Debunking gardening myths: Does misting your houseplants really work?

Life

We are all told to mist our houseplants if we want them to thrive. But botanist James Wong failed to find a single study backing this up, so he did his own home-grown experiment

By James Wong

Christian Bridgwater/Alamy

MISTING the air around houseplants such as maidenhair ferns and pitcher plants has long been seen as essential to protect these species, which evolved in steamy rainforest understoreys, from the draughts and dry air of the average home. It is a practice that is so widespread, echoed in almost every indoor gardening book of the past century, it seems no one has stopped to ask: is there any evidence this actually works?

Standard advice is to give your plants a quick spritz between one and three times a week. However, given the average spray with a home mister contains …

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 28th October 2023.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account

More from New Scientist

Explore the latest news, articles and features

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : New Scientist – https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26034631-400-debunking-gardening-myths-does-misting-your-houseplants-really-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home