Keep Your Houseplants Clean
by Pamela Kock

Clean indoor plants, free of household dust, not only look better but also are healthier and less prone to disease and pest invasion. Keeping them clean doesn’t have to be a tedious chore, nor does it require specialized products. Here are a few ways to make your green friends pretty.

Misting

Spraying your plant leaves with a mister is often recommended to increase humidity, but it also helps keep them clean. Misting should be done once a week, with a fine spray. Use lukewarm water in the spray bottle; cold water may damage the leaves. For best results, plants should be sprayed early in the morning so they have a chance to dry before the sun becomes bright. To avoid damaging furniture or walls around the plant, either hold a towel around the plant as you spray it, or mist it in the kitchen sink.

Give Them A Shower

Small plants can be “showered” in the kitchen sink with the sink sprayer. Don’t turn the water pressure up too high. Larger plants benefit from a trip to the bathtub for a real shower. If you’re concerned about scattering the potting soil, place a towel over the soil around the base of the plant. This will keep the soil in place while allowing the water to penetrate.

On warm days, you can also take the plants outside and spray them with a hose. It’s best to do this in a shady place to avoid shocking the plants with bright sunlight, even for a short time. Unless you plan to leave the plants outside, be sure to bring them in soon, or you may bring some bugs along for the ride.

Leaf Wiping

Individually wiping each leaf isn’t an option for plants with delicate leaves or many small ones. But plants with large, tough leaves may be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use a light touch – even leaves that appear quite sturdy may be damaged. If you’re not sure about doing this, try wiping off only a few leaves and then waiting a couple of days to see if they’ve suffered any ill effects.

Leaf Shine Products

Several products on the market promise to make your plant leaves shiny without damaging the plant. These can be very useful, but aren’t good for every plant. Plants with fuzzy or textured leaves should not be treated with these products. Again, if you’re not sure, test it out on a few leaves at first then wait a few days to check the results. You can make your own leaf shine solution by putting two tablespoons of vegetable oil and three cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray plants from a distance of about twelve inches. Don’t use too much or you’ll clog the pores in the leaves.

Give your plants a shower, wipe, or spray at least once a month to keep them healthy and happy. You’ll be rewarded with shiny green foliage, an absence of annoying pests, and luxurious growth.

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