Fogger and Mister Guide

Foggers and misters are used for humidifying, controlling temperature, keeping plant foliage moist, or when fine mist irrigation from overhead is required. They have a fine droplet size and low flow rates, and they're available with barbs or threads. Foggers and misters are perfect for watering pots, containers, baskets, and plants that require continuous moisture indoors or outdoors. These watering devices are a cost-effective way to reduce temperature and dust in the greenhouse, outdoor entertainment areas, farms, and nurseries.

Although they look similar, work in the same manner, and serve the same goal, the differences between them are significant enough to make a huge impact on your application.

In this fogger and mister guide, we explain what a fogger and mister are, the differences between them, and when and how to use them.

What is a Fogger and Mister?

Foggers and misters are watering devices that reduce temperature and control humidity levels. They work at high pressures but produce water at low volumes. The high pressure and low volume create a fog/mist effect. Each device provides fine droplets with the right combination of pressure, flow, and nozzle size.

In greenhouses, it is often necessary to lower the temperature, particularly in warmer months, to prevent straining the plants. Using foggers and misters is one of the most efficient and uniform ways to achieve this. They release water in very small droplets that absorb extra heat from the air and remove it to drop the temperature. Hence, it creates perfect conditions for plant growth by distributing tiny droplets with excellent pattern uniformity.

Difference between Foggers and Misters

The main difference between foggers and misters is the size of the water droplets they produce. A micron is a standard unit of measurement that is used to determine water droplet size. A micron equals one-millionth of a meter or one-thousandth of a millimeter.

Foggers produce ultra-small droplets, approximately 50 microns or less in diameter. Fog floats into the air and randomly falls on surfaces without a particular pattern because its droplets are tiny. A fog droplet does not have enough mass to travel through the air at a constant speed. So, it is almost impossible to predict the trajectory of fog or where it will fall. Therefore, fog lacks accuracy and travels wherever it wants.

Fogger is ideal for:

• Seeds and non-rooted cutting propagation
• Plants prone to root diseases
• Reducing temperature and controlling humidity

On the other hand, Misters produce slightly large droplets, approximately 50 to 100 microns. Mist droplets are large enough that they do not float away. A misting system can more precisely target its trajectory and direct the mist toward particular areas. This is crucial in applications that require consistent coverage, such as herbicide applications where overspray can damage nearby plants.

Mister is ideal for:

• Propagation of rooted cuttings
• Cooling and controlling humidity levels

Applications for Foggers and Misters

Fogger and mister can be used in diverse applications for precise results due to differences in their droplet size. There are applications specific to foggers, and some are specific to misters. However, both systems can be used in a few conditions.

Foggers are recommended for indoor use, while misters are recommended for outdoor use. Still, each system is unique, and there's always going to be exceptions. Let's discover applications of both foggers and misters.

When to Use Fogger

Common applications for foggers include:

Greenhouses: Fog is an excellent alternative to mist for germination and propagation in greenhouses, fertigation, evaporative cooling, and pesticide application. It evenly moistens the plants without over-saturating the soil, which reduces disease and fungal growth. In addition, fog can penetrate the leaves more deeply.

Humidity Control: Some environments, like greenhouses and animal enclosures, require high humidity levels. In this regard, foggers are a great solution for controlling and building humidity and cooling environments.

Overhead Applications: Foggers are installed on or suspended from the overhead supply line of the greenhouse, hoop house, or nursery for overhead applications.

Orchard: Foggers are used in orchards for cooling, pesticide application, foliar fertigation, and fungicide application.

When to Use Mister

Common applications for misters include:

Outdoor Cooling: For outdoor settings like decks, patios, animal shelters, and pools, misting systems are used for temperature control by evaporative cooling.

Greenhouses: Misters are recommended to use for propagating rooted cuttings. This is because mist keeps the stems and leaves consistently moist but not soaked. Traditional sprayers can damage tiny plant tissues. However, a fine mist maintains moisture levels in the growing medium and suppresses fungal infections. The mist droplets are ideal for sensitive plant foliage like ferns or certain ground cover where sprinklers could be too harsh on plant structure.

Pest Control: Mist droplets combined with the proper flow rates, nozzles, and pressure are dispensed precisely to guarantee regulatory compliance for pest control. They're also used for herbicide application.

Dust Suppression: Another common use of mister is to control dust. A fine mist creates a barrier or curtain within the zone. Knowing the type of dust particles, you are dealing with is crucial to overcoming the dust control challenge since you want the mist droplets to be similar in size to dust particles, so they adhere to them.

Note: When used for environmental cooling, misters should be positioned higher, about 8 to 12 feet above ground, for best results. It is recommended to install a cool breeze misting nozzle at a 90 to 120-degree angle to the ground.

How to Choose the Right Fogger and Mister

First and foremost, choose the device with the correct flow rate, desired droplet size, and PSI; otherwise, you will end up with a larger droplet size. You should choose it depending on the application of the device, whether you want to cool the air, control the humidity, or water the plants. If you're looking for humidity control, use a fogger. Use mister for temperature reduction using evaporation.

DripWorks carries versatile foggers and misters that are used to cool larger areas. Our misting nozzle is available in barbed and threaded connections and is compatible with various systems.

If you've any questions and need help while choosing the suitable fogger and mister for your plants and other applications, feel free to call or email us on weekdays. Our friendly and professional staff is always happy to help you.