I've gotta say, grouping plants didn't really make much difference for me. Tried clustering mine together for months near my south-facing window, and honestly, I didn't notice any real improvement—still ended up needing a humidifier during winter. Moss poles might work fine, but they aren't exactly budget-friendly if you've got a bunch of plants to support. I've had better luck just repurposing things around the house like wooden stakes or bamboo skewers. Not as aesthetic maybe, but way cheaper and does the job just fine. Plus, pothos seems happy trailing down shelves anyway... Less hassle overall.
I've had mixed results with grouping too, but honestly, I think it depends a lot on your home's overall humidity levels. For me, adding pebble trays underneath made a noticeable difference—just fill a shallow tray with pebbles and water, and set your pots on top (but don't let them sit directly in the water). It's cheap, easy, and helped my calatheas perk up noticeably. Agree about moss poles though... bamboo skewers and twist ties are my go-to as well. Cheap hacks FTW.
Pebble trays are definitely underrated. I've recommended them to clients who struggled with humidity-sensitive plants, and most saw improvements pretty quickly. Another trick that's worked well for me is placing small bowls of water near heating vents or radiators—especially in winter when indoor air gets super dry. It's subtle, but it helps balance things out without much effort. Moss poles never really clicked for me either... bamboo skewers and twist ties all the way, haha.
"Another trick that's worked well for me is placing small bowls of water near heating vents or radiators—especially in winter when indoor air gets super dry."
That's a solid tip, and I've seen similar results myself. One thing I'd add is that the surface area of the water matters quite a bit. Wider, shallow dishes tend to evaporate faster and boost humidity more effectively than narrow, deep ones. Also, if you're dealing with particularly sensitive plants, grouping them together can create a microclimate that helps retain moisture.
I understand your point about moss poles—they're not everyone's cup of tea. However, I've found them beneficial for certain climbing plants like pothos or monstera, as they encourage aerial root growth and healthier foliage. Bamboo skewers are definitely handy for smaller plants or temporary support, but for larger climbers, something sturdier might be necessary.
Overall though, it's great to see simple solutions like pebble trays getting recognition—they're inexpensive and surprisingly effective.
Does anyone find pebble trays a bit messy though? I've tried them, and while they do help humidity, I always end up spilling water when moving plants around. Maybe I'm just clumsy... Any tips for keeping things tidy?
