Dry indoor air can make plant leaves crisp and dry and lead to stunted plant growth and other problems. However, there is a lot of misinformation about the humidity needs of houseplants, and following the wrong plant care advice can actually cause more harm than good.

In this guide, we’ll uncover a few truths about increasing plant humidity and debunk five houseplant humidity tips that pros hate to hear.

Misting your hands increases humidity

Many growers suggest manual misting as a way to increase humidity around dry houseplants. But the truth is that misting only provides a brief increase in humidity, and humidity levels drop as soon as the mist droplets evaporate.

“Misting just doesn’t help increase the humidity around the plant,” explains Jarrod Bouchie, manager at Pistils Nursery. “I a lot of plants don’t really like being fogged up.”

Bouchie notes that plants like begonias can develop rot or powdery mildew if water droplets sit on their leaves for too long. But he adds that manual misting can limit leaf tears when plants like bird of paradise or Glorious Philodendron.

“Instead of misting, I would recommend a tray of gravel to increase the humidity of the environment,” explains Bouchie. “A humidifier can also make plants that need it happy.”

Unlike manual misting, humidifiers and gravel trays provide a more consistent amount of moisture over a longer period of time. Not to mention, they also require less effort and fuss.

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All plants love extra humidity

Karen Musgrave, a certified nursery professional at Hicks Nurseries, points out another common misconception about the humidity needs of houseplants. She explains how many people believe that houseplants don’t need a certain level of humidity to thrive.

“Cactus and succulents thrive in low humidity (around 40% or less), and most houseplants thrive in a balanced humidity range of 40-60%,” says Musgrave.

Using a one-size-fits-all strategy for dealing with moisture problems can pose problems for succulents and other plants that prefer drier conditions—and can lead to mold, leaf drop, and more. To avoid this, carefully research the humidity requirements of your plants, create a microclimate by grouping plants with similar needs, and add a small humidifier near the plants that need it most.

Increase humidity to fix crispy plant leaves

“Without adequate humidity, plants can develop brown leaf edges, experience stunted growth, or show other signs of stress,” says Musgrave.

However, these plant symptoms can also be caused by plant pests, insufficient watering, or excessive watering. In fact, immediately reaching for a humidifier at the first sign of dry plant leaves can cause problems – especially if your plants suffer from overwatering or root rot.

Instead, be sure to carefully inspect diseased plants for signs of pests or root damage before increasing moisture levels. Extra humidity is sometimes the last thing dry plants need.

Grow moisture-loving plants in bathrooms

Plant parents are often told to keep ferns and other moisture-loving plants in steam rooms where the humidity is relatively high. However, this recommendation comes with a list of potential problems.

Although bathrooms can get quite humid when you shower, humidity levels often fluctuate throughout the day and can drop dramatically if you keep the bathroom door open. This can reduce humidity and allow your plants to dry out. On top of that, bathrooms often have low lighting, so even low-light plants won’t thrive in a windowless room.

If you decide to keep your plants in the bathroom, make sure they get enough light and watch for signs that your plants aren’t getting enough moisture. If necessary, you can always add a tray of gravel under the pots if your bathroom plants need a boost of humidity.

Just add a moisturizer

Adding a cool mist humidifier is one of the best ways to ensure constant humidity for tropical plants. However, not all humidifiers are created equal. Small humidifiers may not provide enough moisture for large plant collections, while oversized humidifiers can create moisture problems and increase the chance of rotting.

As a general rule, small humidifiers can cover about 300 square feet of space, while medium-sized humidifiers are suitable for rooms of 400 to 500 square feet. For larger areas, choose a large humidifier or add several small humidifiers near groups of plants. You can also skip the humidifier altogether and try this low-tech trick instead.

“Instead of adding a humidifier, I recommend grouping plants and keeping them away from vents,” says Bouchie. “Regular watering and growing plants away from draughty locations can serve them just as well as a humidifier!”