Random Plant Care Tip

As I was handling some plant chores, I thought I’d share a plant care tip…

Dusty leaves will not allow your plant to photosynthesize as efficiently as clean leaves. The layer of dust works like a filter keeping the sunlight from getting to the surface of the leaf. Sunlight is the primary energy source for photosynthesis. This shows how important it is to keep leaves clean. Besides, shiny leaves are just pretty.

As with all aspects of plant care, there are different ways to clean your plant’s leaves. There are also different reasons to use different techniques. Here are a couple I’ve used.

Getting Heavy-Handed

For plants with lots of leaves, or for dense plants, a good shower can be the perfect solution. If your weather permits, take your plant outside and hose it down; it’s as simple as it sounds. The down-side to a backyard hosing is that pests can hitch a ride back into your house. If taking your plant outdoors isn’t possible, take it to your shower and turn the water on. Just be sure you get all the leaves rinsed off.

A More Gentle Touch

For smaller, less dense plants, wiping down the leaves with a damp microfiber cloth can’t be beat. Wiping down each leaf serves two purposes.

1. Your plant will look fabulous!
2. You will have a chance to look for pests.

While the allure of glossy, shiny leaves can be strong, avoid “leaf shine” products. These products often have oils in them that can build up on leaves making photosynthesis more difficult. They can even cause leaves to burn. Never use hacks that you might see on social media; they are not the answer. Plain water on a microfiber cloth is enough. Paper towels work, but I find that they leave the leaf looking linty. The only “additive” I use is a few drops of lemon juice in my water. And when I say a few drops, that’s exactly what I mean. I use an inch or two of water in a small bucket and add three drops of lemon juice. Honestly, three drop of lemon juice may not be enough to make a difference, but they sure do look nice.