AIR,LIGHT,HUMIDITY & T° - Air,Humidity, Light &T°

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Published on Wednesday, 10 July 2013 04:07

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Humidity

Most houseplants are native to tropical regions where the climate provides abundant rains to maintain a high degree of humidity. Moisture plays an important role for transpiration, which is the process by which plants eliminate through the stomata (pores), waste materials in the form of vapor that is dispersed in the air. Plants grow in optimal conditions when the balance between the water absorbed by the roots and the one eliminated through transpiration is maintained. Moisture-free air accelerates evaporation, the surface of the leaves quickly dry, causing more perspiration. If the air is excessively dry, the transpiration increases in intensity causing a strong dehydration of the leaves and the stem that will soon lose vigor and wither. To avoid this problem it is not sufficient to give the plant a greater quantity of water, in fact, it is also necessary to increase the degree of humidity in the air so as to recreate the balance. The ideal moisture content is 30-40%, while in apartments it is often less than 12%, apparently too low, for the wellbeing of plants (and men). The plants prefer a humidity level of about 80-90%; in a greenhouse the humidity is always around 60% or more, so it is quite natural that a plant transferred to the apartment will soon begin to take on a brownish color and lose leaves, flowers and buds.

The succulent plants are the only ones structured to withstand a long period of drought both of the soil and the air, they are in fact able to store water in the leaves and the stem and their leaves have a structure that slows down the transpiration process.

There are several methods to increase the percentage of humidity in the air to the benefit of plants:

1. the simple fact of grouping a large number of plants increases the atmospheric humidity, as each plant transpires emitting moisture;

2. Fill a pan with a compact layer of pebbles and place a group of plants on top of it. Keep the pebbles moist, making sure that the water level remains below the pots so as not to get wet because they would end up suffering. The water in the tray will evaporate slowly, causing an increase in atmospheric humidity;

3. vaporizing the foliage every two days or even daily if the air is extremely dry, using a very thin jet sprayer; it is better not to completely wet the plants. If the lighting is artificial, the plants do not need to be nebulized frequently, rather they need abundant irrigations;

4. buy a humidifier. The beneficial effect on the dry air of the apartment will benefit the plants and you will also appreciate it.