Why my rubber plant leaves are always dirty?
I clean the leaves of my rubber plant daily, spray them, and use banana peels to remove dirt. However, the dirt accumulates and creates white patches.
1ft to light, indirect
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 2 months ago
4
Hi Sharifa! It sounds like you're doing a great job taking care of your rubber plant. The white patches on the leaves could be caused by a few things:
* Mineral buildup: If you're using hard tap water, minerals can accumulate on the leaves. Try using filtered or rainwater to avoid this.
* Dust: Even with daily cleaning, dust can still accumulate on the leaves, especially in dry environments. You can try using a damp cloth or a leaf shine product to remove the dust.
* Pests: Small insects like mealybugs or scale can leave behind a white, powdery residue. Check your plant for any signs of pests and treat them accordingly.
To prevent future buildup, you can try increasing the humidity around your plant by misting the leaves regularly or using a humidifier.
* Mineral buildup: If you're using hard tap water, minerals can accumulate on the leaves. Try using filtered or rainwater to avoid this.
* Dust: Even with daily cleaning, dust can still accumulate on the leaves, especially in dry environments. You can try using a damp cloth or a leaf shine product to remove the dust.
* Pests: Small insects like mealybugs or scale can leave behind a white, powdery residue. Check your plant for any signs of pests and treat them accordingly.
To prevent future buildup, you can try increasing the humidity around your plant by misting the leaves regularly or using a humidifier.
@KnowingBlueash if you get a small spray bottle (8 oz) from a store and add about 20 drops of citronella and about 1 tbsp of isopropyl alcohol and fill the rest with water it is a leaf shine spray that removes dust and hard water deposits from plant leaves. Any texture on your leaves, specifically deposits makes dust easier to accumulate. I use the citronella spray regularly. I hope this helps.
@TheOddAsity great idea🎀