Houseplants that are 'impossible to kill'
Houseplants provide many benefits for the home including adding a gorgeous visual element as well as purifying the air.
According to Harry Bodell, gardening and plants expert at PriceYourJob.co.uk, dusting houseplants is extremely beneficial and important.
The expert explained: “An accumulation of dust in any area of the home is never a good thing. Dust can trigger allergies, affect breathing, and can prevent plants from being at their healthiest.
“When leaves are coated with dust, they won’t be able to get the optimum amount of light needed to complete photosynthesis.
“If this happens, your plants won’t be giving off as much oxygen as they could, which means you’ll be missing out on one of the major benefits of owning houseplants.
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“Also, your plants will struggle with growth and could even start to die off if they’re not able to get the light they need due to dust.”
As well as this, dusting houseplants helps to keep them looking their best, because they won’t have a layer of colour on them.
Keeping on top of this job will also mean owners can keep an eye out for any pests or diseases, a common issue during the winter months.
This means Britons should aim to dust their houseplants a couple of times a week during the winter, analysing to see if this is enough or too much.
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The expert added: “It’s best to use a microfibre cloth to dust your houseplants, as this will remove as much of the dust as possible.
“You will need to support the leaf from underneath with one hand and then sweep the microfibre cloth gently across the surface of the leaf to remove all of the dust.
“It’s important to provide support to the underneath of the leaf to prevent it from breaking or becoming damaged.
“If you have any plants with smaller leaves, you can use a paintbrush to remove the dust from these leaves, as the microfibre cloth may be too large and could damage the plant.
“Once you’ve dusted your houseplants, it’s a good idea to give the leaves a quick rinse. Dampen a microfibre cloth and use the same method provided above, wiping the leaves and the stems with the damp cloth.”
Some indoor plants may also benefit from a quick spritzing with tepid water in a spray bottle, so make sure to look up whether it is suitable for the type in your home.
Give the plant some time to air dry before moving it back into its original position so it doesn’t become scorched.
Harry noted: “As you can see, it is very beneficial to keep on top of dusting houseplants. Not only does it greatly benefit the health of the plants, but it can also benefit your health and the health of anyone else who enters your home.
“It’s best to aim to dust your houseplants weekly. You may need to dust them more often if they’re in a high-traffic or particularly dusty area.”
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