The strong, gorgeous leaves of a Monstera plant are one of its most remarkable features. However, they will require routine upkeep and cleaning if they are to remain healthy. Fortunately, cleaning Monstera leaves is fairly easy.
Monstera leaves should be gently cleaned on both sides using a moist cloth. When not wiping a leaf, be sure to support that side. At least once per week, clean the leaves.
The significance of thoroughly cleaning your Swiss Cheese plant’s leaves and how to do so will be covered in this article. I’ll also go through different ways to clean your leaves and whether or not to use chemicals.
How are Monstera leaves made shiny?
Cleaning monstera leaves with distilled or purified water, a little non-detergent soap, and a microfiber cloth is one of the simplest methods.
To clean the leaves, first mist them with distilled water and let them sit for around five minutes. Any trash or other crud on the leaves will become looser as a result.
Use a half-gallon of distilled water and a teaspoon of detergent-free soap (we recommend Dr. Bronner’s pure organic castile soap) to soak your microfiber cloth. Start cleaning the tops and bottoms of the leaves very gently, being careful to hold the opposite side of the leaf in place with your hand. Here, take your time to avoid accidently breaking, cracking, or scratching the leaves.
After thoroughly wiping each leaf, give them a gently rinse in the shower or with a hose spray.
To prevent the soap and water from dripping into the soil, you might wish to tilt your plant to one side.
To keep your leaves clean and healthy, we advise doing this at least once every few months!
How should I clean the leaves of my Monstera plant?
Plant in a pot with drainage holes and peaty, well-draining soil. You should give Monstera deliciosa moss-covered support sticks or a trellis because it likes to climb and cling to big trees in its natural habitat utilizing its aerial roots.
You can trim the aerial roots if they get troublesome, but it’s better to simply tuck them back into the pot. They aren’t the kind of roots that harm surfaces or walls. When you can feel the top third to a quarter of the soil is dry, water it. During the spring and summer growing seasons, standard liquid plant fertilizer can be administered roughly once a month.
Washing leaves with a cloth dipped in a solution of a drop of dishwashing detergent in a few cups of water can keep them clean and dust-free. The plant also enjoys routinely wetting its leaves, while it is not necessary.
Transplant Monstera deliciosa to a new pot that is a few inches larger in diameter and depth than the old one when it outgrows its current one (every two years or so).
Should I wash the leaves of my Monstera?
Although these plants are simple to handle, they aren’t as easygoing as, say, a snake plant. There are some tips for maintaining their health and beauty.
Potting
Put some extra peat moss in the well-draining indoor potting soil before planting your monstera. Use a pot that has drainage holes and is deep enough to accommodate a stake, trellis, or stick covered in moss so that the plant may climb it.
They can also thrive outdoors in shaded, warm climates, but they will need a structure to climb, like as a fence or trellis.
Light
Although monsteras can tolerate in low light, bright, indirect sunshine is best for their growth and development of huge, robust leaves. Place a few feet away from windows that face south, west, or east.
Water
Choose a location that is neither too moist nor too dry for your monstera plants. When the top 1 to 2 inches of soil get dry, keep an eye on the soil and water it. Avoid soaking the soil and drenching the leaves. They don’t require much water. (Knowing how thirsty your plant is and when it needs to drink allows you to give it what it needs.)
Humidity
Once more, these plants enjoy dampness but dislike being overwatered. Try setting the plant on a pebble tray or installing a humidifier nearby if you reside in a dry region.
Fertilizer
Although monstera plants don’t require frequent fertilization, adding fertilizer to your water in the spring and summer will help them thrive! Every week, I like to add a small amount of liquid Indoor Plant Food fertilizer to my watering can. During the winter, refrain from using it and just drink ordinary water.
Pruning
Pruning is necessary because this item can GROW in order to prevent it from taking over your home. Another purpose of pruning is to “influence the direction of growth.” When you don’t want the plant to become any bigger, just repot plants every two years or so, and prune back new growth. (When making your cuts, be sure to use clean, sharp pruning shears like these.)
Cleaning
In order for the monstera plant to engage in photosynthesis without hindrance, it is also crucial to keep the leaves and pores clean. Use a clean, moist cloth once a week or so to carefully wipe any dust off the leaves. In addition to cleaning and shining your plant’s leaves, our Houseplant Leaf Shine also shields it from fungus, germs, and insects.
