If you own houseplants that hate being misted but enjoy humidity, you would love the idea of creating DIY humidity trays at home!
This helps increase the water in the tray as needed to keep the humidity levels up. It will do best for the plants, especially in dry climates or houses with air conditioning.
Voila! Read more to discover how to create one if you never have humidity trays.
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Do Humidity Trays Work for Plants?
If you ever talk to a gardener, they would advise you to use humidity trays in spring and summer to keep your plants moist.
You can also use the humidity trays in winter but they work best in spring and summer.
But do not expect the pebble trays to release significant moisture like a room humidifier and direct leaf-misting.
These plants hate being misted and in excess soggy soil but enjoy a relative humidity level of over 50%.
| Species | Plants |
|---|---|
| Prayer Plant | Maranta, Calathea and Ctenanthe |
| Flowering Shrub | Bromeliads, Alocasia, Colocasia, Hypoestes, Begonias, and Dieffenbachia |
| Green-leafy Plant | Monstera, Pothos, Anthuirum, Palm, Fern, and Philodendron |
| Air Plant | Tilandasia |
Best Pebbles for Humidity Tray
Pebbles are cheap and quite multipurpose, creating terrariums and aquariums and decorating pots.
They hold the pot above the water level, preventing wet feet that invite root rot and other water-based problems.
Rocks do not absorb water like other materials, which makes them ideal for humidity trays.
| Material | Specification |
|---|---|
| Pebbles (Rock) | Pebbles are tiny, non-porous, and sturdy material appropriate for holding solid objects like pots. |
| Polished river rocks | They are sturdy, decorative, and miniscule rocks that are free of pollutants. |
| Bonsai gravel | It is a fine gravel used in Bonsai plant pots to improve drainage, which works well as humidity tray pebbles. |
You can also use LECA balls which are tiny, sturdy, and porous that absorb water and evaporates slowly.
Like pebbles, glass gems can also be great for creating a humidity tray surface.
How do you Make a DIY Humidity Tray for Plants?
Start with acquiring a shallow tray or pot, 2-3″ in height and at least 5-7″ in diameter.
You can pick from polystyrene (plastic), water-catching trays, or stainless steel dishes. Remember, it should be impermeable and rustproof.
- Pour the pebbles into the tray about 2 inches and level them to make a flat surface.
- Add water to it but ensure not to top it off the pebbles. Remember, the pebbles’ height should not exceed the tray and must be leveled to hold the pot appropriately.
- When using clay pebbles, remember to soak them a few hours before and drain out excess water before using them.
- Now, rest your plant pot over the pebbles and move it to a location with a warm temperature and ample indirect sunlight.
- Depending on the temperature, you would need to refill it every 24 hours or every few days.
- If indoor air is drier because of central heating or soaring outdoor temperature, usually above 80°F or during the heat wave, you must refill the tray daily.
Water sitting in the tray for longer will attract mosquitos and moisture-seeking insects.
On the other hand, an unkempt pebble tray will invite fungus growth around the pot.
Read to find out how to locate pest eggs on leaves.
So, always clean your humidity tray every few days with clean water and scrub with rubbing alcohol to remove mold growth.
Voila! Your humidity tray is fully operational. Otherwise, check out this tutorial.
If you are too busy with your schedule to create humidity trays, get one from Amazon.
From Editorial Team
Use Pot Feet Risers with Humidity trays
Place the pebble tray on the feet risers that help slow water uptake, protecting the plants from overwatering.
Alternatively, you can make a humidity dome by placing the cups or bowls filled with water alongside your plant inside the transparent box.
