Lao Wang saw the way I wiped the leaves and predicted that the flower would die.

The necessity and appropriate time to clean leaves

The necessity of cleaning leaves

1. Potted plants, especially foliage plants with large leaves, will absorb a lot of dust whether they are placed indoors or outdoors. If there is too much dust, the stomata of the leaves will be blocked, which will make it difficult for water and oxygen to be absorbed, and secondly, the excess water in the plant cannot be discharged. If this continues for a long time, the plant will die.

2. When plants are covered with thick dust, they lose their ornamental value. If you want to wipe the leaves but don’t know how to do it, not only will the leaves be stained, but it will also cause the plants to “die suddenly”.

Time to clean the leaves

The best time to wipe the leaves is in the morning, so that the leaves have enough time to dry during the day.

Clean regularly, once every half a month or a month, especially for foliage plants.

How to clean leaves

Leaf spraying

Take a sprayer and use the impact force of the water flow to spray water onto the leaves to wash away the dust.

Remember: Do not rinse plants directly under the tap. Sudden temperature changes can make things worse for plants!

Leaf rubbing method

The materials you can choose are a sponge dipped in water and cotton cloth. Hold the leaf with one hand and use the material with the other hand to gently wipe off the dust, paying attention to following the veins of the leaf.

Leaf brushing method

Note that the brush method requires using soft bristles to brush away dust along the veins of the leaves.

Specific plant foliage cleaning

Large blades: spray water + wipe

For plants with large leaves, such as the money tree and monstera, you can first wet the leaves with a spray bottle, and then wipe the leaves with a sponge or cloth dipped in water.

Notice:

Do not spray water to clean the leaves of Clivia. It is best to wipe them with a wet towel.

Small leaves: water spray

Small-leaf plants such as green ivy and red sandalwood have many small leaves. You can directly use a spray bottle to spray water on the leaves to wash away the dust.

Succulents

1. Succulents of the genus Haworthia and some Crassulaceae plants can be brushed with a small brush.

2. For succulents whose leaves are covered with wax powder, such as Echeveria, it is difficult to blow them with a wax blower, but you can use a leather tiger to blow them.

3. Hairy plants: tape to remove hair

Cacti, succulents, and plants with fuzzy leaves are not suitable for the first two cleaning methods. Once the leaves of these plants are dipped in water, it is difficult for the water to evaporate. Even if you wipe them with a dry towel, it will take a long time to dry, which is not conducive to the survival of the plants.

For example, hairy succulents such as Bear's Paw, Silver Moon, and Halo Moon cannot be blown or brushed, but you can use tape to stick them on! Use your hands to apply some tape in advance to weaken the adhesion and avoid damaging the epidermis of the leaves.

Flowering plants: leaf brushes & leaf wipes

Spraying water on the leaves of potted flowers such as pomegranate, crabapple, fuchsia and crape myrtle will cause the branches and leaves to grow too long, so it is best to use a leaf brush or leaf wipe.

Notice:

Spraying water on flowers will cause them to rot and wither, and will also affect the fruiting, so never spray water directly on the flowers.

Tips to make leaves more shiny

Gloss Restoration Method

1. Milk. Dip a rag in milk and gently rub the leaves to restore their luster.

2. Beer. Dip a rag in some beer and gently rub the leaves. The nutrients in the beer can not only make the leaves shiny, but also make them grow fatter.