They accentuate the fascinating flowers with lush green and keep the metabolism going. In order for the leaves on an orchid to be able to fulfill their diverse tasks perfectly, they need to be lovingly cared for. Our tips for the best leaf care show how it can be done with simple means.
Only soft water should be used to spray leaves and flowers
Dewy and clean - That's how water works
In the natural habitat, the leaves on orchids are cleaned daily with short, heavy downpours. Dust particles whirling around the room are deposited on the leaves on the window sill. Regular spraying alone is not enough to keep orchid leaves clean. How to do it right:
- Boil tap water or collect and filter rainwater
- Dampen a soft cloth with the lukewarm water
- Gently wipe the tops and bottoms of the leaves
Please only use soft water for leaf care. Normal tap water contains lime. Depending on the local degree of hardness, unwanted whitish stains remain after spraying and wiping.
These home remedies ensure a beautiful shine
Care products containing oil have no place on orchid leaves. On the surface, a beautiful shine is created. In fact, the pores in the leaves stick together, making air exchange in the leaves more difficult. With the following natural remedies you can avoid such problems and still create a subtle shimmer:
- Wipe away dusty leaves with the inside of a banana peel
- Dilute seaweed juice with lime-free water to wipe the leaves with it
Since algae juice also releases valuable nutrients to the orchid leaves, there is no need for additional fertilizer.
Beer is unsuitable as a home remedy for leaf care
There is a persistent rumor among hobby gardeners that stale beer is suitable for caring for the leaves of orchids. In fact, the treated leaves shine beautifully. However, this household remedy has similar negative consequences as oil-based cleaning products for plant leaves. In the long run, beer chokes off the air from the leaves because the pores stick together.
tips
The best leaf care is useless if you expose your orchids to blazing sunshine. Especially in summer, the leaves suffer a bad sunburn within a short time. A place at the south window is therefore forbidden territory for the exotic flowers. Please choose a location on the west or east window with mild sun in the morning or evening.