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8 Best Humidifiers for Your Plants in 2023, According to Testing
These small humidifiers will keep your indoor plants happy and healthy.
Plants can be highly sensitive to their environmental surroundings, and it's always unfortunate when you go to water your plant only to find that treasured plant in your bedroom has drooped and fallen (certainly not speaking from experience). Humidifiers, however, can help keep your plants hydrated.
"Most houseplants can tolerate normal room humidity which can be between 20-30% RH, but some humidity loving plants will require higher humidity, usually 40% or higher," explains popular plant delivery service, The Sill's plant expert Paris Lalicata. To find the best plant humidifiers of 2023 our experts in Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab considered size, capacity, coverage and more.
Our top picks:
"There are no humidifiers out there specifically designed for plants so using any humidifier for your plants will work to help boost the relative amount of humidity in a space," says Lalicata. The only way to determine if your plant requires more humidity is to purchase a hygrometer or something akin to The Sill's handheld humidity meter.
You can find more information on what to look for when shopping for a plant humidifier at the end of this guide, as well as whether a cool or warm mist humidifier is best for your plants. When it comes time, consult our guide to cleaning a humidifier. And if you're looking for more appliances to keep your plants hydrated, check out our roundup of the best indoor misters.
LEVOIT Classic300S
We named this cool mist humidifier best overall in our guide to general humidifiers, and we continue to stand by its performance when it comes to hydrating your plants. We appreciate its quiet operation and the large, transparent top tank that is easy to fill with water. You can also connect the humidifier to the VeSync app or use it with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for remote and hands-free controls.
You can set your own misting schedule and take advantage of the auto mode that will adjust the mist levels throughout the day so the room stays at the correct humidity level for your plants. Sleep mode changes the mist level to low and dims the machine's display so the light won't keep you up. The brand claims the humidifier can run for up to 60 hours on the low mist setting.
The humidifier also has a tray for essential oils, so you can use the machine as a diffuser as well. It's not the most expensive humidifier on our list but it isn't the least expensive either so it's good to know it has a multifunctional use beyond plantcare.
Tank capacity: 6 liters | Coverage: 505 square feet | Run time: 60 hours on low mist
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
If you are debating whether or not a plant humidifier is really worth it, consider this budget-friendly cool mist humidifier by Pure Enrichment that won't break the bank while still offering the features to keep your plants healthy. Super quiet and compact, this one-button humidifier is easy to use. It has a high and low setting plus a 360-degree rotation nozzle to reach every angle of your plant. We appreciate the auto shut-off mode, which will activate when the water is low or the tank is removed. It also has a built-in backlight which makes it easy to adjust the mist level in the dark or at night.
One drawback to the humidifier's design is the mid-sized tank opening which may make cleaning a bit more challenging. It does come with a cleaning brush to help with maintenance, though, and with over 113K online Amazon reviews this drawback seems to be well worth it for the price.
Tank capacity: 1.5 liters | Coverage: 250 square feet | Run time: 25 hours
PureGuardian Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier
PureGuardian Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier
Streamlined in both its appearance and functionality, "I like the simple, streamline design, especially the top-fill tank," says DiClerico. The three-speed setting is easy to control and helps prevent too much moisture building up on the plant. "It’s fairly compact too, so it can nestle on a tabletop or window sill, within a group of plants," he adds. We appreciate the water indicator light that will turn on when the water level is low.
The simple silhouette not only looks good on your table, but it also makes cleaning the humidifier easy as there are not a lot of nooks and crannies for mold and grime to collect in over time. It also has an easy fill top-tank and a built-in nightlight that emits seven different colors — great if the little one has plants in their bedroom! Similar to other picks, you have the option for aromatherapy.
Although simple in design, this humidifier is an affordable pick that still delivers on features and can help humidify plants in medium to large rooms. We have only completed initial testing on this product and hope to conduct more tests in Lab and in testers' homes to see how it operates in real-life situations.
