Keeping your plant leaves clean is more than just about aesthetics—it’s a vital step in ensuring your plants stay healthy and vibrant. Dust, dirt, and pests can accumulate on leaves, blocking essential light and airflow. For tropical plants like Alocasia, Philodendron, Bird of Paradise, Monstera, and Anthurium, regular leaf cleaning can make all the difference in their growth and well-being. Here are the five key reasons leaf cleaning benefits your plants and exactly how to do it.
1. Photosynthesis
Over time, it is normal for a thin layer of dust and grime to accumulate on your plants simply from cohabiting. By removing this thin layer, you are allow the leaf cuticle to access light more effectively. This promotes better photosynthesis and in turn leads to larger, healthier leaves and growth.
2. Discourages Leaf Tearing
Spraying with natural plant oils like jojoba, neem, and karanja hydrates your leaves and enhances their ability to thrive. With all three ingredients found in the Sacred Leaf Tonic, these oils work together to provide plants with even greater benefits by delivering a nutrient-rich "superfood." Acting as a mild lubricant, the oils make it easier for leaves to unfurl without sticking or tearing during the process.
3. Foliar Feeding
As mentioned earlier, cleaning the leaf cuticle not only improves photosynthesis but also enhances your plant's ability to absorb water and nutrients more effectively. While 80-90% of nutrients of our plants need to thrive are taken in through the roots, foliar feeding is an effective method of treating nutrient deficiencies while boosting plant growth, especially during times of stress (pest infestations, disease, moving, etc.).
4. Pest Prevention
Leaf cleaning—especially when using our tonic—helps prevent pests and diseases from taking hold in your plants. How? Our tonics are crafted with botanical terpenes, natural compounds that plants produce to protect themselves.
Plant medicines such as lavender, rosemary, peppermint, yarrow, chamomile, and holy basil (tulsi) release aromatic compounds that serve a dual purpose: repelling pests like mosquitoes (think citronella) while attracting beneficial pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. By mimicking this natural defense system, our tonic supports your plants' health and resilience.
That's why it's key for us to infuse these same, highly potent, terpene rich herbs into our Sacred Leaf Tonic. Not only do they attract pollinators to our garden, but also help defend plants from disease while also combatting pests.
See blog post: Aromas and Scents: Understanding Botanical Terpenes
5. Natural Pest Treatment
Regular applications of our tonics provide a natural solution to common houseplant pests such as spider mites, thrips, scale, fungus gnats, and aphids. Our tonics work by disrupting pests' appetites and reproductive cycles, making it difficult for them to thrive on your plants. At the same time, they boost your plants' health and immunity, helping them grow stronger and more resilient to fend off future attacks. Amazing, right?
Cleaning with the Sacred Leaf Tonic
We recommend mixing up a batch of Sacred Leaf Tonic and transforming your plant care routine into a calming ritual of giving your plants a gentle misting, or a leaf shower once a week for maintenance. For pest care we recommend 3x a week for the first week, 2x a week for the second and weekly maintenance. For leaf cleaning, we recommend once a season for a thorough reset.
Here is the step-by-step process:
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of Sacred Leaf Tonic with 16 oz of water in a spray bottle to create a fresh batch of the diluted solution.
- Start by thoroughly misting your plants, beginning at the top leaves and working your way down. Ensure you cover both the front and back of each leaf, as well as the stems, finishing with a light mist over the topsoil.
- Follow up by gently wiping each leaf with a soft towel, an old cotton T-shirt, or a microfiber glove to remove residue, grime, or dust. Be sure to support the underside of the leaf with your hand as you wipe to prevent tearing the delicate tissue.
*Note: For an extra thorough clean, consider taking your plants to the shower or kitchen sink. Use a spray nozzle to rinse off the leaves with room-temperature water after applying the tonic. Follow up by gently wiping the leaves with a soft cloth. You can finish with another Sacred Leaf Shower for added nourishment, or wait until the following week for your regular maintenance.
Be sure to check out our Pest Blog Library for detailed pest treatment guidance and tips.
We hope this inspires you to take a moment each season to enjoy a sacred plant ritual of your own. ✨
Happy growing,
Karina and Team SE