If you have indoor plants, you will see how, over time, their leaves lose their natural shine, the one that comes to us when we have just bought it. Accumulation of dust, as well as from one day to the next, can dull the blades. Afterwards, how to make plant leaves shine? May?
If you have a plant with leaves and you see that they are more grayish, or that they do not seem to shine, we are going to give you some remedies to restore them to the color that you fell in love with at first sight. Shall we start?
Why make your plant leaves shine
You should know that on a daily basis, just as dust and dirt accumulate on the furniture (and this is the reason why it must often be cleaned so that it does not show), the same goes with the floors. Over time, this dust that extinguishes the color of its leaves settles on its leaves.
However, it is also a problem for your health as it prevents them from carrying out photosynthesis as they should and it increases the likelihood of getting sick.
In addition to your health, There are other reasons why you should clean and shine houseplant leaves; even outside. Which is it? We discuss it below:
For them to grow more. By having clean leaves, photosynthesis can be done much better, and this will result in more important growth, and faster, because it will be healthy.
This will improve your protection against pests and diseases. In particular because these plants will be healthier and will be able to fight much more easily (and effectively) any pest and disease that dares to approach them (always with your help, of course).
You should keep in mind that giving shine is closely related to cleaning plants. Although there are products on the market that make the leaves shine, these are sometimes not recommended because they form a film that prevents them from photosynthesis, which would harm overall health. But there are ways to get that glow. And we’re talking about them right now.
How to make plant leaves shine
In order for your plant leaves to shine, the first thing to check is that they are clean. Sometimes performing a cleaning (ideally, you should do it twice a month) already makes the leaves shine on their own.
When doing this, you must bear in mind that you can have different types of leaves: with hairs, smooth, curved, with spikes… And of course, This requires having different cleaning systems, such as:
A garment: is the most common. Of course, be sure to use it on plants and leaves that really aren’t a problem (not on ones that can get lint stuck or will mess more than clean).
A toothbrush: if possible with soft cells, for rough leaves or that have spikes, because in this way you can clean them properly and at the same time you will not have the problem of hurting yourself.
A sponge: For the most delicate or hairy leaves, this may be the best option in this case, as you can gently place the sponge over each part of the leaf and when you squeeze the water will come out and help clean it.
Also, you should consider cleaning (and polishing) when you know the leaves can dry out quickly. There are many plants that if their leaves are wet for a long time can rot, and you don’t want that.
Now yes, there are many methods for polishing plant leaves. Here are the ones that work best:
Water
One of the first, and also the one you will have the most on hand, is water. It is one of the best remedies to clean and shine the leaves. Now you have to take into account:
If the leaves don’t look very dirty, use a cloth dampened with water and wipe it over the leaf to remove dust while giving your plants the shine you want.
But if the sheets are very dirty, because there was a lot of dust, it was windy or you haven’t cleaned them for a long time, the water may not be enough. In these cases you will need to add some natural soap to the water (hands, shower) and rub each of the leaves with the cloth so that it is very clean. Then with another cloth only with water you will have to remove the soap that may remain so that they are well rinsed.
This one will still serve you for another function: the prevention of pests and diseases, because by keeping it clean and protected, you will help them not to approach it.
natural rinse aid
Another option you can use to clean and shine plant leaves is natural varnish. That’s to say, apply products that you can have at home to give shine to the leaves.
The most common, and known for their effectiveness, are beer, milk, vinegar or olive oil.
In this case, it is recommended to use them after having ensured that the sheets are very clean (with water and soap) so that, when applying them, you do not have to rinse them afterwards.
neem oil
Neem oil is one of the products used to treat certain pests. and also to prevent their attacks. As an oil you will ensure that the leaves of the plants shine and that is why it is another of the remedies to give shine that we recommend, in addition to carrying out the protective function.
chemical brighteners
These are the ones found in stores. These tend to leave a waxy, shiny appearance, but you should keep in mind that they can greatly interfere with plant photosynthesis. Therefore, read the packaging very well to find out if it is really a good idea to use it with your plants or if one of the previous remedies is better.
We know that making plant leaves shine is not a quick process to do. Not only because you have many or few plants, but because each one will have many leaves and you have to do the process manually and one by one. But it’s the best way to keep them healthy and monitor them for possible pests and diseases. Have you ever cleaned your plants and given them a shine? Do you recommend any tips?