Orchid leaf polish: 4 ways to prepare it at home
We all admire orchids, and many grow these plants at home. And the leaves of an orchid can tell us a lot about the health of the plant. As a result, the leaves of an orchid must be taken care of, and perhaps even made to "show off" some shine too.
Shopkeepers often spray products on plants to make them appear more beautiful, with shiny leaves, for example. But plant/leaf polishes are not always good for a plant. And when it comes to orchids, we need to proceed with extra caution. The good news is that even in the home, you can find ingredients to clean and polish orchid leaves in a natural way.
What makes orchid leaves dull? There can be two reasons: the health of the plant, especially if it lacks water; or the deposit of mineral residue often due to the hardness of the water with which they are sprayed. If there is also a lot of dust in the home, obviously this does not help either.
Since plants perspire from their leaves, it is important that there are no blockages of the stomata. So, cleaning them periodically not only makes them look more beautiful, but keeps them healthy.
DIY leaf polish
- A cotton makeup disk with water (preferably distilled): just wet the cotton without soaking it, and pass over the leaf. Avoid leaving a trail of water: you just need to remove the dirt.
- Lemon juice: squeeze a lemon (do not use ready-made juices), or even a lime, and pass it over the leaf using a cotton makeup disk. Lemon dissolves mineral deposits and can also be used on the underside of leaves, as it does not clog the stomata. If you prefer, you can also dilute the juice with a little water, to make more product.
- Powdered milk: dilute a pinch of powdered milk in water. This works both for polishing and for combating the presence of certain fungi. Do not use it, however, on the underside of the leaves.
- Olive oil: this use is debated. Used neat, olive oil leaves residue and makes the situation worse, so it is often used after using lemon. Just put one drop on the leaf, spreading it over the surface using cotton wool to make the leaf shiny.
Happy gardening!
