OK, I've ordered a bunch of clear plastic pots, and am expecting them to arrive in a few days. My plants are happily summering outside in a screen tent. I want to repot all my paphs, phrags, and other orchids gradually before I bring them back inside for the Fall. I know from reading this forum that it is a good thing to rinse and clean the roots while repotting. No problem with that. I was wondering about the leaves. We had an amazing amout of pine pollen recently and the leaves could really use a good cleaning. So I thought I'd clean the leaves at the same time.

Now here is the very dumb question. :embarass: I thought that I had read somewhere on this forum that you could clean leaves by using gentle dishwashing liquid detergent?? Did I imagine this???? Was I hallucinating? This pine pollen is difficult to wash off, but I think the detergent would do the trick. Somewhow, I recall that dishwasher detergent would also help remove bugs & pests. Would this kill the plants?? I mean I would definitely rinse them very well. I just would like to get the leaves nice & clean and glossy while I am repotting. If dishwasher detergent is not an option, is there anything else I can use???

I actually don't think it's that dumb :confused: and wouldn't mind hearing from someone who knows.

I know that you can use diluted alcohol for mealy bugs. Back in the dim dark days when my family ran on a tank we fed the washing water to our garden and it thrived. So, if it was mild, I don't see that it would hurt. But I can't say it with any confidence.

Cheers
Stephan

Hello
Certainly NOT dishwasher detergent which is very aggressive and would damage the plants. Use a few drops of dishwashing liquid (preferably unscented but it does not matter all that much), rinse carefully and allow to dry.
W

Hahahahahahahhahahaha :poke: Why am I laughing?

Anywho, I only use neem oil to clean my leaves or milk. Alcohol, removes moisture from the plant. Alcohol can be toxic to you and the plant also. I spray neem on or even milk on and wipe the leafs with a paper towel or cloth. I wouldn't suggest dishwashere detergent. I have used a splash of dishsoap in a pesticide mix with liquid sevin, and water to kill bugs at the greenhouse. Seems to work pretty well.

I use neem oil too. It smells bad to me, but it seems to keep the bugs away too. It also claims to be a leaf cleaner. Before I got into orchids, I used to add a drop of dishwashing liquid soap to a water bottle to spray my hibiscus outside to keep the bugs off. I found that neem works much better.

Susan, not dumb at all! Good question, and I had the same problem.
When I cleaned my leaves, I just used a damp paper towel, but found q tips were needed to get down in the crown. I'm still seeing some pollen though.

I use water w/ a little alcohol and liquid dish soap (I use frou frou stuff like Meyers - or mild casteel soap (which I also put a little in my trays to help w/ the bug issue, and it works!) Not Palmolive or something of the like) when I spray for bugs. Have no experience w/ neem, just haven't tried it yet, though I have some. I always here such mixed reports about it!

I do it all the time, a few drops of mild liquid dish soap and alcohol. It not only cleans the leaves but also kill any bugs on the plants.

Thanks everyone! The pine pollen was terrible this year. Everything has been covered with this yucky green film. Ick!!!

WHen I use Schultz's Insecticidal Soap concentrate, diluted according to instructions, it seems to help clean the leaves as well as knocking down any bugs.

Hahahahahahahhahahaha :poke: Why am I laughing?

Anywho, I only use neem oil to clean my leaves

I use neem oil too.

:lol:

Ugh, the smell is horrific, and the plants never stop stinking! BTW, neem oil has virtually NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER as an insecticide, and works best as a smothering agent. Yes, I said it. Perhaps its the horrible stench of the plants that has the effect of keeping insects away? You could just as easily be using canola oil on your plants... I actually think that would have more positive effects.


Regarding the whole issue of this topic: Use a tbsp of liquid dish soap per quart of water, and things will be fine.

From the mouths of babes...err Pros. There ya go. :) I stand chastened and rebuked :)

I also use milk with a little lemon juice somtimes also . It leaves the looking very clean and a little sheen. Ray

I just use alcohol, water, cayenne pepper and a drop or 2 of soap.