How to Clean Plant Leaves

A regular part of interiorscaping maintenance is making sure plant designs look great and stay healthy. Regularly cleaning foliage can give plant installations a professional appearance, and gives technicians an opportunity to more thoroughly inspect and diagnose plant problems before they become a much bigger issue. Consider the usual steps needed to clean plant leaves and make your plant designs shine.

Dust

Like many other surfaces, plant leaves will collect dust. Not only do dusty plants look unprofessional, it can also inhibit the plant’s growth process. Beyond the plant’s health, extra dust can be a detriment to the building’s environment and a reflection on the care of the account. Use a feather duster or a dry cleaning mitt to wipe away any initial dust and debris accumulated on the plant leaves and container.

Select clients may have plants that accumulate more dust than others. It may take some time and care after an installation to fully gauge how often it’s necessary to dust.

Clean the Plant

After dusting, interiorscapers will often use a damp cloth or mitt to wipe off individual leaves. Most interiorscapers will use lukewarm water and a cleaning mitt, and some opt for a mild, gentle soap. Though it can be time consuming to clean individual leaves, this task allows for a more thorough inspection of potential plant problems.

Leaf Shine

Somewhat debated, leaf shines can add a reflective finish that refreshes the overall look of a plant design. Popular leaf shine products such as Pokon Leaf Shine or PotLuck Foliage Wonder are suitable for nearly every foliage plant, with the exceptions of fragile or hairy leaves. 

Depending on what technicians are able to carry and the the volume of leaf shine needed, individual aerosol cans or diluted concentrate are affordable leaf shine options.

Cleaning plant leaves doesn’t necessarily have to happen at every client site visit. Some interiorscapers develop a regular cadence for this task to help save on time and resources. For example, instead of a thorough leaf cleaning during every site visit, they’ll alternate weeks when a plant’s leaves get cleaned.

However, making sure plant designs are properly maintained and leaves are clean helps to keep both plants and clients happy.