To understand our humidity needs, you must first understand where we come from. We are native to the Mediterranean basin and parts of Southern Europe and the Middle East. Our natural habitat is not one of steamy jungles but of cool, bright woodlands and rocky hillsides. We thrive in a climate with distinct seasons: a period of cool, moist growth followed by a hot, dry dormancy. The key for our indoor care is to replicate that cool, moist growing season. This means providing high relative humidity alongside cool temperatures, which is quite different from the warm, dry air typical of most modern homes, especially during winter when we are in our prime blooming period.
For us to flourish, producing our heart-shaped leaves and elegant, swept-back flowers, we require a relative humidity level between 50% and 60%. This is the sweet spot. When humidity drops significantly below this range, we immediately begin to experience stress. Our leaves may lose their turgor, becoming limp, and the delicate flower buds can dry up and abort before they ever have a chance to open. Furthermore, low humidity makes us far more susceptible to spider mites, tiny pests that thrive in dry conditions and can quickly weaken us by sucking sap from our leaves. Conversely, while we appreciate moisture in the air, excessive humidity combined with poor air circulation can create a breeding ground for fungal diseases like botrytis (gray mold), which causes rotting of our crowns, leaves, and flowers.
There are several effective ways you can create the humid microclimate we desire without making your entire home damp. The most reliable method is to use a humidifier placed near our location. This allows for precise control over the ambient moisture levels. A more natural and aesthetically pleasing method is the pebble tray. Simply fill a shallow tray with small pebbles or gravel, add water until it sits just below the top of the pebbles, and place our pot on top. As the water evaporates, it raises the humidity directly around our foliage. Crucially, ensure our pot is never sitting directly in the water, as this will lead to waterlogged soil and root rot. Grouping us with other houseplants is another excellent strategy. We collectively release moisture through transpiration, creating a more humid local atmosphere for the entire plant group.
While the intention is good, please avoid the common mistake of misting our leaves and flowers directly with a spray bottle. This practice can leave water droplets sitting on our foliage and in our crown (the central growing point at the soil level). This stagnant water invites fungal pathogens and can cause unsightly spots or, worse, crown rot, which is often fatal. Focus instead on the ambient humidity methods described above. Furthermore, always keep us away from direct sources of dry air, such as heating vents, radiators, or fireplaces. The blast of hot, desiccated air from these sources is extremely detrimental to our health and will quickly undo all your good efforts to provide us with the humidity we need.
