Each houseplant from our collection has its unique beauty that can only be experienced when it enjoys optimum growth conditions, including the right humidity. Optimum humidity will turn an ordinary leaf into a plush and brilliant spectacle while poor air moisture conditions downgrade a beautiful houseplant into an eyesore, killing it eventually. A humidifier is an automated misting gadget set to a particular level, saving you the trouble of manual misting and ensuring that the plant forever enjoys the most favorable humidity conditions.
Here are the best plant humidifiers and their prices:
| Humidifier Model | Price Range |
| 1. Honeywell HCM350W Germ-Free Cool Mist | $61.99 – $110.99 |
| 2. TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier | $45.99 – $49.99 |
| 3. Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier | 31.59 – $35.99 |
| 4. Pure Guardian Cool Mist | $39.56 |
| 5. Pure Enrichment | $59.99 – $79.99 |
To help you choose the right humidifier, here is a look at the top five models you will find in the market, their prices, and why you should choose one appliance over the other.
Honeywell HCM350W Germ-Free Cool Mist
Honeywell HCM350W Germ-Free Cool Mist is a 13″ high and 9.55-pound elegant humidifier that blends naturally with your indoor garden. You will love its smooth, soothing, yet invisible mist that keeps the air constantly moist. The humidifier is so silent that you will still enjoy a good night’s sleep while it runs in your bedroom.
Honeywell HCM350W humidifier offers:
- An elegant design
- Ultra-silent
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Water filter
- Pocket friendly
Honeywell beats the rest of humidifiers with its capacity to hold water for an entire day, even when operating at the highest speed. It reduces the need to return to the appliance for refilling. You can also choose three rates for moisture spraying without making noise.
The Honeywell HCM350W also comes with a water filter that absorbs minerals from the water, ensuring that the mist you get in the air is pure. Such minerals cause white dust because the fog is contaminated with chemicals. With Honeywell HCM350W, you have a guarantee of healthy-humid air. It explains the extension ‘Germ-Free’ on its title.
Most users commend the precision packed in the humidifier and the technology used. For instance, if you need a 50% humidity level for your houseplant, this humidifying gem gives you.
Cleaning and maintenance are significant concerns for houseplant owners investing in humidifiers. Honeywell HCM350W has passed the test because it is easy to clean without damaging the parts. Dismantling and reassembling the humidifier will not result in reduced performance. It is also a durable model that will not readily breakdown. In case you need to replace any broken or worn out part, the spares are readily available.
While a humidifier may boast of the best features, its quality is best judged by the reaction of the flowers it is serving.
Houseplant owners who have purchased Honeywell HCM350W report a guaranteed improvement in humidity levels. The leaves looked greener and fresh, confirming the value for the money tag.
The only challenge with Honeywell HCM350W is the lack of an automatic shut-off mechanism. It means that change in temperatures or humidity through external influence like rain or a pebble tray will not be recognized.
In such circumstances, you might exceed your desired humidity levels.
Honeywell HCM350W price ranges between $61.99 and $69.99. Regardless of the apparent higher price than other brands in the market, it is worth every dollar. The reward is a healthy indoor with the right humidity, clean air, and beautifully growing plants.
Tao Tronics Cool Mist Humidifier
The TaoTronics Cool Mist humidifier is a 3.5 pounds compact modern brand that comes with LED display lighting. It can serve a medium to a large room and is one of the few 5-star rated humidifiers today.
Wherever you place it within your office or house, it will add to the beauty with its modernist design. Its other benefits include:
- Compact design
- Enhanced water capacity
- Water filtering capacity
- Ultra-quiet technology
- Large tank capacity
- Misting in all directions
- Pocket friendly
A crucial feature for any humidifier is its ability to provide clean, fresh, and healthy mist. Tao Tronics Cool Mist humidifier comes with a micro-cartridge for filtering the water before turning it into a fog. The filter eliminates all minerals, chemicals, microorganisms, and odor to release pure and humidified air. It will safeguard the health of family members, office workers, and clients within the environment.
Tao Tronics Cool Mist humidifier comes with ultra-quiet technology anchored on ultrasounds. Whether you place it in the office or bedroom, you continue with your activities without disturbance. It makes the misting exercise almost unnoticeable.
The capacity of the Tao Tronics Cool Mist humidifier is impressive. It carries 4 liters of water that can keep a 500 square-foot room adequately humid for up to 15 hours when running at full capacity. It saves you the numerous refill trips that you would have to make to keep a humidifier running.
Tao Tronics Cool Mist humidifier comes with a timer with a 24hours sequence. It will shut down automatically if water levels are too low. It is easy to clean, durable, and spare parts are readily available. At just $49.99, you get the best bargain considering the features it offers.
Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
This humidifier is unique because it provides a warm mist on demand. It is a 14.2″ high jewel that only weighs 4.5 pounds and comes in an elegant design. It also comes with a filter that will guarantee germ-free water.
Its other advantages are:
- Warm mist
- Bacteria-free humidification
- Large water tank
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Pocket friendly
The Vicks Warm Mist humidifier serves more than plants because it allows the addition of inhalants into the water, especially Kaz, that offers relief to colds and coughs. The filter will eliminate fungus spores, mold, and bacteria that could contaminate your air. You are assured of warm, moist, and healthy air into your living room.
The advanced shutdown feature on the Vicks Warm Mist humidifier causes the appliance to shut down once the set humidity levels have been achieved. Humidity will never go beyond what you desire for your indoor space or plants. This also means that you reduce water consumption.
Vicks Warm Mist humidifier is built to last with meager maintenance needs. The tanks come with handles that make handling, especially refilling, easier. When the tank is full, and the humidifier is operating at maximum capacity, it will last more than 12 hours.
Also, this humidifier is easy to clean in such a way that it does not result in damage. You can use ordinary vinegar to clear visible clogs or dirt.
The low price does not come as a compromise to quality. It will still last long and help your plants to remain healthy. For between $31.59 and $35.99, this is one of the best bargains you will get among the reliable humidifiers in the market.
Pure Guardian Cool Mist
The Pure Guardian Cool Mist humidifier comes with a compact table-top design and weighs just 2.3 pounds. With a tank that can keep your air moist between 15 and 72 hours, it only rises to 13.2″.
It works best for medium-sized rooms like bedrooms, nurseries, or offices.
- Elegant design
- Ultra-quiet operation
- Large tank capacity
- Mold and mineral accumulation protection
- Sufficient humidity for all needs
- Pocket friendly
Pure Guardian Cool Mist humidifier uses the latest ultrasonic technology where metal diaphragms vibrate at a high frequency to produce the mist. The technology eliminates the need for a fan, making it ultra-quiet. This makes the humidifier perfect for use in the bedroom or areas that require total silence.
A silver clean protective surface will protect the container from accumulating minerals or dirt. The technology means that you will never have to deal with mold in the air or mist. It will automatically shut when the water levels are low, saving you operational and maintenance costs.
The size of the water tank is impressive, allowing you to hold water that can serve up to 72 hours. It reduces the need for a constant refill even when it is operating at maximum speed.
Pure Guardian Cool Mist humidifier comes with flexible humidity settings that give you control over moisture levels indoors. It allows you to grow plants or create indoor environments to suit different needs. Even at the lowest setting, the humidity will still be sufficient for your plants or any other purpose to buy a humidifier.
Without handles, it requires careful handling. It also does not come with a filter, meaning that you have to use filtered water or deal with the white mist. Since the white dust comes from chemicals, it might settle on the leaves of your plant and cause damage.
Pure Guardian Cool Mist humidifier costs only $39.56, yet it gives you exceptionally long service.
Pure Enrichment Mistaire XL Humidifier
Pure Enrichment humidifier is a 5-star rated gadget that can serve a 500-square foot running continuously for more than 12 hours. It has the capacity of a gallon, minimalist design, and dual nozzle to enable customized misting in a room.
- Large water capacity
- Excellent design
- Customized misting with dual nozzle
- Ultra-quiet operation
- Pocket friendly
- Durable
Pure Enrichment Mistaire XL humidifier operates silently, making it a perfect fit for bedroom, offices, or any other place that requires silence. The humming noise it produces only helps to calm the situation.
Mistaire XL humidifier automatically shuts down when water levels fall below a particular level. It will not wear out by running continuously without water. It also shuts down when the desired humidity conditions have been achieved.
The Mistaire does not come with a filter, meaning that you have to use pre-filtered water. It is an inexpensive yet exceptional humidifier that will serve a medium to the large office for hours. The features promised by manufacturers are the same as you get when you carry your humidifier home. The manufacturers have added a cleaning brush in the package to make your work easier.
Pure Enrichment Mistaire XL humidifier is simple in design and convenient to use. It fits within your indoor environment in such a way that it cannot be noticed. It is a durable humidifier, and its extra accessories are easy to find in the market.
A pocket-friendly price of $59.99 and $79.99 gives you one of the best bargains. You can choose from different color options to suit such spaces as the bedroom, office, or lounge. It will take years before any of the parts or the entire humidifier requires replacement.
Buying the Right Humidifier
Each humidifier is designed with specific features and for a particular reason. The humidifier’s size, tank capacity, whether it has a filter or not, and such other features will define your experience with the humidifier. As such, considering the following factors will ensure that you get the best humidifier:
Technology: advanced technology like ultrasonic vibrations, energy-saving, customized misting, and filtration help you to achieve humidification goals. But an appliance with the latest technology to serve your target goals conveniently.
