Pebble Tray; What It Is And How to Make One
A pebble tray, also known as humidity tray, is a plant hack that can help you increase the humidity around houseplants that require it the most.
Are pebble trays effective? If so, what do you need to know to make them beneficial for your plants and aesthetically pleasing?
Read on to discover tips and tricks for creating the most effective and visually appealing pebble trays!
what is a pebble tray AND HOW IT WORKS?
Simply put, a pebble tray is a container filled with pebbles, rocks, or any other draining material that is then filled with water.
The plant pot needs to sit on top of dry pebbles.
In order for pebble trays to be effective and not damaging, the top of the pebbles should protrude slightly above the water level.
The “pebbles” serve to prevent the plant’s roots from becoming waterlogged. As the water evaporates from the tray, the plant will benefit from the humidity it requires.
It is a simple and inexpensive way to increase humidity around your houseplants.
Most commonly, shallow dishes are used as containers. However, other vessels, such as decorative glass jars, can be used for the same purpose.
These are pebble trays I made for three different types of Ferns.
Ferns thrive on high humidity, and pebble trays seem to work really well for them.
As you can see the pot is not in direct contact with water.
DO PEBBLE TRAYS REALLY WORK?
There have been experiments conducted to observe the efficacy of pebble trays at increasing humidity around houseplants.
The 1994 Kohl’s experiments, have demonstrated that humidity trays only increase the relative humidity above trays to a maximum of 7%.
For some, this isn’t a big number; for others, it’s a game changer. It is all relative to where one lives, their home environment and the plant species they are dealing with.
So, to answer the question; yes, pebble trays really work!
However, there are certain plants that require even more humidity than pebble trays can provide. (Once again, it all depends on where you live and your home’s relative humidity.)
For example; I keep Ferns on pebble trays but I have to keep Marantas in Closed Terrariums.
Pebble trays work if used on the right plants, (more on this in the next section), and done the right way.
Size matters when it comes to pebble trays.
Large rooms require large trays with large pebbles.
Large plants require large trays with large pebbles.
If the tray is large enough to match the diameter of the leaves above the pot, the moisture evaporating from the pebble tray will rise up to leaves’ level, not just the roots.
It is also worth mentioning that your plants might only need increased humidity during certain months of the year. For some is during the hot summer months, while for others is during those long winter months, when the furnace is drying the air.
This is a variation to the traditional pebble tray method. However, the concept and function remain the same. The Plumosa Fern pot is placed on top of a layer of pebbles.
I water the plant until I observe the water draining to the bottom of the pebbles, and I stop when the top layer of pebbles is still dry.
which plants benefit from a pebble tray?
Humidity is an essential aspect of plant care.
Depending on the species of plant you have and the climate you live in, as well as your home’s relative humidity, you might need to adjust the humidity levels around some of your humidity-sensitive plants.
Some plants thrive on moisture but can be damaged by “wet feet”, meaning having their roots in water, as it can induce root rot.
So, which plants will benefit from a pebble tray?
Look for these signs;
- leaves with crispy tips and edges.
- wilted or curled leaves.
In general, all tropical plants thrive in high humidity. Other plants that may benefit from a pebble tray include;
- Peace Lily
- Orchid
- Ferns
- Begonias
- Marantas
- Calatheas
As mentioned before, depending on your environment, certain plants may require even more humidity than what a simple pebble tray can provide.
Bird’s Nest Fern placed on top of a pebble tray.
I don’t use large pebble trays because I have over 100 plants. The combination of grouping plants together, using pebble trays, and regular misting provides enough humidity for all my plants.
The Staghorn Fern particularly enjoys pebble trays as it is an epiphyte. These types of plants grow on other plants and trees in nature, drawing nutrients from moisture in the air.
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how to make a pebble tray
It is quite simple to make a pebble tray.
Whether you are assembling a simple but functional pebble tray, or a more elaborate, aesthetically pleasing option, the process is the same.
You only need to change the container and the draining material.
1. find a tray
Find the tray that fits both your pot and foliage size. I prefer transparent plastic saucers because I can always see the water level. Not only are they inexpensive, but it is also easier to see when both the pebbles and the tray need to be cleaned.
2. Find the right pebbles
You can either use regular draining pebbles, or you can find this 100% recycled single-use plastics smart gravel on Amazon. It comes in different sizes to suit various plant’s sizes and is much lighter than regular gravel.
Pour your drainage material until the container is 3/4 full.
1a. alternative trays
If you want a more aesthetically pleasing pebble tray, you can opt for a ceramic tray. Make sure the tray is glazed, in order to avoid any water leakage.
With this type of tray, you will need much finer draining pebble.
2a. alternative pebbles
In lieu of pebbles, you can use seashell chips or small decorative rocks typically used to create layers for Terrariums.
As long as the pot sits on dry material, the plant will be good.
3. place your plant on top of the pebble tray
As you place your plant on top of the pebbles, gently apply some pressure to stabilize the pot. If the pebbles are large, some may protrude more than others, making the plant unstable.
4. add water to your pebble tray
Add water to the tray, ensuring that the tops of the pebbles protrude slightly above the water level. This prevents the roots from sitting in water.
I use a turkey baster to remove excess water.
other ways to add humidity
Pebble trays are a simple and inexpensive way to increase humidity around your houseplants.
However, if you live in a really dry climate, a particularly arid home, or if you have those exceptionally humidity-needy plants, pebble trays may not suffice.
There are other ways to increase humidity around your plants.
I’ve tried a few methods and have found success with each of them.
I continue to use these methods, depending on plants species and season.
I grow some plants in closed glass jars. The concept is similar to a Sealed Terrarium, where the humidity is very high.
For me and my home environment, this is the best way to grow Prayer Plants.
I periodically mist many of my plants. Misting plants is really helpful for those tropical plants that thrive on high humidity. It is effective when the top soil is misted at the same time. Combining misting with pebble trays is actually a great practice.
Using a plant mister is often the most effective way to increase humidity around your houseplants. It may be a bit more expensive, but it’s the best option for the plants that require higher humidity levels.
I like this ultrasonic cool mist option.
I live in a dry home. Our winters are extremely cold and dry. After years of trial and error, I’ve concluded that certain types of plants, (Calatheas, Marantas, and Stromanthes), are simply not meant for this climate.
I prefer to focus on plants that thrive in our home and climate, whether with the use of pebble trays and misting or without them.
Despite these challenges, I still have over 100 plants…
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