Leaf Cleaners
 

Hello Everyone :waving

To everyone in the UK, didn't we have fantastic weather today? :) Whenever we get a nice bright day, I start to notice how much dust has accumulated on the leaves of all my plants. So, while I started attacking my lilles with their generic leaf cleaning sheets, it occurred to me that I've read about a number of mixtures that people use on their orchid leaves (e.g. citrus juice, milk, mayo).

With my smooth leaf orchids, I have to say, I just use a clean tissue as a duster and I just gently blow on the paphs as they are slightly hairy.

So, my question to all you lovely people out there is, what do you use to clean your leaves? do you have a particular mix for a particular orchid? and, why do you use that particular sunstance/ method?

Looking forward to hearing your ideas and experiences x

I have used lemon juice - works great! I have only done it the one time, and that was some time ago - my plants do look like they could use some foliage cleaning lol

Yes, Jenny lovely sunshine, but it's cold now!! Did you have any fireworks?

I only ever clean my leaves with a damp soft cloth or kitchen paper. I've been told that using anything else can block pores in the leaves, etc. I do use methylated spirits on mealy bugs and scale insect, but otherwise just water for me.

[QUOTE=Hedge;357306]Yes, Jenny lovely sunshine, but it's cold now!! Did you have any fireworks?
QUOTE]

We didn't have any ourselves, but there were lots going off on the Island we could see and hear - including some idiots who let them off at 1.30am yesterday morning and some more who decided that 12.45 last night was the best time for big bangs :((

Yes, I'd heard that some could clog the leaves, that's mainly why I was intrigued to see what people used and why.

Wrap up warm and try to stay dry tomorrow!!

@WhiteRabbit, if you try it again, let us know how you get on :)

If it's just dust on the leaves I use a damp paper towel to clean them off. If there's water marks then I use a bit of lemon juice as well since it helps dissolves the deposits.
After there was a fire in my student building a year ago I had a hell of a hard time getting all the soot off the leaves since it's a bit greasy. Also used lemon juice and some soapy water since plain water wasn't getting it all.

As for clogging pores, it's all about how much you use. Smearing globs of mayo is not good, you just need a teeny tiny drop of it that you rub on and buff off.

if there is dust i just use a wet paper towel. if there are water spots, then i just use a 3-1 mix of milk and water. found it on ray's website, works like a charm

[QUOTE=Jennyfleur;357388]well - I do remember the lemon juice worked great - no problems

I find when I am doing my watering routine for my phals , it is a good time to inspect as well as clean your leaves . I use a very soft brush ,like a blush brush to dust the leaves , you know the kind of brush that woman use to put blush on their cheeks . If their is dirt on the leaves that I cannot get with the brush , I just use a damp paper towel to clean .I think the mayo and the milk is to make the leaves nice and glossy . I don't think I would use it all the time though .

i only use it for displaying, or when i bring things to shows or os meetings. but ive never had clogging problems

Watery milk.