You should regularly clean snake plant leaves of any residue, no matter how tedious it may be. A layer of dust on plant leaves blocks sunlight and reduces photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants feed themselves.
The healthier and clean snake plant leaves, the less likely it is to get diseases and pest infestations. A clean, photosynthesizing plant will have healthier leaves. Therefore, periodically cleaning the leaves of your houseplants actually makes less work for you in the long run and makes your houseplants and home look better.
The products advertised as Leaf Shine may seem like an easy shortcut to cleaner, prettier plants, but they may impede a plant’s ability to breathe and photosynthesize. Leave the Leaf Shine to the professionals; elbow grease is your best bet.
Clean Snake Plant Leaves Frequency
The frequency with which you clean snake plant leaves is determined by the amount of dust in your environment. Houseplants in areas with dirt roads, construction, or a lot of wind will need to be cleaned more frequently. Rub your fingers on the leaves of a plant to see whether it needs to be cleaned. It’s time to clean if you can feel or see more dust than you can blow off the leaves.
How to Clean Indoor Plant Leaves
When it comes to cleaning your houseplants, there are various options available. The following are some of the possibilities:
Mist with a Spray Bottle
A spray bottle is a wonderful alternative for plants that can’t tolerate the force of a spray nozzle. Plants like succulents, cacti, and bonsais would benefit from this method.
Brush Softly
Some plants have thick, sticky, or fuzzy leaves that are difficult to clean. Spraying or wiping isn’t an option for plants that don’t appreciate getting their leaves wet, such as African violets. Use a soft brush, such as a mushroom brush, to gently coax the dust from the leaves of fuzzy-leaved plants.
Trim What’s Dead
It’s simple to tidy up plants by removing their dead, brown, or yellowing leaves while they’re being washed. Remove the leaf by hand if it comes loose easily. Otherwise, scissors should be used. Never pull a plant’s resistant leaves, and only clip browned leaf tips from plants that have been left too dry. When cutting the leaves, follow the natural contour of the leaves for a more natural look.
Clean the Pot
After all that work cleaning your plants, why not make sure the pots are in good form as well? Remove the plant and thoroughly clean the pot if a white layer of salt or minerals has formed on the exterior or rim. Use a diluted bleach solution of one part bleach to ten parts water to clean the pot. Before repotting your plant, scrub the salt residue off with a hard brush and thoroughly rinse the pot. Flushing the dirt in the pots on a regular basis will prevent subsequent buildup.
Keeping houseplants clean may appear to be a lot of work at first, but it isn’t that difficult, and it will help your houseplants look and develop better.
Clean Snake Plant Benefits
This is a snake you’ll want to keep in your home. “A fantastic plant for bedrooms,” Hancock explains, “the snake plant is practically indestructible, surviving low light and long periods without water, and is especially good at supplying oxygen at night.”
Snake plants have a beauty that extends beyond their leaves. These tropical plants are excellent indoor air purifiers, absorbing formaldehyde and nitrogen oxide from the air throughout the night. They’re similar to the housecleaning elves you fantasize about, except they clean the air while you sleep, making them ideal for bedroom plantings.