Misting plant life is all over social media , thanks to the popularity of pretty plant misting bottles . But does cloud or spritzing give your plants enough piddle ?

Plant misters or spritzer are everywhere : The prettiest ones expect like little age-old perfume bottles ( though more utilitarian alternative are also uncommitted , and popular ) , but they ’re design to make your plant life happy by spraying a sluttish mist of H2O over your plants ’ leaves with every pump of the bottle trigger .

The pretty aesthetic of becloud houseplants has train over TikTok and Instagram . But is the misting method acting just as good as water with a traditional tearing can ? Or could this craze in reality be harm your plant ? Here ’s what the experts have to say about spritzing or cloud your plants .

close up of person watering house plant

Credit:BHG / Phoebe Cheong

BHG / Phoebe Cheong

Is Misting Just as Good as Watering Your Plants?

dingy to be the carrier of bad news , but spritz or misting just does n’t hydrate plants the waytraditional wateringdoes . certify landscape painting contractorSara Bendrickhas a good doctrine of analogy for it .

“ It is like throwing saucy water on your side after a longsighted solar day versus just drink in water , ” she says . “ One natural process clean and absorbs — keeping everything feeling clean and moist . While the other is ingested , hydrate from the inside out . ”

Amy Hovis ofEden Garden DesignandBarton Springs Nurserysays just spritz or misting just does n’t cut it . “ spritz your plant life is not the correct way to water your plants . In fact , it does n’t irrigate them at all , ” she says .

The amount of water they need depends on their size

Credit: Delmaine Donson / Getty Images

While spritzing can cater some moisture , unless the industrial plant really thrives in humidity ( ferns , orchids , or bromeliads , for deterrent example ) , Hovis state spritzing can do more harm than good .

“ What [ industrial plant ] really need is a salutary soaking , ” she says . “ Their root are where they will fuddle up the water , so the best way to water is to avoid watering the top of the plant , and H2O straight to its rootage ball . A thorough sousing , grant the piss to flow through and out the bottom of their pot , is what your plants need to be healthy and hydrated . ”

If you are grow plants outside , she suggest using a drip irrigation organisation .

Person misting houseplants with plant misting bottle

Credit: DuKai photographer / Getty Images

“ A drip irrigation organization is buried underground with emitters positioned at the root ball of each plant , ” Hovis says . “ The arrangement disperses pee directly to the root of the plant life rather than spray from above . This is not only more efficient , but much better for the plants . ”

Is It Ever OK to Mist Your Plants?

Under some lot , there are exceptions to the watering - is - better normal , depending on the environment and type of plant being grown .

“ Spritzing and watering are not the same , and not every works call for or wants to be spritzed , ” Bendrick says . “ For example , tropic house plants from humid environments might apprize some spritzing , but some house plants that do n’t hail from tropical origins might hate it and , therefore , spritzing might have a minus effect on your plant life . ”

If you live someplace without too much humidity , you blast the airwave conditioner all sidereal day long , or you have other family items affecting the humidness in your home , Bendrick advises give your houseplants a good misting .

“ In nature , flora will naturally gather humidness from the air , make dew drops which will freshen the works leaves and remove dust , ” she pronounce . “ This at last creates a better central of atomic number 8 and wet . Misting one to two times per week can refresh your plants and keep them felicitous and thriving . ”

So it ’s o.k. to keep that pretty mist bottle near your plants — just do n’t let that be the only water they get .