If you have plants for your house, you understand how most tropical houseplants like to be in a moist environment. However, it is hard to provide sufficient moisture in the air when dwelling in arid climates or during winter when heat indoors strips the air of moisture. An easy, low-cost fix is to create your own homemade pebble tray that provides ambient humidity to your plants in a natural manner.
What is a Pebble Tray?
Pebble tray is a shallow, small tray containing pebbles or small stones and water. It is set under a pot plant in a way that allows for evaporation of water to provide a humid microclimate to the plant. The technique is a great substitute for costly humidifiers and is applicable on orchids, ferns, calatheas, and other moisture-demanding plants.
Advantages of a Pebble Tray
Increases Humidity Naturally – Since water is evaporating inside the tray, it increases moisture in the surrounding area of the plant.
Prevents Root Rot from Overwatering – Since the pot of the plant is suspended above the pebbles, the roots of the plant are not in contact with water and therefore root rot is prevented.
Affordable and Eco-Friendly – Since it doesn't use electricity, pebble trays use no energy and are a cheap way of maintaining humid-plants.
Adds Aesthetic Value – Using decorative stones or trendy trays can give your plant arrangement an air of sophistication.
Making a DIY Pebble Tray
Making a pebble tray is simple and doesn't require much in the way of materials:
Materials Needed
A shallow dish or tray (metal, plastic, or ceramic)
Small stones, pebbles, or ornamental rocks
Water
A house plant in a pot
Step-by-Step Directions
Choose a Tray – Choose a shallow tray slightly larger than the bottom of your plant pot.
Add Pebbles – Add a few tiny pebbles or pretty rocks to the tray. The thickness is roughly an inch or two deep.
Add Water – Add water to moisten the rocks in the tray but not overflowing. Never saturate the pebbles.
Position Plant – Place your pot plant inside the pebbles. Never place the bottom of the pot on the direct water level.
Check and Refill the Tray Regular – Replace the tray with water as the case may be to maintain the water levels. Drain pebbles occasionally to prevent mold or algae growth.
Success Tips
Grouping Plants: Placing a number of plants in close placement with pebble trays will maintain humidity levels more stable.
Filtered or Distilled Water Use: This helps avoid mineral deposits, which will show as white spots on the pebbles.
Monitoring Humidity Level: Test your pebble tray's effectiveness with a hygrometer.
Homemade pebble trays are an inexpensive, simple, and stunning solution to offering humidity to your houseplants. From a hot greenhouse of tropical plants to a few humidity-requiring plants, this underhanded trick will have them in tip-top shape and dancing with life. With very little effort, your plants will have the ideal conditions in which to thrive!