According to a study carried out in Spain, on the traditional uses of plants, “just as we speak of companion animals, we have companion plants”. This study supports the idea that plants give us life and are more than just an ornament . “Having plants increases our well-being, we have them close by and they are not something static and decorative, we see them grow.”
So, to properly care for an indoor plant we should not limit ourselves to watering it, there are many other factors that we must take into account. As with a person, plants are delicate and can get sick , so a good cleaning of their leaves is essential for the plant to breathe better.
Dust, solar pollution and low light are triggers for the plant to produce less chlorophyll. Therefore, we recommend cleaning indoor plants, especially if they do not receive rainwater. We show you how to do it!
How to clean plant leaves
For the best results when cleaning indoor plants, it is best to put the plant under the tap and wash it with warm water at moderate intensity so that it does not suffer damage. However, the ways of cleaning the leaves of plants can vary depending on their type and the nature of the soil. Here are some options to get some pretty leaves:
1. Natural water
As we have said before, water is the main resource for cleaning the leaves of plants. You can do it as above or you can also use a hose or sprayer.
If the dirt on the indoor plants is abundant, you can mix a liter of water with a few drops of shower gel and spray them with this preparation to rinse later with clean water. If you are going to use this method, it is better to cover the substrate or lay down the plant so that this mixture only stays on the flowers.
2. Natural brightener
This is also an effective technique for your plant to look beautiful leaves, except for those with curly, velvety leaves or with small hairs. It is not advisable to use these products in them, although in the rest of the plants you can obtain very good results.
When you are going to use it, sponge the sheets with soapy water to achieve greater shine. You can also use olive oil as a natural brightener, and with both methods your indoor plants will be shiny.
3. Toothbrush
This method of cleaning indoor plants is ideal for those with velvety leaves or small hairs. They are more fragile and can be damaged, so to clean them we can use an old toothbrush.
First, hold the blade in your hand and gently run the brush over it . Start from the base and work your way carefully to the tip, remembering to rinse the brush from time to time and let it dry before using it again for beautiful leaves.
Tips for cleaning plants
Apart from watering and cleaning it, a plant requires much more care, such as removing those parts of the plant that are not healthy. That is, if the plant has withered flowers, dry, yellowish or weak leaves, it is best to remove them. Thus, you can dedicate all your resources to the conservation and proliferation of the rest of the plant.
You must also take into account the characteristics of each plant in order to maintain proper care. For example, there are some that do not allow their leaves to get wet, as is the case with cacti and succulents. For them, it is best to opt for dry cleaning.
Cleaning indoor plants is something that will only take a few minutes, however, its effects are very positive for them. Plants with beautiful leaves will provide a healthy and shiny appearance that will completely change the vitality of the environment.
In addition to all the above benefits, if a plant accumulates too much dust it will make it difficult for them to breathe, which will in turn prevent them from feeding on the energy they obtain from oxygen at night.
Do not think with all this that outdoor plants should not be cleaned, because the logical thing is that they look healthy, shiny and with beautiful leaves. What is certain is that they are cleaned more easily and receive rainwater that also helps them with their cleaning.
To achieve a spectacular shine we show you another infallible trick: use products such as beer, powdered vinegar or a cloth with a little milk. You can also reinforce the vigor of your indoor plants by adding some natural supplements to the water or the soil, such as coffee grounds, eggshell or an infusion of cold tea, but find out beforehand about what type of plants these remedies work best.
How to clean a plant according to its type of leaves
Large leafy plants are best cleaned with microfiber cloths or a similar material with a little water. On the other hand, for plants with small leaves, a sprayer is enough. Velvety leaves and cacti require a soft bristle brush or bristle to scrub gently without jerking movements .
In short, you have to offer your indoor plants adequate maintenance if we want to keep them in the best possible condition. Only in this way will we get some pretty leaves to look and their appearance is healthy.
In fact, if you do not clean indoor plants to promote their breathing, dust and other external agents could accumulate on them. As a result, the amount of sunlight they receive could be reduced so much that they could become ill over time, and even die.
Finally, remember that cleaning plants that do not receive rainwater is vital to maintaining their health, and that it is best to repeat this procedure at least twice a month
