Milk contains anti-microbial, anti-fungal/anti-bacterial properties that treat powdery mildews and other issues that cause plants to have that dull, white look. Here are the best and safest methods you can use to shine your indoor plants leaves: Soap and Water Mix Dust and debris on the leaves can actually clog the pores on the plant’s leaves, which can interfere with photosynthesis and respiration. This means that dirty leaves can actually cause your plant to starve and suffocate at the same time. NOTE: You do NOT have to use the Epsom salt spray, you can just use the milk spray. I don’t typically use them on the same days anyways, but it is nice to have an additional plant food option. If your houseplants are struggling with thrips or other common houseplant pests, try diluting a drop of non-fragranced organic soap with water and adding this to the cloth. Alternatively, gently mist the plant with the solution before you start cleaning,' says Holly Crossley, houseplant expert and senior content editor for Homes & Gardens. 'This will help to keep the bugs at bay.'

For plant food: Believe it or not, milk has some beneficial ingredients that are great for plants. In addition, I also like to make an Epsom salt spray which you can use every few weeks. Epsom salt is strictly optional, it has no bearing on the leaves shining or not. The Epsom salt is just a great option for added nutrients for all houseplants. I do not use these together. The milk spray I use as needed, the Epsom salt spray I will use every 3-4 weeks. Your plants’ roots, whilst responsible for drinking up as much water as possible to keep your plant happy, also need some breathing space. If your soil becomes waterlogged, then the roots of your plant can no longer perform their job and end up rotting,' Jo explains. Indoor succulents are particularly susceptible. SPECIFICALLY DEVELOPED to meet the needs of your plants, our Houseplant Cleaning and Leaf Shine Wipes promote a natural, glossy sheen on your plant leaves so that your houseplant plant looks fresh, alive and full of vitality. You may be tempted to invest in a leaf-shining product when decorating with plants around your home. But it's a mistake, even though it might seem like the easiest route to glossy leaves. There are lots of commercial plant-shine products on the market that are easy to pop in your trolley at the garden center or store, but it's best to steer clear.

Important Considerations When Cleaning Indoor Plant Leaves

Mixing skim milk with water in a 50/50 blend can be an effective cleanser for leaves, and can provide some nutritional benefits as well. Plants have tiny pores called stomata, which are crucial for many plant functions,' explains Eliza Blank. 'Many leaf-shine products clog these openings with oil or wax, limiting the essential gas exchanges stomata play a crucial part in.'

If there is salt build up on the soil surface (it appears as a white crust) from fertilizing with plant food, this method works well to rinse it down through the soil and out the bottom of the container. Clean Fuzzy Leaves With A Brush Mineral oil should be safe, but even so, this step should only be done a couple of times a year. B est Methods To Shine Your Plant’s Leaves While one application of a little coconut oil probably won’t hurt your plant (we get it, sometimes you need to shine up your plant to show off to guests!), it’s not something you want to use over and over for the long term. The whole reason we have houseplants is because they’re beautiful and they make our homes and offices look good. They also clean the air and provide a whole host of mental benefits, but that’s another article for another day! Although a popular method, mayonnaise is not a good option for shining plant leaves. It will make them very shiny, but mayonnaise can clog up leaf pores and will also attract dust and possibly bugs. Coconut Oil

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Lemon juice is also commonly recommended, much like vinegar. And it carries many of the same risks. For plants with very delicate or frilly leaves that are difficult to clean, just rinse them for longer, and try to do it more regularly.

Plants breathe through their leaves, and the wrong leaf shiner could mean they can't take in the carbon dioxide they need to survive. 'Shining leaves this way can also lead to you thinking your plant is healthier than it is, so you forget to water or feed it as often as you should,' says Viki from The Stem's Plant Academy. You can also use this for any outdoor potted plant that is looking dull or has a powdery substance on it. Soap and water mix is great for cleaning plant leaves and is very safe. Although it will not give you such a lustrous shine as using an oily product, it’s a great first step. You might even be surprised how much better your plant will look after a soap and water cleanup. Banana PeelsIf you’re dealing with greasy plants or a lot of dirt, you can use a mild soap and water concoction once you have rinsed the leaves. First, spray down your plant’s leaves with distilled water and let it sit for about 5 minutes to allow any dust or buildup to loosen.

It’s important to take the time to clean your plant’s leaves, and not just because they will look more aesthetically pleasing. I have done this with whole milk, reduced fat, and skim milk. I like the way reduced fat and skim work best. They have less fat, so they mix better with water to create a smooth spray. Root rot is a common problem for plants which have been overwatered and end up waterlogged,' explains Jo. One of the next simple methods is to wipe the dust from your indoor plant leaves. This works best for plants that aren’t terribly dirty and have either only a few leaves or their leaves are larger in size.Cleaning your indoor plant leaves doesn’t have to be a difficult job. The following methods are simple ways using mostly items from around your home to clean indoor plant leaves. They won’t harm your plants and will help to keep them healthy. Methods for Cleaning Indoor Plants Misting - Not all plants can be put in a shower or wiped over. Many cacti and succulents such as some bonsai and the pachypodium are sensitive to the overwatering that would occur with a flood of water from a shower and trying to clean certain cacti with a cloth will not end well. For the plant, the cloth and possibly your hands! A simple mister allows you to get water where it's needed without overdoing things. You will need clean foliage to keep your plant happy and let it breathe. Any of these methods to shine plant leaves may clog up the leaf pores, attract dust and even bugs: Baby Wipes Plant leaves actually have pores on them, a lot like your skin. Plants also use their leaves to make energy from sunlight, and a lot of a plant’s respiration occurs through the leaves (though a fair bit of it also occurs in the roots and soil!). On top of just plain looking bad, dirty leaves can also have a negative impact on a plant’s health! It’s important to keep plant leaves clean for the sake of the plant and to keep your houseplants looking good.