Should You Be Dusting Your Houseplants?

Houseplants, like any living thing, need regular maintenance to stay healthy. Part of taking care of your houseplants is to dust their leaves. It is always a good practice to regularly clean up dust inside a home. Bigger problems could arise if you allow dust to collect on your houseplants. Here’s a closer look at why you have to dust the houseplants in your Orlando home.

Dust Can Make You and Your Plants Sick

Dust build-up becomes more than just a nuisance. Many studies have shown that a wide range of health problems like asthma, allergies, and a lot more, are worsened by the harmful particles found in dust. If dust is that bad for you, imagine the effect it’s having on your houseplants. Plants feed themselves through photosynthesis, and when their leaves are coated in dust, plants don’t get enough light to do this. Dust also prevents your houseplants from releasing as much oxygen as they could, leaving you with less clean indoor air. Dusting your greenery will keep both you and your houseplants healthy.

Dust Can Hide Bigger Problems

Dust on plants, just like dust on furniture, baseboards, and windowsills can become an eyesore. It can make your house look dirty and unkempt. Dust can also bring along more problems, such as mold and disease. Dusting your houseplants regularly lets you check them for developing issues. Spotting and treating mildew and plant diseases early can keep your plants healthy.

Dust Invites In Pests

Neglect your houseplants and you invite bugs and other pests. You will notice that when you leave your plants undusted for a while, unwanted pests will move in and take over. Regular dusting helps keep pests away and lets you look for early signs of infestation in your houseplants. Plants that are well-cared rarely develop serious pest problems.

Dusting houseplants is a simple task. Your first step is to use a dusting wand or microfiber cloth to gently wipe the dust off of each leaf for most plants. For plants with small or delicate leaves, you can use a small paintbrush to dust them carefully.

Next, dip a soft cloth in tepid water and use this to wipe off your houseplant’s stems and leaves. For large plants, you can spray the leaves clean in your kitchen sink. Remember to use water that is not too hot or too cold so you don’t damage your houseplant. Once you are done rinsing and wiping down each leaf and the pot, let your plant air dry thoroughly before putting it back in place.

Even though houseplant maintenance is fairly easy, it has to be done on a regular basis to ensure green and healthy plants. Would you like to learn more about this or other home maintenance tips? Real Property Management South Orlando can help! Contact us today online or call us at 407-982-2000.