A Leaf Cleaning Thought

[Vivienne]

While preparing my plants for the show last week it came time to get a little shine back in the leaves. I was going to use milk, but thought... spoiled milk - yuck. I opted for lemon juice.
Today I was going to clean up a few more plants and noticed that the lemon juice cleaned leaves are a bit sticky. Won't that end up trapping more dirt/dust? Could that not attract critters?

So my thought now is... what about using Safer Soap to clean the leaves? Could that help keep the critters away while cleaning the leaves? Has anyone ever tried this? Thoughts on Pros and Cons?

[Fabolusus]

I'm not sure if I would use it on thin leaved orchids (miltoniopsis, oncidiums). I make a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 10 parts luke warm water to clean my babies.

[PhalPal]

I use FlowerPharm, Cinnamom flavor, to shine leaves and to prevent critters. I especially like this stuff because it doesn't have anything in it to harm my cats should they one day decide to have a snack. I get it at a nearby nursery but it can be purchased online. I have never, ever had a bug of any kind on my phals or cyms outdoors which I think is amazing. I squirt them every other watering and they stay nice and shiny and not sticky at all.

(www.PharmSolutions.com)

[Vivienne]

Fabolusus and PhalPhal - what orchids have you used your methods on?

[PhalPal]

Phals (hybrid and species), cymbidiums, miltonia, one mini-catt and an onc. This company has several 'flavors' directed at different problems.

Vivienne I wouldn't hesitate to use Safer Soap on any leaves. Try it on a tip of one and give it 24 hours to be sure. It's the same concept as my PharmSolutions, bug control with an added side effect of shining leaves. I have used both and like the Pharm better.

[Vivienne]

Thanks PhalPhal. I'm mostly concerned about cleaning up the leaves on my Phals, Catts, Phrags, Paphs (maybe), and that's about it. The others don't seem to get quite as dirty looking.

[Tobi]

Vivienne,
I have used diluted tea to remove calcium deposits and then cleaned them
with a solution of 1 tbsp. lemon juice, 3 drops of liquid dish washing detergent,
and 3/4 cup of water. This has worked well for me and I haven't had any
sticky residue.

[arleneg]

Vivienne,

I, too, use a PharmSolutions product (IndoorPharm) and a leaf shine solution (2 oz. mineral oil; 2 oz. 70% rubbing alcohol; and 12 oz. distilled water...shake well before each application). Both has worked rather well for me. It's a matter of which one is the closest at time I want to shine/treat my orchids. LOL

[Fabolusus]

I've used my method on catts, oncidiums, miltonia, paphs, everything really.