Is there anything prettier than clean and shiny plant foliage? Not for me there isn’t! We often forget to clean the leaves of our plants, probably because we are sick and tired of cleaning in general.
All jokes aside, remember that plants are living beings, so they’ll benefit from cleaning not only because it makes them prettier, but because their health can be adversely affected by dust or other dirt.
Monsteras come in all different shapes and sizes, and some species, such as the Monstera deliciosa, have large leaves that look very unattractive if they aren’t clean.
In this article, I’ll show you how to clean Monstera leaves and make them shiny, discuss the benefits of cleaning leaves in detail, and what you should avoid using for cleaning.
Let’s get started!
How To Clean Monstera Leaves
Believe it or not, the solution for dirty and dusty Monstera leaves is very simple and inexpensive.
You’ll need only WATER in most cases. Of course, if you want the leaves to shine bright like diamonds, you can add some extra ingredients to the water.
Let’s learn more.
Shower Your Monstera
We aren’t the only ones that enjoy a nice shower.
The first thing to understand is that you can’t shower every Monstera plant. I mean, imagine taking your 3-feet tall adult Monstera deliciosa into the bathroom (since it definitely won’t fit into the sink).
This method is excellent for juvenile plants and some smaller specimens such as the Monstera dubia. Pay close attention to water temperature; you should use room temperature water to avoid temperature shock.
Also, make sure the water stream isn’t too strong because the leaves are sensitive and could break.
Using your hand, run through the foliage to allow water to reach the surface and underside of each leaf.
Don’t shower your Monstera for long; a few minutes will suffice.
Once you’re done, leave your Monstera to drain well. Remember that the soil is very wet at this point, so you need to get rid of the excess water to prevent overwatering.
Wipe Down The Leaves
If you have a large Monstera species or you don’t want to use a sink or shower, wiping down the foliage will do the job.
Again, water is the best option. You’ll need a soft sponge or small bucket filled with water. Dip the sponge/cloth in the water and squeeze it a little bit to avoid getting water all over the plant and desk/floor (you don’t need more cleaning in your life).
When wiping down a monstera, please be gentle. I tore up the leaves once; you know that Monstera leaves have fenestrations and, from my experience, it’s pretty easy to damage the leaves when cleaning.
If you’re a little clumsy, you can use a spray bottle; don’t forget to spray and wipe down the undersides of the leaves.
How To Make Monstera Foliage Shiny
If the leaves are clean but not shiny enough, don’t worry because I have a solution to that too. There are many ways to make plant foliage shiny, for example, you can make a leaf shine spray for your prized Monstera yourself.
Here are some of the methods for making the leaves of your Monstera plant shiny.
The leaves of your Monstera will be shiny if you add a couple of drops of dish soap to the water in your spray bottle.
Bear in mind that some dish soaps include chemicals, so you should only use this method if you have an all-natural product.
I’ve noticed that dish soap works great as a pest-repellent, so I often use it if I notice any spider mites or mealybugs.
A few drops of vinegar added to water will do wonders for Monstera leaves. I’m not into the smell of vinegar, but since it helps my plants, I frequently use it.
Just like dish soap, a vinegar solution works great for pests, so your Monstera will be clean, shiny, and pest-free!
Many plant parents (including me) are against oils when it comes to cleaning plant leaves. For instance, many growers use olive oil for cleaning leaves, but I would avoid it if I were you.
The reason is simple; olive oil will clog the pores of the Monstera leaves.
Neem oil is a completely different story. If used in the correct doses and applied according to the recommended schedule, this oil will not only keep the leaves shiny, but also protect them from pest infestation.
Lemon pie and lemonade aren’t the only good things that are made from lemons! Lemon juice and water is an excellent cleaning and polishing agent for Monstera leaves. Unlike vinegar, lemon solution smells great; 1-0 to lemon juice!
But lemon juice doesn’t deter pests, so you can’t use it for this purpose (lemon juice vs vinegar 1-1).
Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to water, dip a soft sponge in the solution, and massage the Monstera leaves; don’t forget the undersides!
Store-bought Leaf Shine?
I’m sure you’ve seen numerous leaf shine products in plant stores or online. Yes, they look pretty attractive and may seem like they’ll solve all your problems with cleaning plant leaves.
However, I am against leaf clean and shine products for cleaning Monstera leaves for one simple reason: they contain chemicals!
OK, another reason is the price, because one product costs way more than a spray bottle filled with water alone.
Why Your Monstera Deliciosa Leaves Aren’t Shiny
Monstera leaves may look dull and have residue even if the plant is completely healthy.
