Can house plants cause damp?

Photo by Chris Abney on Unsplash

I’ve had a bit of a dilemma this year. We live in an old, damp house, so at Christmas, I treated myself to a dehumidifier. Crazy, I know.

And then I somehow acquired dozens of houseplants that would require humidity.

Suddenly the humidity was a good thing, and the dehumidifier was the evil, life-sucking monster that has been retired to the big cupboard in the master bedroom reserved for Christmas trees, old school artwork, and other detritus waiting to be chucked.

But what about in winter? Will the dehumidifier be dragged out again (probably). But will having the houseplants make the damp inside even worse?

***small disclaimer — our house doesn’t suffer badly from damp, we just have to remember to keep cupboard doors open etc. otherwise mould grows.

So, do houseplants cause damp?

In short, no. I conducted a bit of research (googled it) and whilst some sites do claim that houseplants can cause damp, it’s unlikely to be the primary cause. In long, possibly, but only if you have a jungle’s worth of plants that you’re overwatering a lot.

How do I check if my house has high humidity?

One sure sign is that you have mold growing — it’s common in older houses, especially in naturally humid rooms like bathrooms and kitchens.

You can get little sensors that will tell you how much light and humidity a room has, as well as the temperature.

If you already have a dehumidifier (or humidifier), it should tell you on the display how humid your room is.

What does cause damp?

This is common in older houses. Make sure you’re airing the house out regularly, ensure that you have an efficient fan in the bathroom and open a few windows (yes, even in winter — if only for a few minutes) to allow air to circulate.

Be aware of anything that can add to the issue, such as drying clothes in the house. Don’t dry clothes on radiators.

Heating your home will reduce condensation, and the insulation will keep the heat inside.