Keep your houseplants dust free. Here’s how.

Keeping houseplants leaves dust free will help plants photosynthesize better. So clean up those houseplants to keep them beautiful and healthy. Here are some cleaning tips.

Dusting

Feather dusters are a great tool, especially on plants with small or fuzzy leaves. Microfiber cloths or window blind cleaners are great for larger leaves. Wipe down both sides if you can.

Washing

If it’s possible, move the whole plant into the shower or the sink and spray it. If plants are dusty, you can consider using a teaspoon of mild dish soap (not the anti-bacterial kind) in a spray bottle of water and spray all sides of the leaves and then rinse off with plain water. If you can’t move the plants, lay down a tarp or sheet to catch drips; especially important to protect certain floor surfaces. With fuzzy leaved plants, avoid using the water washing method, use dusting method instead.

Shining

You can consider using a commercial leaf shine product usually sold in garden centers or retail stores. These products can also prevent dust or other particles from settling on the leaf surfaces. Follow all product label instructions; too much on a plant can be harmful. Read the product label completely since some plants such as poinsettias, dracaena, and African Violets cannot be sprayed with these products.

Plants may develop brown tips; this can be caused by a variety of reasons such as soil deposits or watering issues. It is OK to trim these off with scissors.

As you’re cleaning, look plants over for insects. Houseplants can attract mealy bugs, spider mites, or scale insects. Early detection is the best offense for control. Find more gardening information by visiting our website, http://cceoneida.com/ and click on the Home and Garden Section.