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Should you mist the leaves

MYTH

Mist the leaves every day and the air will be more humid.

FACT

The droplets dry in minutes and the humidity drops straight back. You'd have to mist several times a day for it to make a difference — and wet leaves get sick more easily.

What actually matters

  1. A humidifier worksA room humidifier raises the humidity for real.
  2. Group your plantsLeaves and soil give off moisture, so the air around a group of plants is more humid. The more plants and the smaller the room, the more it shows.
  3. Away from the radiatorA hot radiator dries out the air around the plant.
  4. African violet: no sprayingDroplets leave marks on its leaves and encourage mould.
  5. Leaf spots? Stop mistingSplashes spread the disease around the plant. Water straight onto the soil.
Sources: Penn State Extension, Iowa State Extension, UNH Extension, Arizona Extension, RHS, Clemson Extension.