Houseplant tips

Humidity meters (or hygrometers) are devices used to record the levels of moisture in the air to give you a humidity reading. They are very common in industrial settings but are becoming more and more popular in people’s homes as they begin to keep houseplants.

Monitoring the level of humidity in your home can be very useful as it can stop a room from becoming too dry or your plants from receiving too much moisture, but one of the main questions people ask is how accurate are humidity meters? Is there any point in keeping a humidity meter in your home if it’s not displaying the correct humidity level.

Well this all depends on the model you buy, some hygrometers are more accurate than others so this should be a factor when buying one. Most of the models include an accuracy gauge to show within what percentage they are accurate by. There are many models that claim accuracy within 2% either side of the level they’re reporting that are affordable and look good in your home. If you’re using the gauge for monitoring humidity then 2% accuracy should work well for you.

If you want to test your humidity meters then try buying several different models and see how close their detecting range is. Are they reporting figures that are very different from one of another or are there similarities across the board. If they seem to be quite similar within a few % then they’re probably working well enough for you to get a good read of your room in order to provide the ideal environment for your plants.

If you’ve enjoyed this article then be sure to check out what is a humidity meter called? This may seem like a silly question but humidity meters go by so many other names it can be useful to know what these are when searching for one.

A humidity meter is a device used to measure water vapour in the air, it is how you know the humidity levels in your house. But there are various names for a humidity meter which can be confusing, especially if you’re looking to buy one and don’t know what to search for.

The technical term for a humidity meter is a hygrometer. A hygrometer is the name used for all industrial and professional uses of a humidity meter. However this device also goes by other, although sometimes less common, names. Some common names for a humidity meter include:

• Humidity gauge
• Humidity sensor
• Humidity detector

If you search for any of these terms then you can expect some form of hygrometer to come up. However, if you’re looking to purchase a great hygrometer then you’re better off looking for hygrometer or humidity meter.

It also isn’t just a question of what is the right term to use. Hygrometers also come in a variety of different materials with different functions and different aesthetics. There are many models which are very modern, these can sometimes by synced with your phone or attached to a humidifier that automatically adjusts to produce the required amount of mist. Then you have more traditional models that you would expect to see on a ship or in a cigar shop.

Whichever one you go for depends on your individual tastes and needs but there is a hygrometer available for everyone. Many hygrometers also come with built in thermometer gauges so you can measure the temperature and the humidity levels with the same device.

So whatever you search for you should be able to find the humidity sensor that you need but if you want to be on the safe side look fr a hygrometer as this is the technical term.

Home humidifier

Whole house humidifier

house humidifier

vick’s humidifier

honeywell humidifier

Best humidifier for plants

 

Whole House Humidifier FAQ

For those of you who are still on the fence about purchasing a home humidifier then take a look at some frequently asked questions to see if they help with your decision making process.

Do whole house humidifiers really work?

Do whole house humidifiers cause mould?

What type of whole house humidifier is best?

How much does it cost to have a whole house humidifier installed?

Do I use a humidity meter? Will my heating system tell me? Are there any special tricks I can use for gauging humidity? How do I know the humidity levels in my houses?

Finding out the humidity levels in your home is important for many different reasons. If your humidity is too high it can lead to problems like mould and if it is too low it can contribute to breathing difficulties, dry skin and sad plants.

Increasing the humidity in your home to a comfortable level comes with lots of benefits. Increased humidity is great for your hair and skin, it can help improve your sleep and it can help to alleviate breathing difficulties. Not only is it good for your self but it’s also great for your plants. Many (though not all!) plants love humidity. They thrive from it. A lot of plants that we keep as houseplants come from tropical zones and are used to humid environments that we don’t get in our homes so increasing the humidity can really help them.

But of course if you’re making the effort to increase the humidity in your home how do you know it’s working? How do you know what the level of humidity is? This is where hygrometers, or humidity detectors, come in. A hygrometer is a device that measures the amount of water vapour in the air to give you a humidity level. Take a look at how accurate are humidity meters? if you want to understand a bit more.

Many devices are accurate to 1/2% and also come with temperature gauges and other functions. You can also find humidity meters in a range of styles from the modern to the more vintage so that they can fit into your home.

Some humidifiers also come with built in humidity measures and when a humidity levels drops below a certain point it will start to produce more air vapour to increase the humidity in the air again.

 

Humidity meters, also known as hygrometers, are devices that are used to measure the amount of moisture in the air. Measuring the humidity in the air can be useful for a number of reasons, but here at OSERA we care about higher humidity because it helps our plants.

Many plants need higher humidity levels and there are lots of things we can do to increase the humidity such as misting our plants, placing them on pebble trays filled with water or even buying a humidifier. But if we don’t have a way of detecting the moisture level in the air, we can’t be sure that we are giving our plants sufficient humidity and there is also the possibility that we are giving them too much.

That’s where a hygrometer comes in. By detecting the humidity level in the air for us, we can then adjust our methods to make sure the quantity of water vapor in the air is optimal for our plants.

Hygrometers also go by the following names:

• Humidity sensor
• Humidity gauge
• Humidity monitor
• Humidity meter

Best Humidity Meters

So without further delay, here are our top five humidity meters. We have selected the most effective, cost efficient and innovative designs to help you keep your home at the right humidity level for you.

