UK households with a fan issued warning over house plants

Many Brits have had fans whirring on full speed over the past few weeks in a bid to keep themselves cool – but it could be hurting your house plants.

House plants are a popular choice as they brighten up your home and can add a touch of colour and class to otherwise plain rooms. Plus, it also comes with other benefits, as many plants will help freshen your air. Unfortunately, there are some devices, like fans, which can be negatively impacting them.

The reason for this is because as fans circulate, they cause the air to dry out. This reduces moisture levels in the air, which can cause plants to become dehydrated.

READ MORE: UK households urged to cover soil in one item already in your garden

This spells particularly bad news for plants that thrive in humidity and which need plenty of water to stay healthy. These include peace lilies, snake plants and orchids.

Fortunately, there are several easy solutions you can take to help keep your plants healthy in the heat. Even better, they won’t break the bank.

Clustering and how it can release moisture into the air

Connor Towning, lead horticultural expert at Beards & Daisies, recommends: “Group humidity-loving plants together, use pebble trays, or lightly mist them in the morning. It protects against crisp leaf edges.”

Clustering your humidity-loving plants together is beneficial as it allows them to create a little micro-climate. This is because when plants transpire, they release moisture in the air, creating a more humid environment.

As a plus, this also allows you to have fun creating a pleasing arrangement with your plants. Grouping them together also makes them easier to take care of.

Likewise, pebble trays are shallow trays filled with pebbles and stones, which then have moisture added to the tray. As water evaporates from the tray, it creates a humid environment around the plants.

Another benefit of this method is that the pebbles also elevate the plant’s roots, keeping them from getting soaked in the water – as this can potentially lead to root rot.

A third easy tip is to lightly mist your plants every morning. Simply pour water into a spray bottle and spritz around your plants to increase the air’s moisture content.

Aside from increasing humidity, you should also take care to keep plants from sources of dry heat. This includes radiators and vents, which can dehydrate plants.

Equally, make sure to monitor the moisture level of the soil in your plant pots. Connor advises: “If the compost feels dry an inch down, give it a good soak until water drains from the pot base."