Alocasia: These plants, also know as elephant ear plants are always guaranteed to impress with gorgeous foliage that adds extra spice into an indoor garden. These plants are sought-after for their oversized, heart-shaped leaves that can be different colors of green and even splashed with thick veins or a contrasting color. Though, you need to do some maintenance for your Alocasia to stay alive and fresh. One such care is to clean the leaves. The broad surfaces can also become covered with dust, dirt and even pests that prevent the plant from prospering. We will go over how to clean Alocasia leaves, why it is important and tips on keeping your healthy looking plant.
Cleaning Play an Important Role in Alocasia?
There are a few reasons why you need to clean your Alocasia leaves regularly. The leaves of the Alocasia are large and wide with a broad surface area so these plants can easily attract and collect dust and dirt. This matter can clog the stomata of the plant, tiny pores on the surface of leaves through which the plant takes up carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. This hinders photosynthesis, which is fundamentally important for plant growth and health.
Not only does dirt diminish photosynthesis, but also provides an ideal location for breeding pests such as aphids, spider mites and mealybugs that can injure the plant. In addition, excess dust or organic material can cause the growth of mould diseases or fungi. These problems can be avoided with a bit of regular plant cleaning which will help your Alocasia stay alive and happy.
Subheadings:
General Anatomy of Alocasia Leaf
Alocasia leaves have unique structure, thick glossy nature which is both beautiful and of functional value in terms of capturing the water. These leaves are huge and waxy so they tend to collect dust more quickly. The waxy cuticle stops water from evaporating too fast but unfortunately that also provides a sticky surface for dust particles. Keeping the surface clean allows more light to penetrate and contribute to proper plant health.
The Trouble with a Dirty Leaf
The largest and most obvious problem that dirty leaves can cause is a decrease in photosynthesis. Dust and dirt can hinder the stomata from functioning appropriately, which makes it difficult for light processing in plants, thus stunting plant growth. More dirt on your leaves will also attract free-loaders like scale bugs, aphids and spider mites. These pests feed on the plant’s tissues, causing yellowing, wilting, or even leaf drop. While dirty leaves may not seem a big deal, this can result in disease outbreaks after a while which can lead to fungal infections (e.g. powdery mildew, leaf rot) and such other condition as well.
When Should You Wipe Alocasia Leaves:
While Alocasia plants enjoy a regular cleaning routine, it depends on the environment where they are located on how frequently of this process should take place. A simple rule of thumb is to clean every two weeks, if your Alocasia sits near a window or in a dusty room. If your plant is in a more contained interior area, then cleaning every month should be okay. In the winter months, when heaters dry out the air and dust builds up more frequently, cleaning frequency may need to be increased.
What You Need to Clean Alocasia Leaves
Tip 8: They need the proper tools while cleaning up their leaves. The best option is a soft microfiber cloth, as it collects dust without scratching the leaf surface. For stains that refuse to come off, you can also use a soft sponge. Do not use paper towels as these leave lint. Use a soft brush to clean dust from plants that have larger leaves and are hard to wipe off.
In this post, you are going to learn how to clean the leaves of Alocasia- a step by step guide.
When cleaning your Alocasia, begin with a soft microfiber cloth dampened at the tip of your leaves. Avoid shocking the plant with water that is too cold. Use lukewarm water, as needed. For any dirt accumulation, a simple soapy solution (made of mild dish soap and water) will do the job. Now, after wiping the surface, remember to rinse that cloth — even if you scrub something and have it dirty. Note that you most likely want to wipe both tops and bottoms as a lot of pests can be found on the infected leaves, but so will dust, which are in some cases worse than pests.
How to Get Rid of Pests on Alocasia Leaves
If you’ve spotted pests on Alocasia leaves, it is helpful to clean them regularly, but don’t wait for a week to book your appointment. The likes of spider mites, aphids or mealybugs are common pests on Alocasia plants. If you see any, spray the plant with a diluted neem oil solution or insecticidal soap. After treating the plant, do not forget to wipe down the leaves from excessive solution.
Don’t oversaturate the leaves
However one should be careful to avoid over-watering Alocasia leaves during cleaning. Over-watering can also cause mold or mildew, growing mainly underneath the leaves. Rub with a wet cloth – not dripping wet, and make sure that the plant has excellent drainage in the soil so there is no root going to rot.
Washing Leaves With Natural Remedies
Use Natural Cleaning Solutions Rather Than Chemical Ones Add a solution of water and vinegar to cleanse the leaves of any stickiness. Neem oil is yet another natural treatment and it also works as a natural pesticide. Besides being a cleaning agent, this solution is also an insect repellent for the plant.
Do Alocasia Need A Leaf Shiner?
Leaf shine products are sometimes sold to give a glossy healthy look but these may often clog the stomata or attract dust. You should clean it regularly with natural methods instead. To maintain your plant’s health and give it a natural shine, just wipe down the leaves with a mixture of vinegar and water if you want to keep those glossy looks.
Alocasia Leaves: How to Keep Dust off of Them
Sometimes, it is less difficult to prevent the dust than to clean it off. Put your Alocasia in an area with good air circulation but not a draft. Another solution to get rid of the dust around is using an air purifier. Light misting every few days is also an option to prevent dust buildup on your plant.
How to clean Alocasia leaves in the winter months
Dust tends to settle more rapidly in winter due to indoor heating. However, as humidity usually does decrease around this time, more regular cleaning may be required to keep the plant happy. Place the plant in a more humid place or use a humidifier.
Cutting Off Fallen Leaves with Illness
During this process, you must also prune any broken or infected leaves. Remove unrepairable leaves with sterilized scissors or pruning shears. This will prevent the plant from expending energy on unhealthy tissue.
How Humidity Affects the Health of Leaves
Alocasia plants prefer a place that has humidity. The absence of moisture in the air ensures that the leaves dry up and are often subjected to dust and pests. Keep humidity high around your plant, putting it on a humidity tray, using a humidifier or occasionally misting the plants.
To Propagate With Clean Leaves
When propagating Alocasia you want to use leaves that are clean and healthy. Before you cut any leaf from your Alocasia, ensure it is not infected by any pests or diseases as manipulating the infected leaves may cause further infection if you are considering propagating. Wash the cutting surface with a rubbing alcohol to prevent contamination.
That Stress After Cleaning Please
If excessive water is used, plants may experience a form of stress after being cleaned. If you see any sagging foliage, coloration or yellowing give your Alocasia time to recover and fine tune the environment to alleviate some of the stress.
Conclusion:
Alocasia leaves are prone to dust collecting, so cleaning them is critical to keeping the plant healthy. Cleaning leaves in this way simply means you are removing the dust, pest and grime from your house plant so that it can continue to at its best – healthy and strong. By following the appropriate cleaning methods and routine maintenance procedures, your Alocasia will stay healthy and gorgeous as they are meant to be part of your interior garden.
