Houseplant hacks: do humidifiers really help houseplants?

Electric humidifiers aren’t essential for hardy species, but they deliver a steady mist and consistent results – at a price

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.