You Should Be Putting Your Humidity-Loving Houseplants In These Weird Places

Some of the best houseplants are the tropical ones, but your average house or apartment does not compare to the warm, moist locations of their native habitat. You can't bring the rainforest to your plants, but you can improve their health by placing them strategically throughout your home. This is especially important for those fresh from the nursery, as you want to settle in your new tropical plant so it doesn't just survive, but thrive.

Windowsills, tables, and plant stands are the typical houseplant haunts, but if you have tropical, humidity-loving leafy friends, those places might not be the best option. Instead, keep your mind open to new possibilities by thinking of places in your home that might provide more moisture. The shower comes to mind, but often bathrooms are too dark to be a permanent home for tropical plants, who love the sun as much as they love ambient moisture. There are other, weirder places you should be keeping your tropical houseplants to give them an extra boost of hydration without drenching their roots with water.

Look for sources of water in your home — these will be perfect for tropical plants. In addition to the shower, another highly used source of water is the sink, particularly the kitchen sink. This is a great place for plants that need to absorb a lot of moisture, since the kitchen usually includes both a sink and a dishwasher. Even if you don't have a dishwasher, you can situate plants near your dish-drying rack so they can absorb the moisture that evaporates off your damp dishes.

Speaking of evaporation, your laundry room is another location that could make a great home for your plants. If your laundry room receives adequate light, you can leave your plants in there. If it lacks light, place your plants near the rack where you hang your clothes to dry. Much like the dishes in the kitchen, the plants will suck up the moisture in the air from your damp clothes. A bright bathroom also makes a good home for tropical plants, but even if your bathroom has no windows, you can give your plants a brief sauna experience once a week while you shower. This should help them perk up if they've been looking thirsty, and it will turn your bathroom into a tropical oasis.

A humidifier is the obvious choice to create that tropical environment for your plants, but there are other ways to keep them moist and happy. Regardless of what room you put them in, it's a good idea to keep plants clustered together, as this increases the humidity in the immediate area. If your plants are small enough, you can group them in a terrarium or beneath a glass cloche.

Some plants enjoy a light misting, but others, like African violets, do not appreciate the extra moisture beading on their leaves and petals, so do your research when it comes to which plants you should mist. Though tropical plants love humidity, you should be careful about introducing too much moisture into your home. This could encourage mold growth, so make sure air is continuously circulating around your plants. If you live in a humid area, the natural moisture in the air might be enough for a tropical plant. You can always check the humidity levels in your home to make sure it works for both you and your plants.