One of the most frequent reasons for dull Monstera leaves is dust. We’ve seen how to clean Monstera leaves, which fixes the dust problem.
If the leaves of your Monstera deliciosa or any other Monstera plant have a whitish surface, you may have been using the wrong type of water for cleaning.
I’m sure you know that tap water can contain minerals such as magnesium and calcium, and if your Monstera has a white residue on the foliage, a build up of these minerals from tap water is likely the culprit.
Unfortunately, you’ll need to use other types of water, such as filtered or rainwater. The best would be if you could use rainwater, not only for cleaning your Monstera, but also for watering it.
If you have been rubbing your plant leaves often and weren’t very gentle, the leaves may look damaged and even dirtier than before.
Plants are fragile creatures, so you should never use force no matter if you’re cleaning, repotting, or inspecting your plant.
The Monstera plant care guide is pretty simple, so if you have a healthy plant, don’t destroy it when cleaning.
The Benefits Of Cleaning Monstera Leaves
As we mentioned, the point of cleaning Monstera leaves isn’t only to make them prettier.
Any residue on Monstera foliage can close the pores that are essential for photosynthesis and respiration.
Your Monstera can get into serious trouble if photosynthesis is disrupted.
When cleaning the leaves of your Monstera plant, you can remove and repel pests, especially if using dish soap, neem oil, or vinegar solution.
A pest-free Monstera is a happy Monstera!
What NOT To Use To Clean Monstera Foliage
We’ve seen all methods of cleaning and making Monstera leaves shiny, so let’s now sum up what you should never use as a cleaning agent.
1. Store-bought products: As mentioned above, these products contain chemicals that can clog leaf pores.
2. Hard water: Chemical buildup on the foliage can result in clogging of the stomata, so use distilled or rainwater instead.
3. Mayonnaise and oils: We’ve seen why olive oil isn’t good for plant leaves, and the same goes for other types of cooking oils. As for mayonnaise, is there really a need for an explanation? It will close the pores, create a thick layer of residue on the foliage, and smell terrible!
There are many different ways to make your Monstera plant prettier; for instance, planting it in a lovely pot, pruning it to desired shape, or training it to climb.
Don’t forget the benefits of cleaning the leaves, which will make the plant prettier and also prevent mineral buildup that would otherwise clog the pores on the leaf surfaces.
Now that you know how to clean Monstera leaves, there’s no need to skip this part of plant care. Your Monstera will appreciate it!
Until next time!
Je, kuna kitu kizuri zaidi kuliko majani safi na yenye kung'aa ya mimea? Si kwa ajili yangu hakuna! Mara nyingi tunasahau kusafisha majani ya mimea yetu, labda kwa sababu tumechoka na kuchoka kusafisha kwa ujumla. Kwa bahati mbaya, kumbuka kwamba mimea ni viumbe hai, hivyo wao itabidi kufaidika na kusafisha si tu kwa sababu inafanya yao pretty zaidi, lakini kwa sababu afya yao inaweza kuathiriwa na vumbi au uchafu mwingine. Monstera hutokea katika maumbo na ukubwa mbalimbali, na baadhi ya spishi, kama vile Monstera deliciosa, zina majani makubwa ambayo huonekana kuwa yasiyovutia sana ikiwa hayajawa safi. Katika makala hii, nitakuonyesha jinsi ya kusafisha majani ya Monstera na kuyafanya yaangaze, kuzungumzia faida za kusafisha majani kwa undani, na nini unapaswa kuepuka kutumia kwa ajili ya kusafisha. Hebu kuanza! Jinsi ya kusafisha majani ya Monstera Amini au la, suluhisho la majani ya Monstera machafu na yenye vumbi ni rahisi sana na ya bei nafuu. Unahitaji tu maji katika kesi nyingi. Ikiwa unataka majani ya