Hi everyone!
I’m looking to buy a new humidifier to keep my indoor plants happy, but there are too many options out there. Instead of just buying a random one, I want to know what features actually make a difference and what I should avoid.
I would love to get your advice on a few things:
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Mist Height & Direction: Does the height of the mist output matter? Is it better to have a taller unit or a nozzle that lets you adjust the direction of the mist to avoid getting the floors or nearby leaves too wet?
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Output Rate (Mist Volume): How important is it to control the exact mist output rate? Do you change the levels often, or do you just need a stable, good output?
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Humidity Sensors: Many humidifiers have a built-in sensor, but I heard they often misread the room’s humidity because they are too close to the mist itself. What is your experience with this?
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Noise & Lights: Do you find the noise or the bright display lights at night annoying for a living room or bedroom setup?
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The “Hate” List: What is the number one thing you absolutely HATE about your current humidifier that I should avoid? (Cleaning hassle, small tank, leaking, etc.)?
Thanks in advance for helping me make the right choice for my plants!
Welcome to the forum. I use an ACI humidifier that only provides humidity in the tent. It runs through tubing into my tent. It also ties to my tent controller where I can set desired humidity. I am not sure if you are growing in a tent. As you found out there are many types. I would want as large a reservoir as possible if in use all the time. I would advise to use distilled or ro water depending on how clean your tap water is. I found out when I saw white dust all over the grow room from me using tap water. Good luck and welcome again.
I run fairly simple humidifiers with a controller for more precise application. Just a good steady mist is likely plenty, I run one in both my grow room and tent. Mine holds 2 gallons each, I have to fill daily when it’s really dry. Purified or distilled water is best, but can be aggravating at times, but it helps keep them going without scale or buildup, I also run a cup of peroxide in them at each refill.
If you buy a generic humidifier, make sure it will come back on by itself after a power outage. Its a bummer when the lights come back on but the humidifier does not. I like my AC Infinity unit…adjustable…calibratable…can have very high output if needed.
Thank you very much ,
one more question ,Does a humidifier with a 1.5 meter mist height have an advantage over regular devices?
and what about the white dust,does devices with filter solve this issue ?
Thank you very much ,
one more question ,Does a humidifier with a 1.5 meter mist height have an advantage over regular devices?
and what about the white dust,does devices with filter solve this issue?
I have ACI humidifiers and Vivosun humidifiers.
I started with 2 home humidifiers and found out the spool up and spool down gave a crappy pattern of humidity with a bounce of over 6% humidity.
The ACI humidifier is the best tracking closest to setting unit I have. I regularly have a 1 up and 1 down humidity over the course of an hour. In addition the ability to use the VPD setting that automatically keeps the humidity at specs from 80 during the day to 68 at night with no endless adjustments during the transitions.
The ACI has a hose that attached and runs into the tent so the unit does not take up floor space. It also has a spider like 5 finger large dispersement attachment that I have never used and would rather have the 3 bucks it took to mold it back from ACI.
It is self healing for power outages.
The ACI is also due to its size ( 19 liters ) is the one that needs cleaning the most, I do mine every 3 weeks and not cleaning it will mean a mid run cleaning and testing as the goop gets into the float to stud area and the unit shuts down from time to time when dirty.
Vivosun humidifiers do not track as well as the ACI units and frankly the programming from the unit is a total failure of ergonomics and design. It is literally one step above an old Inkbird for programming where one mistake makes you redo everything. Having said that as an emergency I had to use a 5 liter Vivosun in my 4x4 in flower and it worked fine until the ACI replacement arrived.
I have purchased 3 ACI heat and humidity boxes and 2 of them have been replaced under warranty.
If I had ( and I do ) any ACI products I would have a backup ( and I do ) as the testing for long term use obviously was not part of the engineering goals.
You have asked about different levels of hight for humidification. It does not matter where you install the humidity add as long as the humidity mixes well and leaves no dead spots. I use a bunch of little tiny cube sensors that can be moved around and will track humidity and temp. Doing this is part of finding the best environment for your plants. I plant with a dead spot for air movement can cause leaf issues and when the flowers get bigger can cause mold.
Currently my humidity add comes in a pot level and is turbulated by a sweep fan at floor level. 2 sweep fans at canopy level keep the plants and air moving.
Just noticed the white powder question.
You will need to find out what your * white powder " is.
If it is calcium deposits from your water source change water sources. It will trash any humidifier.
If it is Powdery Mildew you have humidity issues and that needs to be handled.
There are many things you didn’t tell us that makes recommending easier. What are you growing in (tent) bedroom, closet, basement. Size matters. I grow in a converted sauna 8’x8’x7’ and I originally used a bedroom type humidifier that didn’t do much to help me, then bought an AC infinity T3 which was a nice unit but couldn’t keep up with the 60-70% humidity for seedlings in a room that size, so I upgraded to the T7 which holds enough water for 4-5 days and more than keeps up with all conditions, but it took 3 buys to get it right. Most units have flexible directions, rates might be too much if not using a controller, I use the AC Infinity, sensor should be positioned correctly to avoid issues, most display lights can be shut off, using good water minimizes problems, I have a well, but I buy mine at Cub grocery store-bulk water 59 cents a gallon reverse osmosis treated, still develops green slime over time, but no white dust or calcium build up, I’ve never had leaking problems - thankfully. my advice- don’t skimp-investigate and make the right choice for your setup.
I live in a very dry, high altitude environment. Typical ambient humidity in the winter is around 10%. Indoors running around 30% RH. I do not run a humidifier and plants adapt just fine. With a full grow space in flower I fight high humidity. You may not really need to run a humidifier. Just a thought.