Tank capacity: whether you spend the entire day making trips to the humidifier to refill will depend on the capacity of the tank. Buy a humidifier that carries water that saves you numerous refill trips and allows you to keep the house humid for the longest time.
Sound: it isn’t easy to sleep or work around a buzzing appliance. Consider the quality of noise and how much it distracts you from your daily activity.
Water filtration: the quality of water misted in your room affects the quality of air. Minerals and chemicals in misting water also affect the health of your plants. If you want clean and healthy air, consider filtration.
Price: is the price worth the features offered by your humidifier? Choose a durable humidifier that is available at the right price.
If you need warm air, you should consider warm-misting features. Energy efficiency and ease of cleaning are the other factors. It will be more comfortable and convenient if you have the right humidifier for your intentions.
Best Practices When Using A Plant Humidifier
All humidifiers produce a mist that keeps your air moist. While that is the primary mission, getting the most out of a humidifier requires knowing how to buy the best and utilize it for different reasons.
Here are the best practices to consider when using a humidifier to serve the intended purpose.
Understand the Settings
The effectiveness of a humidifier depends on the settings. Settings will affect the amount of mist produced, frequency or intensity of production, and whether it produces hot or cold mist. The settings will depend on your environment and the needs of the plants that require humidifying. The highest and the lowest humidity setting for the humidifier should serve the needs of your plant.
The best plant humidifiers are accurate in their calibration. For instance, if it indicates 40% humidity, it will deliver the same. It would be best if you balanced what the humidifier provides with the prevailing environmental conditions.
Automated Operation of a Humidifier
Humidifiers are set to operate in a particular environment and create specific conditions. Choose humidifiers that can detect moisture levels and automatically stop running. It will save water, electricity, and keep the conditions right according to your desire. It also reduces the need for continuous monitoring of the humidifier or prevailing conditions because the gadget will switch on and off automatically.
Regular Maintenance
A humidifier wears out because of coming into contact with electricity, water, and human handling. Choose a humidifier that does not require extensive maintenance attention. The design should make refilling seamless through parts that are easy to dismantle and assemble.
Part of maintenance is the availability of accessories. Choose a brand whose accessories are easy to find in the market. Such additions must also be compatible with the original parts. Clean your humidifier regularly to eliminate mineral build-up or mold development that results in unhealthy air and bacterial infestation on plants.
How to Clean a Humidifier
Cleaning humidifiers targets two types of dirt. The first is a mineral residue that comes from water evaporation. The second type of dirt comes from external sources like dust or contamination during handling.
Cleaning Mineral Residue from a Humidifier
Use vinegar or bleach to disinfect the humidifier. The target is the inside of the water tank, filters, and the spraying nozzles. You will eventually rinse the humidifier with plain distilled water.
Pour a cup of vinegar or bleach into the water tank and fill it with water. Run the humidifier for an hour. Pour out the residue and pour clean water to rinse. Run the humidifier for another hour. Dismantle the parts and clean them manually with distilled water. This method removes the chemical or mineral residue that may be in different regions.
Cleaning To Remove Dirt And Contamination
The method targets open parts, including the outside of your humidifier. You clean by dismantling the pieces according to instructions provided in the manual. Take care that electronic components do not come into contact with water. Use ordinary soap and clean water. Rinse the parts and dry them before reassembling your humidifier.
Where should I put my plant humidifier?
The placement of your humidifier depends on the plants you intend to serve. Since the mist moves in all directions, it should be placed at the same level as the leaves. Mist coming from your humidifier will slightly rise and then fall on the upper side of the leaves.
It is equally important to know where not to place the humidifier. Please keep it away from vents and air conditioning systems because they blow the mist away, forcing the gadget to overwork yet still fail to meet your desired humidity conditions.
The best way to keep your plants healthy is by providing the right care for them. Humidifiers might be useful to give proper care to your plants, as there are many options on the market and they vary greatly in price. We reviewed a list of the top 5 humidifiers so you can choose which one will work best for your needs. Share this information with friends who like gardening or have houseplants.
Frequently Asked Questions About Humidifiers
Does my plant need a humidifier?
Most plants will appreciate a humidifier if the natural prevailing humidity conditions are not favorable. For instance, if you want to grow a tropical-climate plant in a dry area, you may require a humidifier. It is especially important for indoor plants because it helps you to control the moisture in an enclosed space. Below we have compiled an in-depth list of plants that might need a humidifier:
- The Boston fern is the most widely known type of fern looking to need a plant humidifier, especially during a cold season. This will help to keep its leaves healthy on long stems that look like grass but is feathery.
