5 Tips for Clean and Shiny Orchid Leaves
Clean orchid leaves make your plant healthier and happier. But new orchid growers might not have the best idea how to clean them. Experienced gardener, Sarah Jay, provides tips on how to have shiny orchid leaves all year long.
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Orchids bloom in different parts of the year depending on the species and the conditions they grow in. In the rest of the year, they don gorgeous strapping and sometimes wide, waxy leaves. These leaves need care just as much as flowers do, and knowing how to clean orchid leaves is integral to their care.
If you’re growing indoors, you’re likely growing a moth orchid from the Phalaenopsis group, or a corsage orchid from the Cattleya group. While these plants are bred to endure indoor conditions, they still need tending to throughout the year.
There are so many benefits (and no disadvantages) to cleaning your orchid’s leaves. The best strategy is to keep it simple and use the tools you have at hand. Then establish a routine, and your orchid will shine.
Mercury 1L Trigger Sprayer
While small in size, Mercury sprayers are designed to get the job done quickly and efficiently. They have a simple design and are easy to use.
Mercury sprayers include a unique double action spray head for a constant, fine spray with minimal effort!
Buy at Epic Gardening ShopWhy Clean Orchid Leaves?
Cleaning orchids opens their leaf surfaces to the light they need to thrive and bloom. Dust that builds up on the leaf surface disrupts photosynthesis, causing a gradual decline if it isn’t removed. Orchid leaves have stomata on their undersides that help the plant process gases in the air, which are important for respiration.
Indoors, winter may prompt more dust from your HVAC system, or in warmer seasons, this could be the case. Getting up close also means you can see if the leaves are droopy or if they need to be trimmed.
Cleaning the leaves removes any pests that may have gathered on the leaves, which is more likely when the plant is moved indoors from the outdoors. Regular cleaning also eliminates diseases that aren’t nested in leaf tissues.
Dust Them
The easiest way to clean orchid leaves is to dust them off every week or so. Use a clean microfiber cloth or a duster to gently remove any dust and dirt that has been built up over time. If you know that your HVAC system produces more particulate at certain times of year, increase your frequency of dusting around that time.
The most important thing to note here: do not use any chemicals. We’ll discuss why later in this piece. Keep to completely clean cloths and chemical-free dusters. If dust builds up as you remove it, clean your duster between swipes. Importantly, clean your duster between plants to prevent spreading any unseen pests and diseases around.
Water and Alcohol
Employ a spray of 70% or less alcohol diluted to half or quarter strength in water. Ensure you’re not using 90% isopropyl alcohol, as that percentage is too high for your orchid’s sensitive leaves. Weekly, lightly mist the leaves to clean them. Not only does this eliminate dirt and dust, but it also kills any pests and some diseases that cling to the leaves.
You don’t need much here – just a slight mist. Especially if this is a regular treatment for you, this amount will be enough to clean orchid leaves. Alternatively, if you have a houseplant that loves a good shower, plop your orchid in the shower with them. Then dry the leaves afterward.
Wipe With a Damp Towel
For more stubborn buildup, gently wipe your orchid’s leaves with a damp towel. Microfiber is a preferable material, because it doesn’t have the coarseness that could scratch leaf surfaces. However, even a standard kitchen towel works as long as it’s clean. Paper towels work too.
Feel free to use warm water, or even a solution of water and alcohol. If you’re using a towel, dip it in water between wipes and wring it out before wiping again. Keep your cleaning implements sterile to eliminate disease and pests, which can proliferate in this process.
Cleaners to Avoid
There is a lot of information out there about how to clean orchid leaves, and not all of it is worth entertaining. We mentioned using 70% or less isopropyl alcohol, and using a higher percentage can damage leaf surfaces. The same goes for any chemicals.
Chemicals can clog the stomata on leaf undersides, making it difficult or impossible for your orchid to breathe and eventually blocking photosynthesis. So while it may be tempting to spring for a floral cleaner, orchids are not suited to it! Leave it out of your cleaning regimen.
Dish soap is often touted as a cure-all for the garden, but it is too concentrated for sensitive orchids. Similarly, avoid food items. Yes, milk is a viable treatment for powdery mildew, but it’s not a good orchid leaf cleaner. Mayonnaise is not a good cleaner. If you don’t have weaker strength alcohol, just stick to warm water.
Key Takeaways
If you haven’t instituted a routine to clean orchid leaves, it’s not too late to start. Do this when you water your orchids. Before you get started, remember the following:
- Cleaning them ensures the plant is as healthy and happy as possible, removing any dirt, pests, and diseases that can block water and nutrient absorption.
- Dusting with a clean, sterile duster or microfiber cloth is a great way to keep your orchid clean.
- Using a spray of water or a dilution of water and alcohol works well to keep orchid leaves clean.
- A damp towel is another perfect cleaning implement.
- Always sanitize your cleaning implement between wipes to prevent spreading pests and diseases between leaves and to other plants.
- Avoid high percentage alcohol, dish soap, food items, and chemicals.
