Because Calatheas are such tricky plants to keep alive, even experienced indoor gardeners often disagree about the best ways to care for them. One of the biggest points of controversy is misting. Some claim that periodically spritzing your Calathea with water is crucial for preventing problems from low humidity. Others argue that misting provides no benefit at all, and may even hurt the plant. Who’s right?
By itself, misting won’t do much to mitigate dry air because it only increases the humidity around your Calathea for a few minutes. On the other hand, a daily misting is unlikely to harm your plant, and getting up close and personal with its foliage gives you a chance to spot signs of poor health. A bit of extra moisture also helps discourage spider mites, which are a very common Calathea pest.
If your Calathea has major humidity issues, don’t rely on misting – get a humidifier, and consider grouping your tropical plants in the same area to create a steamier microclimate. If you only have one or two plants, keeping them in an especially humid room like a bathroom can also help. Read on for a more detailed look at the pros and cons of misting your Calathea.
Misting and Humidity
The typical rationale that care guides give for misting your plants is to increase the moisture level in the air. Many houseplants originate in tropical jungles and crave a humid environment – Calatheas most definitely included. When the ambient humidity falls below 50-60% (depending on the species), Calathae leaves begin to curl, sag, and develop crispy brown tips.
As a result, Calathea growers have developed various tips and tricks intended to boost the humidity around their plants. Some of these options work very well, while others are more like old wives’ tales.
Sadly, misting seems to fall closer to the second category. It’s true that spritzing a layer of water onto the leaves and soil will produce a slight elevation in humidity as the moisture evaporates. But that bump only lasts for the few minutes it takes for the water to dry up. And a few minutes of relief each day won’t do much for a Calathea suffering from an arid environment.
To offer a really substantial humidity boost, you’d have to be spraying your Calathea once every half hour or so. We sincerely hope you have better ways to fill your free time.
Better Humidity Solutions
If you’re looking for more effective ways to improve the humidity around your Calatheas, there are several useful methods to try. Those with lots of humidity-loving houseplants can cluster them together, maybe even creating one of those extravagant plant shelves that are all over Pinterest these days. Each plant will benefit from the moisture that the others release – just as they would in their native rainforests.
You can give your miniature jungle an even bigger boost with a small humidifier. This option is far less labor-intensive than misting, and it does wonders for a humidity-starved Calathea.
For a more detailed look at the humidity needs of Calatheas, you can read our in-depth article on the subject.
Benefits of Misting
Does all this mean that misting is useless? Not quite. Though it’s not especially effective at raising humidity, it’s often a useful habit for other reasons.
The best argument for misting is that it can discourage spider mites from setting up shop on your plant’s leaves. These nasty little critters attack Calatheas more frequently than any other kind of pest. Houseplant forums across the internet are filled with tales of entire collections wiped out in a matter of weeks by mite infestations.
There are ways to kill off invading spider mites, but the best defense is to keep them from infiltrating your Calathea in the first place. Misting helps with this because spider mites dislike wet environments. If a few mites crawl onto your plant’s foliage, only to be greeted with a blast of moisture, they’re more likely to move on instead of settling down to raise families.
Misting your Calathea also helps remove dust from its leaves, especially if you wipe them down gently with a microfiber cloth afterward. This is useful because it allows more light to reach the plant’s photosynthetic cells. As a result, it will have more energy to support healthy growth.
Finally, a regular misting habit helps you stay in touch with your plant. If you’re taking a few minutes each day to gently spray and wipe down the leaves, you’ll be more likely to notice warning signs like discoloration or wilting. It’s never a bad idea to build in a little face time with your Calathea.
Risks of Misting
What about all the people who swear that misting is not just ineffective, but harmful? While spritzing your Calathea is unlikely to result in serious problems, there are a few potential drawbacks you should watch out for.
First of all, if the droplets of mist fail to evaporate quickly enough, they can promote fungal growth on the leaf surface. Similarly, if you’re misting so frequently that the soil’s surface is constantly damp, you’re creating an inviting environment for fungus gnats.
These issues are unlikely to crop up for those misting to combat dry air since the low ambient humidity will cause any moisture to evaporate before it becomes an issue. Of course, now that you know how little misting enhances humidity, that probably won’t apply to you!
If your Calatheas have a moist enough environment and you’re just providing an occasional spritz to keep them clean and free of spider mites, use as fine a mist setting as possible. This avoids the risk of leaving behind large droplets that will take longer to dry up. It’s also best to mist in the early morning, which allows plenty of time for the layer of water to evaporate in the heat of the day.
Also, consider misting up from the bottom rather than down from the top whenever new leaves are forming on your plant. Calathea leaves emerge rolled up into vertical tubes that unfurl slowly. These beautiful scrolls are much more likely to retain water than the mostly flat surface of a mature leaf, so try not to spray water down into them.
Proper air circulation also reduces the risks of fungus growth. That means it’s best not to keep your Calathea anyplace too stuffy. You shouldn’t set it right by a drafty window or an air vent, but try to let some kind of breeze into the room.
Finally, don’t mist more than once a day or so. Excessive moisture on the leaf surface may slow down photosynthesis by decreasing the rate of transpiration. That means that constantly spraying your Calathea may actually stunt its growth.
Water Quality Matters
Calatheas are considered picky houseplants, and their taste in water is one reason why. These plants are very sensitive to the chemicals and soluble minerals that are often found in tap water. Many guides recommend giving them distilled water only; otherwise, these chemicals can build up in the soil and leach moisture from the roots.
A similar problem can occur with misting. Mineral deposits left behind as the water evaporates may upset your Calathea’s leaves, as well as appearing unsightly if the concentrations are high enough to cause visible water spotting. You’ll have better results if you mist with distilled or filtered water, particularly if the tap water in your area has high calcium or magnesium concentrations.
Final Thoughts
Misting isn’t necessary for your Calathea’s health, but it offers a few minor benefits, and it won’t hurt your plant unless you get carried away and start spraying way too often.
A good daily misting makes for a relaxing and meditative way to spend time with your beloved Pinstripe Plant. If you decide to make this a part of your care routine, take the opportunity to inspect the leaves and stems and make sure your Calathea is in good health. Your houseplants depend on your love and attention more than anything else.