Last updated on September 26th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Sometimes, misting can be mystic. Complications when misting plants usually arise when you don’t know which ones to hydrate and which ones to leave.
Well, if you have pothos in your garden or indoors, you should consider whether it needs misting before spraying it.
Well, pothos needs misting when its leaves become too dry. It is a tropical plant that prefers humid and warm climates. Therefore, misting is sometimes advised in hot or arid areas to increase the plant’s level of humidity. Pothos typically flourish when the humidity is at 50% or more.
Do Golden Pothos Need Misting?
Golden pothos doesn’t need much misting. But still, it’s pretty much essential when the plant is becoming dehydrated. So, misting your golden pothos should only be done once in a while.
However, this should be done when you live in an arid climate area. If this is the case, then misting alone will not suffice.
This is because misting pothos in an area with a humidity level above 60% is dangerous. Poor air circulation and too much humidity can damage the leaves and lead to the infestation of pests.
This eventually destroys the plant and causes it to wither. Growing pothos indoors makes conditions usually limited and not very flexible.
This situation is why humidity becomes a very crucial factor in the growth of the plant. It is a major indicator that is used in transpiration.
This means that since plant stomata are located below the leaf’s surface, they exchange air with their environment through them.
During extremely low humidity, plants try conserving their water reserves by closing their stomata and stopping transpiration.
Photosynthesis gets affected and results in the deterioration of the plant’s growth and health.
Is Misting Plants Necessary?
Pothos has lots of varieties, some of them better than others. Several houseplants develop ideally in humid conditions.
It usually prevents their leaves from drying out and gives them new foliage and steady growth.
Therefore, misting your houseplants is one of the most important things that you can do for them.
Many houseplants originate from subtropical and tropical areas and usually require a relative humidity of at least 40%.
It is also wise to note that not all house plants require or appreciate misting. It is unhealthy for some and can cause negative effects on them.
Furthermore, these plants are mostly characterized by hairy leaves, and their surfaces hook precipitation, resulting in rot or pest attack.
Some of such plants include African Violets, Stromanthe, Succulents, Cacti, Velvet Calathea, etc.
How to Mist Your Houseplants
Misting plants is pretty easy. All you need is a spray bottle with distilled water. Furthermore, you need to know exactly when to mist your plant in order not to overwater it.
So, misting houseplants is not a very complex activity. Before carrying out misting, it is good to have a valid perception of the importance of misting and how plants utilize moisture.
So, below are some useful tips on misting your houseplants.
1. Use neutral water and vapor in the mornings so the leaves can dry out during the day.
2. Apply mist on the top and undersides of the leaves. When you’re done, the plant usually looks as if there has been a dewfall.
It’s best to do this early in the morning between 7 AM, and 9 AM, and evenings after 5 PM. This is because the stomata of plants are usually open at that time, permitting water to immerse into the plant.
Also, misting in the afternoon causes excessive transpiration. And this may even lead to more moisture loss.
3. Some houseplants can be misted daily, while others only require it once or twice a week. As earlier stated, you should not frequently mist some plants to prevent pest infestation and rot.
So, misting of such plants should be carried out occasionally.
4. Plants that love humid environments should be kept away from windows, doors, air-conditioning ducts as well as drafts.
You’ll have to do this to prevent or reduce the amount of humidity lost to these conditions. Some plants are more likely to shrivel up and die when exposed to these agents.
5. Aside from misting, it is also advisable to add pebbles and stones to retain the moisture.
By filling a tray with pebbles, adding water, and placing it on your plant, it’ll create a humid environment for it.
6. The use of humidifiers also helps in stimulating your house plants. They’re usually cheap and can be found in local stores and plant shops.
The ability to release plumes of mist unto your plants helps in spreading moisture evenly throughout your plant.
7. Another interesting, relatively cheap, and easy way to add moisture to your plants is simply placing them together.
Humidity is created naturally through transpiration and water loss through pores on the leaf’s surface. So, the humidity produced from these plants provides moisture for one another.
8. Relocating plants from a dry area to a humid environment such as kitchens and bathrooms can also help to boost and revitalize them.
Conclusion
The pothos house plant is easy and convenient to grow and is usually known for its tenacity and difficulty to kill.
This has earned it the nickname “Devil’s Ivy.” The plant is a lover of humidity and thrives better when it gets the required conditions.
However, I won’t advise you to mist your pothos regularly, especially when it’s already exposed to a lot of humidity.
Doing this can result in the decay of the plant and bring about pests attack on the plant.
Nonetheless, if you live in a dry area, it’s best to mist your plant daily as it can dry up from the lack of moisture.
So, in essence, the only time you should mist your pothos regularly is when it is grown in a hot or dry environment where they will need proper misting.