• America
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• The Guardian
• Tue Nov 11 2025

The problem

Winter is brutal for tropical houseplants. Central heating turns living rooms into deserts, leaving once lush calatheas with brown, crispy edges. Misting can increase humidity, but the effects are short-lived.

The hack

An electric humidifier delivers a steady mist to boost humidity around your plants. You simply fill the tank with water and let it run for a few hours a day, so humidity levels feel more like the tropics than Trafford.

How it works

Unlike pebble trays or misting, humidifiers provide consistent, measurable results. Plants lose less water through their leaves, meaning less stress and more energy for growth. In theory, it should prevent the dreaded crispy-edge syndrome entirely.

The test

I tried a tabletop unit next to my prayer plants. After two weeks, the difference was visible: no new brown tips, glossier leaves and fresh growth. Downsides? Refilling the tank, cleaning to avoid mould, the low hum, and electricity use. Cheaper models can break quickly, and larger ones can be pricey.

The verdict

If you?re serious about tropical plants, a humidifier is a solid investment. It isn?t essential for hardy species such as sansevierias or ZZ plants, but for drama queens such as calatheas, it can be the difference between barely surviving and thriving.