How to clean plant leaves

Believe it or not, dusting your plants is vitally important and has a direct impact on their development. The leaves are where photosynthesis takes place and are the organ through which plants breathe.

Why Should You Clean Plant Leaves?

When you catch a cold and your airways become congested, it becomes very difficult to eat and breathe. Something similar happens with the dust that settles on the leaves of plants.

Soil, dust and other impurities block the surface of the leaves, which is where photosynthesis takes place, reducing the plant's ability to generate its own nutrients.

On the other hand, your plant is a living being that needs oxygen to live.

A thick layer of dust covers the stomata, which are the structures through which plants breathe, so dirty leaves would be choking the poor thing.

Hence, cleaning the leaves should be a fundamental part of the maintenance and care routine of the plants, in addition to watering and fertilizing.

How often should you clean plant leaves?

The frequency of cleaning really depends on the amount of dust or impurities in the environment. For example, if there is construction work inside your home or in nearby places, then the amount of dust that accumulates in the air will be high and you will need to do frequent cleanings; while if the plant is in an enclosed place, these will be spaced out more.

The way to tell if your plant needs urgent cleaning is to touch the leaves. If you feel dust when you run your finger over the surface of the blade, you may leave your finger marked, or there's more dust than you can blow away, it's time to get to work.

If

wondering how to clean plant leaves, you should know that there are several methods and these can be more or less effective depending on the species and size of the plant. Cleaning plant leaves must be done respecting certain protocols, as you could damage them if you don't do it properly. Some options are:

Wash the entire

If possible, you can move the plant to the laundry room or bathroom and wash it. Use water at room temperature, never icy or too hot as this can damage the leaves. If it's too dirty and the dust is too stuck, you can gently rub the leaves with a diluted solution of soapy water and then rinse it off under running water. If it's small, you can hold it upside down and submerge it in a bowl of water. Let it drain and dry before taking it out into place. Never expose it to the sun soaked with water, as the droplets can magnify the sun's rays and burn the leaves.

This is ideal for large, broad-leaved plants, such as Adam's rib, areca palm, lemon dracena, peace flower, maranta tricolor, and any other grane plants you can't move. Take a soft cloth or cloth, dampen it with a little water, wring out and clean each leaf gently. If the powder is too stuck, you can use very diluted soapy water and then rinse with another cloth. Again, avoid leaving the plant in direct sun if it has become very wet.

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If

have cacti, succulents like echeveria, plants with hairy leaves like African violets and that don't resist humidity because they get ruined, you can use a very soft brush or brush to remove dust from the leaves. Look for a large, long brush, it's perfect for dusting cacti without hurting yourself with the thorns.

Tricks to better clean your plants

Large leaves can lose a bit of luster and become dull with dust. There are several tricks to restore the shine and protect them. The first is to pass the inside of the skin of a banana or plantain. You can also use a cloth soaked in a little olive oil. There are those who use a little diluted beer or milk to keep them shiny and pretty.

You can experiment, but do a test with a leaf first before bathing the entire plant.

Take advantage of cleaning your plants to remove dry, brown, or dead leaves.

Grab the dried leaf with your hands and if it comes off easily, remove it. Otherwise, use scissors. If it resists, reach for the scissors because pulling it will damage the plant. You can also clean the pot, remove any dust and possible marks left by the water. It will look neater.

It is advisable to always do research before cleaning the leaves of the plants, as there are species that do not tolerate moisture on the leaves well, such as succulents. It is also advisable to do it at the end of the day, when the sun's rays are less strong as this reduces the risk of burning the leaves with water. After doing a big clean, it will be easy to invest a few minutes in this task each week to prevent dust from accumulating. Your plants will thank you.