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Any substance that accumulates on plant leaves creates a barrier between the leaves and their source of energy — sunlight. Not only do these by-products of daily indoor living get in the way of sunlight reaching your plants, they can also clog up a plant's breathing pores (the stomata), slowing down respiration and growth. Living plants, fortunately, are partly self-cleaning. They absorb some of the particles that otherwise become dust in your home. But they can't do this "vacuuming" all on their own. Most plants do require at least an occasional cleaning.
How often should you clean your plants?
How often you need to clean your plants depends on your growing conditions. In most homes, two or three times a year, or whenever the leaves start to look dusty, is sufficient. Plants that live in the kitchen, where cooking grease is a problem, require more frequent showers, such as every month. So do plants growing in urban areas or industrial centers that have greater amounts of air pollution.Give your plants a shower
The way most people clean off their plants is to give them a good dusting now and again. The fact of the matter is that dusting rarely does any good. Even the softest of dusters or brushes that aren't specifically designed for cleaning plants can scratch delicate leaf surfaces. A better way to clean dust off your plants is to give them a shower.
Another way to clean your plants is to take them outside on a gray day (but never in the hot sun) and hose them down. Use soapy water if you like because it helps dislodge the grime — just be sure to rinse your plants with fresh water afterward. Soap residues (especially if the plant is washed often) sometimes clog up stomata (breathing pores).
During the cold weather months, or if you're an apartment dweller and hauling your plants into an elevator is more trouble than it's worth, just put your plants in the bathtub, turn on the shower, make sure the water is tepid, pull the curtains, and give them a bath that way. Let the plants dry for an hour or so before moving them back to their usual place to keep them from dripping all over your floors.Some plants, such as African violets and cyclamens, dislike rain and showers. Clean their leaves individually with a soft rag dipped in soapy water, using hand soap or mild dishwashing detergent. To keep the leaf from snapping off, slip your hand underneath it, supporting it lightly, then softly brush from the base of the leaf to its tip. Rinse out the rag often to remove grime. Let the plant dry off for an hour or so before putting it back in the light.You may want to hand-clean plants that don't mind showers if they have stubborn stains, such as the whitish spots from pesticide often present on newly purchased plants that resist simple rinsing methods. You also can clean dusty plants by passing lightly over their leaves with a shaving brush. (Shaving brushes are the softest brushes of all and among the few that don't scratch leaves, although they don't always remove grease and stubborn stains.) You can also buy fleece cleaning mitts designed specifically for grooming plants.
Tips for Cleaning Your Houseplants
from the National Gardening Association
Adapted With Permission From:
Houseplants For Dummies
Houseplants For Dummies. Copyright © 1998 & Trademark by Wiley Publishing. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. For Dummies is a trademark or registered trademark of Wiley Publishing, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Used by permission.
From Dummies.com. Dummies.com is owned and operated by Wiley Publishing, Inc. Copyright © 2005 Wiley Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
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