What can I use to wash my plant’s leaves?
First things first: We do not advise cleaning your indoor plants with leaf-shining treatments. There are various commercial plant shine products available, and many stores utilize them to enhance the appearance of their plants. Nevertheless, leaf shine products sometimes cause more harm than benefit.
Stomata, which are microscopic pores found in plants, are essential for many of the organisms’ processes. Stomata allow oxygen to enter through during respiration. Stomata let carbon dioxide to pass through during photosynthesis. Additionally, stomata let water vapor to flow through during transpiration. Numerous leaf shine items block these apertures with oil or wax, which restricts the critical gas exchanges that stomata are necessary to.
Even while the leaf shine product makes the promise that it is clog-free, its residue might draw in more dust and dirt, giving you a plant that is ultimately not all that shiny. You get caught in a never-ending cycle of cleaning and re-shining as the foliage gets harder to clean.
We all agree that plants are beautiful, but if you want to bring out even more of their beauty, there are safer ways to do it without endangering the health of the plants.
Clean plants’ leaves with a damp cloth.
Wet the towel (or sponge) and squeeze away the extra moisture. Place one hand softly underneath each leaf to support it while the other hand wipes down the top of the leaf while moving away from the stem. Repeat the procedure on the leaf’s underside, where common houseplant pests like to conceal themselves. Use a gentle brush if the leaves are delicate or little.
Shower your houseplants.
All plants, but especially those with numerous leaves, benefit greatly from a light, lukewarm shower. To make sure the water cleanses the undersides of the leaves, carefully run your hands through the vegetation. For ferns, orchids, and palms that enjoy dampness, this technique works well. Just be careful not to overwater your plant while you’re doing it (only water plants in containers with drainage holes) and be sure to shake off any extra water from the leaves afterward.
Clean leaves with a bit of soapy water.
Try combining water and all-natural liquid soap if water alone is insufficient. Either bathe your hands with the mixture and gently apply it to the plant, or you can carefully wipe the leaves with a soft cloth dipped in the soap and water mixture. Clean the plant’s leaves from top to bottom; doing so may assist get rid of any potential pests. When finished, thoroughly rinse the plant to remove all of the soapy liquid, then shake off any extra water.
Or opt for a mixture of vinegar and water or lemon juice and water.
Vinegar and water are also useful for removing residue accumulation on leaves. But be careful not to go overboard. Start by combining a gallon of water and one teaspoon of vinegar. After that, carefully dab the mixture onto the leaves of your plants using a delicate cloth. Bonus: The smell of vinegar works wonders to deter pests and curious animals. Lemon juice is a good substitute for vinegar. Mineral salts can be dissolved with the aid of an acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar. Lemon juice and water, in contrast to vinegar and water, won’t get rid of pests on your plants, but it will dissolve mineral buildup from hard tap water on your leaves.
Does olive oil work on plant leaves?
My indoor plants currently have a sad-looking appearance, and their leaves are heavily covered with dust. This morning while I watered them, I pondered whether olive oil would be a great option to polish them and make them appear more vibrant and alive.
Olive oil can be applied to plant leaves, but only after diluting it with water. Spray it on the leaves to add shine after putting it in a spray bottle. Pure, undiluted olive oil shouldn’t be applied directly to the leaves because it can clog pores and prevent the plant from absorbing and filtering the air.
There are many other factors to take into account when deciding what to use to shine your plan; olive oil may not be the ideal option for making plant leaves glossy and healthy. Can coconut oil be used? Baby oil, what about it? Will applying olive oil to plant leaves eliminate insect infestations?
First, It Is Important To Clean Leaves
To keep your plants clean, healthy, and working properly, it’s a good idea to sometimes wipe down their leaves. Indoor plants naturally accumulate dust, grime, and dander, which can obstruct the plant’s ability to absorb light. This has further effects on photosynthesis and growth of the plant. Cleaning the leaves with a natural, gentle spray might help remove particularly difficult filth while protecting the plant.