- Alocasia is another type of indoor plant that might need a humidifier because it will struggle under low humidity levels. This includes sub-species like Jacklyn, Frydek or Azlanii.
- Tillandsia can also benefit from a humidifier. It will survive if you find it not having the most ideal conditions, but won’t be at its best.
- Bamboo plants can also benefit from a humidifier because it makes the wood tough and dense, but it may not need as much moisture as other plants do. Some bamboos might need a plant humidifier to help keep them healthy from winter into spring because of the cool temperatures.
- Orchids are some of the most beautiful indoor plants, much like how they are some of the most exotic flowers. They can benefit from a humidifier while growing and if they are being kept as potted plants.
- The Dracaena is a type of plant that might benefit from a humidifier since the leaves can dry and curl up on the ends.
- Calathea Zebrina does need a humidifier. This plant is native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil, so it needs high humidity to thrive. If the air in your home is too dry, the leaves of this plant will start to brown and curl. Other Calathea plants that might get a care boost from a humidifier include Orbifolia, Ornata, Makoyana, Medallion and Warscewiczii.
- Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen) prefers medium to high humidity levels, and can become quite droopy in low humidity environments. So they can also benefit from a humidifier.
- Ficus lyrata, or fiddle leaf fig, does need a humidifier to thrive. This is because the plant prefers high humidity levels, and a humidifier can help create and maintain those conditions.
- Stromanthe Triostar does need a humidifier. It is native to the tropics and requires high humidity to thrive. Without adequate humidity, the Stromanthe’s leaves will begin to brown and drop off.
- Arrowhead plant: the ideal humidity level for arrowhead plants is between 50% and 70%. If the humidity level in your home falls below 50%, you’ll need to use a humidifier to increase the humidity levels around your arrowhead plant.
- Begonia Maculata Wightii and Angel Wing Begonias plants tend to do better with a humidifier. You can try putting the plants in a bathroom where the humidity is higher too. The leaves will start to turn brown and dry up without high humidity levels.
- Most orchids thrive in humidity levels between 50% and 70%, and dendrobiums are no exception. In fact, they prefer even higher humidity levels than most other types of orchids.
- The goldfish plant does require humidity to thrive. You can increase the humidity around your goldfish plant by using a humidifier or placing it on a pebble tray filled with water.
- Heartleaf philodendron needs a humidifier. This is because the plant prefers a moist environment to help it grow and stay healthy. Without a humidifier, your plant may start to suffer from brown leaves, wilting, and even death.
- A Schefflera plant needs a humidifier in the winter months. The dry air from heaters can suck the life out of your plants. If you don’t have a humidifier, put your plants near a kitchen or bathroom sink where the hot water runs and creates moisture in the air.
- Species like Cat Palm, Parlor Palm or Kentia Palm do not need a humidifier. However, if the air in your home is dry, you may find that it helps to increase the humidity around your palm plants by placing them near a humidifier or by spraying them with water regularly.
- Columnea Gloriosa plants do not typically require humidifiers, but they may be necessary in some cases. If the air in your home is particularly dry, then you may need to use a humidifier to help keep your Goldfish Plant healthy.
Why should I use a humidifier for my plants?
Each plant has an optimal humidity level under which it thrives. If the condition is not available, it fails to bloom and may even die. A humidifier helps you to provide the perfect humidity conditions so that your plants can thrive.
How often should you run a humidifier?
It depends on the type of humidifier and the weather conditions around the plant. An automatic humidifier will switch off once the set humidity levels are achieved. If it is operated manually, you need to monitor the humidity levels and switch off. It means that you run the humidifier whenever your plant needs improved humidity.
Can you use tap water in humidifiers?
Tap water comes with chlorine and fluoride. The two chemicals are dangerous for your leaves. However, if the humidifier comes with a filter, the tap water will be cleaned before misting. If your humidifier does not have a filter, tap water will damage the leaves.
Do plants like warm or cold humidifiers?
The mist should be at room temperature. If you live in a cold place, a warm humidifier will work best. In a hot spot, the cold humidifier will serve the purpose.
Do humidifiers cause mold?
Yes. However, it mainly occurs because of over-humidifying that results in a wet environment or failure to clean your humidifier. Set the humidifier only to provide the desired humidity. You must also clean and disinfect the humidifier to prevent mold build-up. You should also invest in humidifiers that do not quickly grow mold as discussed above.
To sum up, A humidifier will get you the mist, but everything else could go wrong. Before buying the gadget, always keep in mind other factors like:
- Where it will be located in a room
- The size of your room
- How it interacts with your plants or people around the room
- Among other factors
We hope this guide was useful to help you choose the right device and give proper humidity to your plants.
