Ways to Clean Fiddle Leaf Fig Leaves

Houseplants are regarded mostly for their aesthetic qualities; they contribute to an overall improvement in the appearance of the spaces in which we live and work.

They not only have a beneficial impact on the surrounding ecosystem but also have potential therapeutic applications. It can be frustrating when the leaves on our plants seem dirty, dusty, or like they’ve lost all vitality.

There is a good chance that you have experimented with various methods for cleaning and polishing the leaves of your houseplants; however, many of the most common remedies that you will find online are, in fact, harmful to your plants.

It is possible that using a cloth or water to clean plant leaves will not be successful, and using chemical cleaners may cause burns or other damage that prevents the leaves from performing their physical tasks.

Cleaning the Leaves of Fiddle Leaf Figs

Not only can dirty leaves reduce the aesthetic value of a plant, but they also threaten the plant’s general health.

If you clean dust and debris from your houseplants’ foliage regularly, it will be helpful for the plant and add to the plants’ visual appeal.

Dust can quickly accumulate on the large, fiddle-shaped leaves of a fiddle-leaf fig, which can make the plant appear less vibrant than it is.

The ability of the leaves to photosynthesize is likewise reduced when there is dust present. The plant cannot photosynthesize, leading to a slow but steady decline in the plant’s overall health. The need to clear the leaves arises as a consequence.

Fiddle Leaf Fig

Despite its widespread popularity as an ornamental houseplant, the fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is a plant indigenous to the lowland tropical rainforests of West Africa.

Even though many tropical plants can now survive indoors, the fiddle-leaf fig is notorious for its unpredictable nature.

Importance of Cleaning Leaves

Fiddle leaf figs are fragile and must be handled with care. Vigorous leaf cleaning should be avoided because it can cause shock to the plant and cause damage.

Keep the leaves of your plant friends clean and free from dust and dirt for their best possible health.

Leaves of plants, much like human skin, have pores. In addition, the leaves of a plant are where photosynthesis and respiration are most active since they are constantly exposed to the sun.

Fiddle-leaf figs rely on photosynthesis to stay alive, much like every other plant on Earth. Photosynthesis is the process through which plants create food and release oxygen into the atmosphere from chlorophyll, carbon dioxide, and water.

An accumulation of dust on a plant’s leaves will prevent it from receiving enough light for photosynthesis, rendering the plant unable to survive. Your plant could die or suffer severely reduced growth if its leaves are dirty.

In addition to improving the plant’s aesthetic appeal, leaf cleaning is essential to the plant’s overall health. There’s nothing improper about wanting plants to have shiny, eye-catching foliage.

The aesthetic value of glossy leaves cannot be overstated. Plants with large leaves, such as fiddle-leaf figs, are particularly appealing when their leaves are shiny and healthy looking.

Ways to Clean the Leaves

Use a Cloth to Clean the Leaves of Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant

To maintain your fiddle-leaf fig, you should include it in your regular cleaning routine. In the same way that all houseplants do, they tend to amass more dust than usual due to the size of their leaves.

A clean towel is the greatest tool for the job when it comes to keeping your plant’s leaves clean.

Dust and grime that have settled on the leaves’ surface should be removed carefully not to compromise their fragile structure. The use of strong chemicals, on the other hand, should be avoided for the same reason.

A Shower to Clean the Leaves of Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant

If the plant isn’t looking to be in its best condition, you might want to bathe it. Like humans, these plants need periodic TLC. Giving the plant a quick shower should do the trick.

You will need to find a tub or shower that’s big enough for your plant. When it comes time to wash the leaves, take your time and rinse them gently.

You can use water to wash the leaves and eliminate any dirt stored in the plant leaves. Letting the shrub dry entirely after washing the leaves before repotting it is essential. With consistent watering, your plant will bloom and grow.

Round up a Water Hose to Clean the Leaves of Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant

To clean the leaves of your outdoor fiddle tree, spray it with water using a garden hose.

Avoid damaging the leaves by spraying them gently with water. Any dust or grime that has settled on the leaves can be easily washed away by the powerful stream of water from the hose.

Do not immediately repot your plant after washing its leaves; wait until all excess water has drained. To maintain its health and beauty, spray it with a hose once a week.

Misting to Clean the Leaves of Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant

It is important to spray your houseplants every once in a while to help keep them clean and healthy.

Giving the whole plant a little spritz of water in a sink or bathtub is preferable and then waiting for it to dry entirely before relocating it to its habitat.

The Fiddle Leaf Fig is an excellent example of a huge and tall plant that benefits significantly from this method.

Household Products to Use to Clean the Leaves of Your Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant

Soap and Water

It is safe to wash the leaves in that soapy solution. Begin by spraying your plant’s leaves with distilled water and allowing it to soak for around 5 minutes for any dust or buildup to release.

Then, combine a teaspoonful of detergent-free soap with half a gallon of purified water. Wet a microfiber towel with soapy water and wipe each leaf carefully on both sides.

Avoid scrubbing the leaves too vigorously or scraping them with your nails since doing so may damage the leaf’s protective cuticle, leading to premature drying.

After you’ve cleaned down all the leaves, give your plant a quick rinse from the shower or outside with a hose.

When watering your plant with soapy water, it’s a good idea to tilt the pot so the water drains away from the plant rather than into the soil. To maintain clean and healthy leaves, perform this procedure every few months.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has proven to be a fan favorite time and time again, but it shouldn’t be used frequently for leaf cleaning. Rather than cleaning the leaves, coconut oil sits on them, giving them a glossy sheen.

Furthermore, it lays over the leaves to stop dirt and debris from simply falling off. Over time, a buildup of dust and debris could make maintaining the plants more of a hassle.

If dust is mixed with a fatty substance like coconut oil, it will clog the pores in the leaves. In other words, it will be more challenging for your shrub to absorb oxygen and convert energy from the sun.

Olive Oil

Olive oil, like coconut oil, can also be problematic for the same reasons. It causes a brief glossy layer to form on the leaf’s surface, which can lead to a buildup of dust and debris and the eventual clogging of the leaf’s pores.

Milk

Like various oils are suggested for washing and polishing plant leaves, milk is also commonly used. There is fat in milk, and that fat can accumulate on leaves and temporarily make them look glossy.

However, the leaves of plants may benefit from milk because it contains vitamins and minerals. The proteins in dairy milk can assist break up dust or residue on the leaves, and the small amount of calcium can benefit the leaves.

Use a solution of milk and water and a delicate cloth to clean the leaves.

Some plants, however, may be milk-sensitive, so it’s vital to do a spot test and rinse the leaves well afterward, as milk is known to attract insects.

How Often Should You Clean the Leaves of Fiddle-Leaf Fig?

All too well, those who have ever kept a fiddle fig tree in their house know dust bunnies love to settle on the leaves.

The leaves will look dull and dead if a plant can’t make its food from photosynthesis. Therefore, it is essential to keep the leaf surface clean. Some people may like to do this every day, but once a week is usually adequate.

The trick is to keep the dust from piling up too much, as doing so will make cleaning up much longer and more complex. It will flourish if you give your fiddle fig tree the attention it needs.

Conclusion

It’s easy to give the impression that everything is pristine when dust and other tiny particles are constantly flying and settling on surfaces and even your indoor plants.

Leaf cleaning regularly is essential to maintain the plant’s health and beauty. Since leaves serve many purposes in a plant’s life, keeping them as spotless as possible is crucial.