Cleaning the leaves of houseplants is also beneficial as a preventative measure to fend off potential pests and diseases before they become apparent. Damage is frequently more challenging to repair once it has been discovered. The aim is to catch problems early.
Why Manufactured Leaf Polish Isn’t Great
Most store-bought leaf polishes have the simple purpose of making the plant look better and shine more. Beautifying the foliage is encouraged on even the labels. Yes, cleaning the surface with a plant’s leaves generally works. However, the harsh oils and occasionally chemicals used to make these shines and sprays settle on the surface of the leaf. This may result in accumulation, clog the stomata (pores), and prevent respiration, which would hamper plant growth. Ultra-shiny leaves might look phony and be harmful. Who would want a fake plant when they paid for an actual one?
How To Make Your Own Houseplant Polish
Making your own DIY leaf spray at home gives you the chance to securely clean and enhance your plants. This concoction will remove and keep out pests, hard water stains, and dirt. Additionally, as the plant’s inherent beauty is shown, your leaves will acquire a faint sheen.
DIY PLANT LEAF SHINE & CLEANER RECIPE:
- 2 glasses of water
- a half-strength vinegar
- 2 drops of castile or dish soap (Dr. Bronner’s is a favorite)
- Coconut oil, two drops (optional: if you really want that glossy look)
After combining the ingredients, you can either use a spray bottle to apply it to the leaves or just dip a cloth into the mixture. Use a soft fabric, such as microfiber, to shield the leaves from harm in either case. Use a single disposable paper towel for every plant as an alternative to reduce the danger of possibly transferring pests or diseases between plants. (Alternatively, fully wash the cloth in hot water after each use.)
Although there isn’t a particular period of time, we advise cleaning your plants every month or so. Remember that this spray only works on specific types of foliage and shouldn’t be applied to very delicate leaves, such those with a fuzzy texture (like African Violets and Cacti). Overall, caring for your houseplants properly can promote growth, longevity, and survival. Happy cleaning of the plants!
Why aren’t the leaves on my monstera shiny?
It is unquestionably necessary to clean your Monstera deliciosa, whether as part of routine plant maintenance or occasionally when the leaves become dingy or unclean. Depending on the season, where you live, and how much dust there is in your house, they can require cleaning more or less frequently.
Monsteras convert sunlight into energy using its enormous leaves, yet a coating of dust acts as a curtain to screen the sun. A dirty Monstera leaf not only looks worse, but it actually performs worse than a clean one.
Wash the Plant With a Spray Nozzle
Moving medium-sized to large houseplants to the kitchen sink, shower, or outside and hosing them off with a sprayer nozzle is the simplest way to clean them. Keep the water pressure low and make sure the water is lukewarm before spraying. The leaves of a plant might be damaged by warmwater that is either too hot or too cold. As you spray, carefully support the leaves or leaf stems with your hand.
Mist With a Spray Bottle
A spray bottle is a fantastic alternative for plants that cannot withstand the force of a spray nozzle. The plants that respond well to a misting from a spray bottle include bonsais, cactus, and succulents.
Dunk the Plant in Water
Holding the plant’s base at soil level, flipping it into a pail of water, and swishing the leaves under the water will help clean smaller plants. Pre-watering the soil will aid in preventing soil loss when the pot is turned upside down. To keep the soil contained while cleaning, you might also wrap plastic wrap over the base of the plant. Once more, only use lukewarm water, and let the plants drip-dry before repositioning them.
Tip
If your plants are very filthy, you can spritz them with diluted soapy water and then hose them out or submerge them in a clean-water-filled sink. For every quart of water, use around 1/4 spoonful of dish soap. Plants that can’t survive being hosed in the sink can have the soap removed by being sprayed with clean, lukewarm water.
Wipe the Leaves
You can simply wipe the leaves off of plants that are too big to move by using a moist towel. Young banana or snake plants, as well as other plants with few leaves, respond nicely to this technique. After the initial cleaning, placing a soft duster on the leaves whenever you dust your furniture or floors will help prevent dust from accumulating on them.
Use a Soft Brush
African violets, for example, don’t enjoy having their leaves wet, whereas some plants have leaves that are sticky or fuzzy and are difficult to clean. In these circumstances, you can very gently coax the dust off the leaves using a soft brush, such as a mushroom brush.