Tank capacity: 3.8 liters | Coverage: Medium- to large-sized rooms | Run time: 70 hours
Canopy Humidifier
Lalicata recommends the Canopy brand for its humidifier "because it’s a mold-inhibiting humidifier meaning that it will evaporate all moisture before shutting off so mold doesn’t develop." Plus, it comes apart easily and you can even put some of the parts in the dishwasher for speedy cleaning. However, when we got hands on with the product our testers found it a bit cumbersome to clean. Choose from six colors and opt to add on a filter and aroma kit like the Sill's collaboration set with the brand. You can purchase just the humidifier for $150 or sign up for a 45-day subscription period that can include the filter and aromas.
The humidifier is unique in that it doesn't emit any mist, but just hydrated air thanks to a paper filter that traps contaminants. It also has the option for auto mode as well as smart sensors that let the humidifier will run until its empty. Given the higher price tag, we appreciate that you'll get free shipping for orders over $25 and that the brand offers a lifetime warranty with the subscription plan. It has over a 4-star rating online across 875 customer reviews, with one five-star review writing, "It’s easy to use, not messy, and helps promote healthy air." Some customers do note that it can be kind of loud.
Tank capacity: 2.5 liters | Coverage: 500 square feet | Run time: 36 hours
Honeywell Reflection Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Honeywell Reflection Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
This adorable, small humidifier has an impressive 4.8-star rating on Amazon with five-star customer reviews saying it's easy to use and is another high quality product by Honeywell. “Like all ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers, the Honeywell promises quiet operation, since it uses a nebulizer to send moisture into the air, rather than a fan," says Home Improvement & Outdoor Director Dan DiClerico. We also appreciate the 180-degree rotating mist as it will help direct some of the mist away from your plants.
It has a premium stainless steel reservoir which not only makes the humidifier look sleek but also means you can simply wipe it clean per the manufacturer's instructions. An auto-setting, digital humidistat with touch controls and tank light are additional features that make using a humidifier a lot easier for new plant parents. All of these features do come at a higher price tag, though, which means it may be more of a splurge humidifier. However, if you are looking to grow your indoor plant collection, whether that be in your home office with air-purifying plants or in your screened-in porch with hanging plants, buying an intuitive humidifier can be worth it.
Tank capacity: 5.3 liters | Coverage: Medium-sized rooms | Run time: 24 hours
Crane 4-in-1 Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Crane 4-in-1 Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Crane is known for its playful designs, including humidifiers in the shape of elephants, penguins, frogs and more —making it a fun pick for a baby humidifier. While it may seem like all fun and games, our experts actually found that Crane's humidifiers pack some serious performance. This ultrasonic cool mist model can cover up to 500 square foot and has a 360º mist lid that can be removed for easy cleaning, and its aesthetic teardrop shape won't take up too much space either.
A tabletop humidifier like this one can humidify one to two plants, according to Lalicata, while a larger humidifier is necessary for providing adequate humidity for more than two plants. The humidifier has a 4.3-star rating on Amazon with five-star customer reviews that write "This is the best humidifier out there!" and "Everyone should own one or two." That said, you could buy multiple humidifiers if you have plants in multiple rooms around your home — all the while not putting you back too much.
Tank capacity: 3.8 liters | Coverage: 500 square feet | Run time: 24 hours
Air Innovations MH-701BA Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Air Innovations MH-701BA Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Function is most important when it comes to choosing any home appliance, but aesthetic can also be a factor. This sleek humidifier is available in three colors (red, black and platinum) plus has an impressive 6.4-liter tank capacity and 600 square feet coverage area — making it a great choice if you have a large room or tall indoor plants. It also has a very impressive run time and five mist settings (low, medium, high, supreme and turbo). That all said, the large capacity humidifier will look great in your space while not compromising functionality.
The nozzle extension makes for subtle humidifying, ideal for plants in particular as it won't over-hydrate your greenery. Additional bonus features are a remote control and built-in humidistat that lets you measure the humidity level of the room. This is helpful for determining whether your plants actually need more humidity or not. We also named this humidifier the most stylish in our roundup of the best humidifiers, and a 4.4-star rating on Amazon backs up this distinction. One five-star reviews says they love this humidifier and that "I've had it so long that now I'm going to use it in my plant room."
