting.

Follow the steps below to ensure your succulent plants survive the high humidity in summer:

• Only water plants if the soil in their pot is dry to prevent the roots from rotting
• Ensure good airflow and movement in the room with plants. Air movement prevents the plants from absorbing too much water
• Use a porous medium so that your plant does not stay in waterlogged soil
• Water the plants in lukewarm water to trick them into thinking it is warm rain, such as they would get in the desert

Do cacti like humidity?

To this question, we could say yes, cacti love humidity, but only if it is kept to the right levels. For instance, they can thrive at humidity levels of 40 to 60 percent.

However, do not let the indoor humidity reach 60 percent because that is ideal for mold growth.

Before you start keeping cactus plants for your indoor decor, it is best to find out what they need to thrive. Luckily, these are some of the easiest to care for indoor plants.

Cactus do not like humidity. They do not thrive due to the presence of surface air moisture.

Rather, these plants draw water from the soil using their roots. They then store the water in their stems for future use.

If your cacti stay in waterlogged soil, their roots can start rotting. This will eventually kill the plants because they use their roots to draw water from the soil.

Therefore, in a humid summer, do not water them too often. Once a week is enough, and always check that the soil is dry.

With these plants, it is best to mimic the desert conditions for them to thrive. Thus, do not use a humidifier close to the cactus plants.

Do succulents like bathrooms?

When you ask: Are humidifiers good for succulents, or do succulents like bathrooms? You are probably asking this because the bathroom is humid.

The kitchen is quite humid, almost all the time.

Back to the question of using succulents in bathrooms, the answer is no; these plants will not thrive in the bathroom. They require dry air, and they can survive on little water.

They also require free-flowing air and light. These conditions are not available in the bathroom.

Some succulent plants might thrive in the bathroom. However, the question is how long they will do well.

No matter how hardy succulents are, and they are really hardy, their roots will eventually start rotting in high humidity.

If you must have succulents in the bathroom, place them near the window where they can get enough airflow. You can also run an exhaust fan so that it can pull the moist air outside.

Do succulents help with humidity?

In another post, we looked at indoor plants that can help with humidity. And indeed, some plants do help with lowering humidity.

Some of the best plants that absorb humidity are called air plants. They are referred to this way because they don’t get their nutrients from the soil.

They get them from the air!

By nutrients, we mean water too. Therefore, they absorb water through the stems and leaves. These plants can help to lower humidity a great deal.

Tillandsia is one such plant that you can buy for your home. It looks really good, and it absorbs humidity. If you just want to dehumidify a small space, you might consider getting a few such plants.

If you have a high humidity level in your house, do not rely on indoor plants alone. You will need a dehumidifier for mold.

For instance, investing in a Frigidaire dehumidifier can help keep your humidity levels between 30 and 50%. If it rises above that, the unit switches on automatically, and vice versa.

How to take care of indoor succulents

If you cannot use a succulent humidifier all the time, you ought to know how to give the plants the best care.

Indoor plants are a huge interior decor trend, and it seems they will continue trending for a few years to come.

There are other indoor plants, and then there are succulents. These seem to have this silent air of confidence about them.

Indoor plants clean the air and increase oxygen and humidity levels. That is why it is important to give them the best care for their growth and survival.

Here is how you can care for your succulents:

Plant the succulents in porous pots

Succulents don’t survive in wet, soaking soil. On the same note, the roots and stems are adapted to draw water from arid soil and store it in their leaves for long periods.

Therefore, plant them in porous pots to allow excess water to run off. Humidity and water are a bad combination for your succulents.

Place them near the window

You can keep succulents next to a window to allow proper ventilation and airflow.

Consequently, this allows moisture to escape and prevents the plant from getting excess water.

Use a dehumidifier

If there is excess humidity, you can use a plant dehumidifier. Excess humidity can cause the plant to lose its leaves or develop fungal infections.

However, a dehumidifier keeps the air in your house fresh and dry.

Water the succulents sparingly

You should water your indoor succulents once a week. In addition, ensure that the soil is dry before watering them again.

Excess water can cause the roots to rot and the plant to die. In addition, for good measure, you can mimic warm desert rain and water them with lukewarm water.

What to do with succulents if other plants need a humidifier

If you are growing succulent plants in the same room as other indoor plants, you might be wondering what to do when the other plants need humidity.

You see, you cannot unleash all that mist from the best humidifier for plants on your succulents. Well, there are a few things that you can do to take care of your succulents:

• Place the succulents in a window where there is likely to be less humidity
• If possible, place the humidifier for tropical plants a distance away from the succulents
• If you can, separate the succulents from the other plants and keep them in one corner of the room
• Set the indoor humidity a bit lower than usual if you have succulent plants
• Buy a succulent humidifier; just search specifically for one since it might dispense just a little mist
• Use the succulents humidifier just once a week

Conclusion

If you have read this far, you now know that you cannot use succulent humidifiers regularly. In addition, you now know that succulents require little care.

If the humidity in your home is too high, use a humidifier for your succulent plants at least once a week. The good thing is that these thick-leaved plants do not require a lot of grooming to thrive.

Most importantly, remember that too much water and humidity are bad combinations for your succulents.