The Do's and Don'ts for cleaning plants
We're often asked 'What's the best way to clean my indoor plant?'
Over a period of time indoor plants will accumulate fuzzy leaves. Keeping the leaves of your plants free of dust makes them look more attractive.
It also helps them stay healthier. Clean leaves help air-purifying plants and air-filtering plans absorb more light and can perform photosynthesis more efficiently.
When cleaning plants, it's important to use gentle, effective methods that remove contaminants without harming the plants.
You can use a commercial leaf cleaning product and follow the instructions on the packaging, or the occasional use of light dish soap water to clean, followed by plain clear lukewarm water rinse should be fine to keep your plants clean and pest-free.
Avoid using homemade leaf shine products as they may tend to clog pores and inhibit transpiration.
To impart a beautiful shine to smooth leaves, add a little Neem oil to your spray solutions. This will also help deter pests.
To clean the leaves of smooth leafed plants, you will need:
- A spray bottle of cleaning product
- A soft, clean cloth or paper towel
Spray the leaves of your plant with your cleaning solution and then gently wipe clean with your soft cloth or paper towel.
Be careful to apply just the right amount of pressure and resistance to remove dust and contaminants without damaging or accidentally removing the leaves.
NO SCRUBBING!
Always work from the base of the stem toward the tip of the leaf. With a "wiper" in both hands you can do both sides of the leaf at once with a soft cloth or paper towel.
Perform this kid of leaf-by-leaf cleaning once or twice a month. For smaller plants, you can use a soft feather duster to displace dust and keep your plants refreshed.
If you have plants in the kitchen area, watch out for grease that can accumulate on the leaves. These plants will need to be cleaned more often.
A well-groomed plant is a happy, healthy plant 😊🌱