Tank capacity: 6.4 liters | Coverage: 600 square feet | Run time: 96 hours
Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
Warm mist humidifiers, or vaporizers, are a popular choice to help provide some relief from a cough or congestion during cold and flu season. And while these vaporizers may make sleeping when you sick or have allergies easier, they can also function as a plant humidifier. This vaporizer has a 4.3-star rating on Amazon and over 22K customer reviews to back up its performance. While we haven't tested this particular humidifier in our Lab, Vicks has proven itself as a reliable brand in testing.
"Warm-mist humidifiers tend to be less expensive than cool-mist models, which is helpful if you have multiple areas with plants in your home," says DiClerico. In addition to the lower price tag, we appreciate its compact size and quiet operation. The humidifier is also easy to maintain thanks to a filter-free design that means you don't have to replace any filters (saving you money). One five-star review even calls it "the best warm mist humidifier," saying the quality and manufacturing is great. Some consumers do note an unpleasant smell though.
Tank capacity: 3.8 liters | Coverage: Small- to medium-sized rooms | Run time: 24 hours
How we test plant humidifiers
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, we have tested humidifiers from the likes of the popular Dyson Purifier Humidify+ Cool humidifier to the best baby humidifiers. While we have not tested every model in this list, we paid special attention to criteria including tank capacity, coverage area, intuitive controls and ease of use when it comes to setting up, refilling and cleaning the humidifier. For the models we have tested in our Lab, we measure how long it takes for the machine to reach the set humidity levels in our humidity-controlled chamber. Our experts researched which features are most important for a plant humidifier, and we spoke with a plant expert from a plant delivery service to gain further insight on the industry.
What to look for when shopping for a plant humidifier
Before you purchase a plant humidifier for your space, whether it's for indoor plants in your kitchen or bathroom, keep the following factors in mind:
✔️ Size: Humidifiers come in a variety of sizes, from full-size models to mini ones ideal for small spaces. Which size makes sense for your plants depends on how many plants you have and the square footage of the room they are in. There are also pros and cons that come with the size you choose. "When you choose a larger humidifier you won’t have to refill it as often and it will have a longer run time compared to smaller ones," points out Lalicata. A smaller humidifier won't take up as much as space on your tabletop.
✔️ Coverage area: The square footage of your room is another key spec to check before you buy. "There are some that can cover small areas like 100 square feet, while others can cover 500-1000 square feet," says Lalicata. Measure the dimensions of the room where you keep your plants and pay attention to the coverage area mentioned on the manufacturer's site for the plant humidifier you are considering.
✔️ Tank capacity: How much water your humidifier can hold at one time is just as important as it will also determine how often you need to refill the tank (along with the size of the humidifier). Consider how much area you need to cover, how many plants you have and how much water vapor needs to be emitted to keep your plants healthy.
Where to place a plant humidifier
A good rule of (green) thumb is to place your humidifier about 6 to 12 inches away from your plants. You can put larger humidifiers 12 to 24 inches from your plants, with the stipulation that the room is on the smaller side. "It is best to avoid the mist from having direct contact with the foliage unless it is set up in a glasshouse setting with ample airflow/fans," says Lalicata. Still, Lalicata says you want to keep your humidifier as close to your plants as you can, especially if your room is large or has high ceilings.
Is a warm- or cool-mist humidifier better for plants?
Short answer: It doesn't matter! "Warm versus cool mist humidifiers don't affect plant health so it’s completely up to the plant parent what kind they’d like," explains Lalicata. Cool mist humidifiers are more electrically efficient, says Lalicata, which is one pro to this type of humidifier if you want to keep your electric bill down.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Elizabeth Berry is the Updates Editor at the GH Institute where she ensures product roundups reflect accurate information. She has covered everything from the best daypacks to the best vitamin D supplements. Elizabeth grew up helping her dad in the garden and has a variety of cacti plants in her NYC apartment.
To write this article, she spoke with GH Home Improvement & Outdoor Director Dan DiClerico who has more than 20 years experience in the industry, as well as The Sill's Plant Expert Paris Lalicata.
Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.
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