mti huo kuangaza kama almasi, unaweza kuongeza viungo vingine kwenye maji. Hebu tujifunze zaidi. Shower Your Monstera Sisi si wale tu ambao kufurahia kuoga nzuri. Jambo la kwanza la kuelewa ni kwamba huwezi kuoga kila mmea wa Monstera. Namaanisha, fikiria kuchukua yako 3 futi mrefu mtu mzima Monstera deliciosa katika bafuni (kwa kuwa ni dhahiri si fit katika sinki). Njia hii ni bora kwa ajili ya mimea vijana na baadhi ya sampuli ndogo kama vile Monstera dubia. Jihadharini sana na joto la maji; unapaswa kutumia maji ya joto la chumba ili kuepuka mshtuko wa joto. Pia, hakikisha kwamba mkondo wa maji si mkali sana kwa sababu majani ni nyeti na yanaweza kuvunjika. Kwa kutumia mkono wako, piga majani ili maji yafikie juu na chini ya kila jani. Usiweke Monstera yako chini ya maji kwa muda mrefu; dakika chache zitatosha. Mara baada ya kumaliza, kuacha Monstera yako kuondoa vizuri. Kumbuka kwamba udongo ni mvua sana wakati huu, hivyo unahitaji kuondoa maji ya ziada ili kuzuia overwatering. Wipe Down The Leaves Kama una aina kubwa ya Monstera au hutaki kutumia sinki au kuoga, kufuta chini ya majani itafanya kazi. Kwa mara nyingine tena, maji ndiyo njia bora zaidi. Unahitaji sifongo laini au ndoo ndogo iliyojaa maji. Kuingiza sifongo katika maji na kuifuta kidogo ili kuepuka maji yote juu ya mimea na meza au sakafu (hauhitaji kusafisha zaidi katika maisha yako). Unapomnyosha mnyama-mwitu, tafadhali uwe mpole. Mimi ripped juu ya majani mara moja; unajua kwamba majani Monstera kuwa fenestrations na, kutokana na uzoefu wangu, ni pretty rahisi kuharibu majani wakati wa kusafisha. Kama wewe ni kidogo clumsy, unaweza kutumia chupa ya kunyunyizia; usisahau kunyunyizia na kufuta chini ya majani. Jinsi ya Kufanya Monstera Foliage Shiny Kama majani ni safi lakini si glossy kutosha, msiwe na wasiwasi kwa sababu mimi na ufumbuzi kwa kwamba pia. Kuna njia nyingi za kufanya majani ya mimea yaangaze, kwa mfano, unaweza kufanya dawa ya kunyunyizia majani kwa Monstera yako ya thamani mwenyewe. Hapa kuna njia kadhaa za kufanya majani ya mmea wako wa Monstera angavu. Majani ya Monstera yako yatakuwa na rangi nyangavu ikiwa utaongeza matone machache ya sabuni ya vyombo kwenye maji ya chupa yako ya kunyunyizia. Kumbuka kwamba sabuni za kuosha vyombo zina kemikali, kwa hiyo unapaswa kutumia njia hii tu ikiwa una bidhaa ya asili. Nimeona kwamba sabuni ya kuosha vyombo hufanya kazi vizuri kama dawa ya kuua wadudu, kwa hiyo mara nyingi mimi huitumia nikiona vimelea au wadudu wa unga. Matone machache ya siki yaliyoongezwa kwenye maji yatatengeneza maajabu kwa majani ya Monstera. Mimi sipendi harufu ya siki, lakini kwa kuwa husaidia mimea yangu, mimi hutumia mara nyingi. Sawa na sabuni ya kuosha vyombo, mchanganyiko wa siki hufanya kazi vizuri dhidi ya wadudu, kwa hiyo Monstera yako itakuwa safi, yenye kung'aa, na isiyo na wadudu! Wazazi wengi wa mimea (ikiwa ni pamoja na mimi) wanapinga mafuta yanapohusu kusafisha majani ya mimea. Kwa mfano, wakulima wengi hutumia mafuta ya zeituni kusafisha majani, lakini ningeepuka kufanya hivyo ikiwa ningekuwa wewe. Sababu ni rahisi; mafuta ya zeituni yataficha nyufa za majani ya Monstera. Mafuta ya mti wa mti wa mti ni hadithi tofauti kabisa. Ikiwa inatumika kwa kipimo sahihi na kutumika kulingana na ratiba iliyopendekezwa, mafuta haya hayataweka majani yenye kung'aa tu, lakini pia yatawalinda dhidi ya maambukizi ya wadudu. Keki ya limao na limonadi si vitu pekee vyema vinavyofanywa kwa limao! Juisi ya limao na maji ni dawa bora ya kusafisha na kupaka rangi majani ya Monstera. Tofauti na siki, mchanganyiko wa ndimu una harufu nzuri; 1-0 kwa maji ya limao! Lakini maji ya limao hayawezi kuzuia wadudu, kwa hiyo huwezi kuitumia kwa kusudi hili (maji ya limao dhidi ya siki 1-1). Ongeza kijiko cha maji ya