ThermoPro TP50

Digital Hygrometer Indoor Thermometer Room Thermometer and Humidity Gauge with Temperature Humidity Monitor – is our number one choice humidity meter.

• Temperature and humidity measure
• Records daily high and low temperature
• Records daily high and low humidity
• Battery powered
• Celsius and Fahrenheit

Buy on Amazon 

AcuRite 00613

Digital Hygrometer & Indoor Thermometer Pre-Calibrated Humidity Gauge, 3″ H x 2.5″ W x 1.3″ D – The ideal solution if you want the option to stand it up on a surface or switch it over to a magnetic surface like a fridge or shelf.

• Clip and magnet back
• Records daily high and low temperature levels
• Records daily high and low humidity
• Easy to use

Buy on Amazon

JEDEW

2-Pack Mini Hygrometer Thermometer Digital LCD Monitor Indoor Outdoor Humidity Meter Gauge for Humidifiers Dehumidifiers Greenhouse Basement Babyroom Fahrenheit or Celsius (Black-2 Pack) – Perfect for those wanting a small humidity gauge to carry around with you or to mount on your wall.

• Humidity and temperature gauge
• Battery powered
• Measure both Celsius and Fahrenheit
• Small and light
• PVC plastic
• Comes in a pack of two

 

Buy on Amazon

Vintage Humidity Meters

For those of you looking for a hygrometer with a more classic aesthetic then these might be the ones for you.

Haayward 3 in 1

Household Weather Station Barometer Thermometer Hygrometer Wall Hanging Mounted Home –

• Vintage appeal
• 3 in 1 barometer, thermometer and hygrometer
• Lightweight
• Easy to install

Buy on Amazon

Cigar Oasis Analog Hygrometer

By Western Humidor – for those who are looking for something a bit different. This vintage humidity meter works as a stand alone piece of decoration and won’t interfere with the decor of your home like some other models might.

• Vintage design
• Secure magnetic mount
• Scratch & fog resistant glass face
• Advanced humidity sensor maintains accuracy to +/- 1%

Buy on Amazon

It can be difficult to choose the best hygrometer but hopefully we’ve managed to narrow down your options so that you can pick the best humidity monitor for your home.

When choosing a humidity sensor, you don’t just need to think about the features that the model has but also the general look and feel. If you have a modern home with innovative appliances then you will want something like our first three. Where as if you prefer things to look more traditional or vintage you may want to go with one of our second two options.

---

Humidity Meter FAQ

Now we’ve hopefully helped you find the right humidity monitor let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions regarding hygrometers to make sure you get the right humidity level in your home.

Is 70% humidity too high?

For some of your plants 70% humidity would not be considered too high and in face many tropical plants would thrive in these kind of conditions. But when humidity levels go above 70% it can start to become uncomfortable for a human being. So you may want to consider yourself when you’re planning the humidity levels in your house and not just think of your plants as tempting as that might be.

Is 25% humidity too low?

If humidity levels fall under 30% then your home will feel quite dry. This can affect your skin and hair but it can also have a bad effect on your plants. If you have a cactus or a succulent then they’re not going to mind but for many other plants you 25% humidity might just be a bit too low.

What is a good level indoors?

If you’re looking for an environment that is best for people and plants alike then you should be looking at a humidity level around 40 – 50%. Of course if you like things humid you might want to go higher than this or on the other hand maybe you’d rather your home be a bit drier. But for maximum comfort and skin benefits we would recommend your humidity levels to stay around 50%. You can use a hygrometer to monitor your humidity and adjust it accordingly.

What will happen if the humidity is high?

Too much humidity in your home can cause damage to it. High humidity can cause mould to grow which can be very dangerous to breathe in. If can also damage wallpaper and paint and some of your plants won’t do too well if humidity gets above a certain point. Use a humidity meter to measure the humidity in your home and try to keep it below 70%

What is the most accurate way to measure humidity?

The most accurate way to measure humidity would be to use a humidity sensor. With one of these you will be able to measure the amount of water vapour in the air and get a percentage reading of the humidity level. Some humidifiers now come with built in humidity sensors to help you know how humid your room is and you can set the device so that it produces more or less humidity depending on the level that you set it to.

Using a plant mister is something most of us do all the time but are plants ok to mist or should we be doing something else? Does spraying water on plants leaves help? Let’s find out.

Some plants need high levels of humidity to survive and even thrive. When we take these plants and put them into houses with heating systems and drier air, the leaves can dry out and the plant can suffer. A way to help prevent this damage from happening is to increase the humidity for the plants.

One way to do this is to mist your plants. Another way to do this is to place your plants on a tray of watered pebbles. A further option is to place glasses and bowls of water around your plants and a final option is to buy a humidifier.

If your plant requires humidity then it is ok to mist your plants and it can help them a lot. However it’s important to note that it isn’t ok to mist all types of plants. If you have a plant that lives in a drier more arid region then you probably shouldn’t be misting your plant as it could be receiving too much moisture.

When working out whether a plant is ok to mist or not try looking at where that plant comes from. If you see that the plant comes from a tropical environment or somewhere that experiences high rainfall then you should be misting your plant if you’re not using other methods to increase the humidity. If they are from a drier region then simply watering them as and when will probably be enough.

If you live in a very dry area and your plant requires lots of humidity then you may find that misting isn’t enough and it’s time to look into investing in a humidifier.