Cleaning dusty plant leaves

The latest in plant care tips for keeping your foliage happy and healthy, brought to you by premium plant delivery service Léon & George.

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Dusty leaves be gone! Dirty or sticky leaves not only look unpleasant, they also prevent your plant from photosynthesizing properly. Here are ways to kick the cleanliness up a notch, and get your plants looking and feeling their best!

Mix your cleaning solution - use a ratio of 3 tablespoons of mild dish soap mixed with a gallon of room temperature water.
Cleaning small plants - dip and swish their leaves around in the solution to remove dirt, grime or bugs and rinse with clean water immediately after.
Cleaning large plants - use a cloth and wipe each leaf clean with the soapy water, rinse off with a clean non-soapy damp cloth (if you're seeing bugs, leave the soapy solution on for a few minutes to an hour).

*Bonus tip* - dish soaps can double as a mild insecticide. If you're seeing any critters, leave the soapy mix on for a few minutes to an hour before rinsing.

*Extra bonus tip!* Use our Plant Doctors’ favorite black olive oil soap, which comes in a ready to use spray bottle formula. Not only does it clean plants and reveal a brilliant shine, but it also acts as a natural insecticide and pest repellant.

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What’s the best way to clean a Fiddle Leaf Fig?

There are many ways to clean Fiddle Leaf Figs, and depending on your space, one may make more sense than another! Here are a few of the best ways to keep your plant shiny and healthy:

1. Wipe the leaves with a cloth

The most basic method of cleaning large leaf plants, you can make a big impact with just a cloth and spray bottle. Douse the plant or each leaf in plenty of water and gentle wipe away dust. Keep in mind that leaves can be delicate, so take care not to beat them up too much when handling them. Depending on the size of your plant, this may be a very tedious process!

2. Give it a shower

For medium-sized Fiddles, giving them a shower in a sink, bathtub, or shower is a great way to quickly clean (and water!) the entire plant. There’s not much of a secret here, but while you’re doing this, you may like to let it sit in the sink in a couple of inches of water so that it may drink from the bottom up (which it will love!). Afterwards, wait until your plant is completely drained before placing it back in its decorative pot.

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3. Hose it down!

Similar to the shower method, place your plant in an outside area and use a hose to wash the entire plant from top to bottom. The fresh air will feel great and once again your plant will get a good deep water. Leave it outside for an hour or two to dry off, though make sure it’s not sitting in too much harsh direct sunlight. You may also want to avoid this method in very cold temperatures: if you’re cold, your plant is cold, and Fiddle Leaf Figs do not like to be cold!

Cleaning your Fiddle Leaf Fig (or any of your plants!) may not be something you do every week, but checking in regularly with your plants is a great way to stay on top of any issues that may arise. If things are starting to look dusty, give them a nice clean— your plant will appreciate it!

This post was adapted from the Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Resource by expert Claire Akin. Head to their website to learn more about caring for the Fiddle Leaf Fig.