limao, nyunyizia sifongo laini katika suluhisho, na uchonge majani ya Monstera; usisahau sehemu ya chini! Je, ni Leaf Shine inayonunuliwa dukani? Mimi nina uhakika umekuwa kuonekana bidhaa nyingi jani kung'aa katika maduka ya mimea au online. Ndiyo, wao kuangalia pretty kuvutia na inaweza kuonekana kama wao <unk>ll kutatua matatizo yako yote na kusafisha majani ya mmea. Hata hivyo, mimi ni dhidi ya bidhaa za kusafisha majani na kung'aa kwa kusafisha majani ya Monstera kwa sababu moja rahisi: zina kemikali! Kwa sababu ya bei, bidhaa moja inaweza kuwa na gharama kubwa kuliko chupa ya maji. Kwa nini Majani Yako ya Monstera Deliciosa Si Yenye Kupendeza Majani ya Monstera yenye kung'aa yaweza kuonekana kuwa ya kuchosha na kuwa na mabaki hata ikiwa mmea huo ni wenye afya kabisa. Mojawapo ya sababu za kawaida za majani ya Monstera kuwa matupu ni vumbi. Tumeona jinsi ya kusafisha majani ya Monstera, ambayo hutatua tatizo la vumbi. Ikiwa majani ya Monstera deliciosa au mimea mingine ya Monstera yana uso mweupe, huenda umekuwa ukitumia aina isiyofaa ya maji ya kusafisha. Kama unajua, maji ya bomba inaweza kuwa na madini kama vile magnesiamu na kalsiamu, na ikiwa Monstera yako ina mabaki meupe kwenye majani, uwezekano mkubwa wa kuunganisha madini haya kutoka kwa maji ya bomba ni mtendaji. Kwa bahati mbaya, utahitaji kutumia aina nyingine za maji, kama vile maji ya kuchuja au ya mvua. Kwa hivyo, ni muhimu kutumia maji ya mvua, sio tu kwa kuosha, lakini pia kwa maji. Kama umekuwa rubbing majani ya mmea wako mara nyingi na hawakuwa laini sana, majani inaweza kuangalia kuharibiwa na hata chafu kuliko hapo awali. Mimea ni viumbe dhaifu, kwa hiyo hupaswi kamwe kutumia nguvu haijalishi kama unafanya usafi, kupandikiza, au kukagua mmea wako. Mwongozo wa utunzaji wa mmea wa Monstera ni rahisi sana, kwa hivyo ikiwa una mmea wenye afya, usiharibu wakati wa kusafisha. Faida za Kusafisha Majani ya Monstera Kama tulivyosema, kusudi la kusafisha majani ya Monstera si tu kuyafanya yawe mazuri zaidi. Mabaki yoyote kwenye majani ya Monstera yanaweza kufunga pores ambazo ni muhimu kwa photosynthesis na kupumua. Monstera yako yaweza kupata matatizo makubwa ikiwa fotosynthesis imevurugwa. Wakati wa kusafisha majani ya mmea wako wa Monstera, unaweza kuondoa na kuondoa wadudu, hasa ikiwa unatumia sabuni ya kuosha vyombo, mafuta ya neem, au suluhisho la siki. Monstera asiye na wadudu ni Monstera mwenye furaha! Nini NOT Kutumia Kusafisha Monstera Foliage Tumeona mbinu zote za kusafisha na kufanya Monstera majani glossy, hivyo hebu sasa muhtasari nini unapaswa kamwe kutumia kama wakala wa kusafisha. 1. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, bidhaa hizi zina kemikali ambazo zinaweza kuziba pores za majani. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Maji magumu: Mimea inayokusanyika kwenye majani ya mti inaweza kusababisha kufunikwa kwa stomata, kwa hiyo tumia maji ya mvua au maji ya mvua badala yake. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Mayonesi na mafuta: Tumeona kwa nini mafuta ya zeituni si nzuri kwa majani ya mimea, na vivyo hivyo kwa aina nyingine za mafuta ya kupikia. Kuhusu mayonesi, je, kweli kuna uhitaji wa ufafanuzi? Itaziba nyufa, itatengeneza tabaka nene la mabaki kwenye majani, na itakuwa na harufu mbaya sana! Kuna njia nyingi za kufanya mmea wako wa Monstera uwe mzuri zaidi, kwa mfano, kuupanda katika chungu kizuri, kuupunguza kwa umbo linalotakiwa, au kuufundisha kupanda. Usisahau faida za kusafisha majani, ambayo itafanya mmea kuwa mzuri zaidi na pia kuzuia mkusanyiko wa madini ambayo vinginevyo yangeziba pores kwenye nyuso za majani. Sasa kwa kuwa unajua jinsi ya kusafisha majani ya Monstera, hakuna haja ya kuruka sehemu hii ya utunzaji wa mmea. Monstera yako itathamini hilo! Hadi mara ijayo!