Best Leaf Shine For Indoor Plants

Should You Use Leaf Shine On Your Plants?

You should not use commercial leaf shine on your indoor plants because it blocks the plant’s respiration.

Many leaf shine products clog plants’ stomata, or pores. Leaf pores are important because they allow oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide to pass through during important processes such as photosynthesis. The oils and waxes found in commercial leaf shine limit and block respiration.

Additionally, some leaf shine products claim to be clog-free, but the sticky residue can attract dust and debris, resulting in a plant that isn’t even shiny.

Instead of purchasing leaf shine that contains harsh chemicals and causes buildup, try making your own leaf shine instead! Making a DIY leaf spray allows you to safely clean your plants and keep them lustrous.

5 DIY Plant Leaf Shine Recipes

The DIY leaf shine recipes below can usually be made with ingredients you already have at home. After mixing the ingredients together, you can apply it to the leaves with a spray bottle or dip a cloth into the mixture. If you use a cloth, be sure to use a soft cloth, like a microfiber cloth, to protect the leaves from damage.

If you have multiple plants you are going to apply the solution to, use a disposable paper towel for each plant instead of a cloth. You don’t want to risk spreading pests or diseases between separate plants by using the same cloth on each of them.

You should clean your plants to remove dust once a month.

Vinegar Leaf Shine Recipe

This mixture wipes away dirt, dust, pests, and hard water spots caused by calcium and other minerals in tap water. It will add a luster to plant leaves and let the natural beauty of the plant show.

• 2 cups of water 

• 1/2 teaspoon of vinegar

• 2 drops of dish soap 

• 2 drops coconut oil (optional)

Neem Oil Leaf Shine Recipe

Neem oil is a natural remedy for common plant pest infestations, such as spider mites, mildew, aphids, and many more. Pour the mixture in a spray bottle and spritz it on a cloth to wipe down plant leaves.

• 1 teaspoon of concentrated neem oil

• 1/2 tablespoon of dish soap

• Gallon of water

Epsom Salt Leaf Shine Recipe

The magnesium and sulfate in epsom salt is a natural fertilizer that encourages lush and vivid leaves without blocking stomatas. After putting the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake the leaf shine spray well and apply it to the foliage. Let the nutrients soak in for a minute or two before gently wiping off the excess water and epsom salt left on the leaves.

• 1 tablespoon of epsom salt

• 2-liters of water

Mineral Oil Leaf Shine Recipe

Mineral oil will clear off dust particles and leave behind a healthy, glossy texture on your houseplants. This recipe is best used on plants with large and flat foliage such as fiddle leaf fig, Philodendron, rubber plant, snake plant, Monstera, and orchids.

• 2-3 drops of mineral oil on a damp cloth

Lemon Juice Leaf Shine Recipe

Lemon juice acts as an acid to dissolve dust and buildup on leaves. It also dissolves mineral deposits, which appear when hard water dries on leaves after watering. Cleaning plant leaves with this natural solution once a month should result in healthy and shiny leaves.

• 2 cups of water

• 1 tablespoon of lemon or lime juice