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Glossiness is often associated with good looks and health – think shiny hair, bright eyes and even your dog’s fur coat. We tend to think of something that is ‘shiny’ as positive and attractive, which is why many people want the leaves on their plants to be glossy too. Leaf shine or leaf ‘polish’ as it is also known, is a popular product used by growers and hobbyists alike looking to get that gleaming, glossy detail on their plant leaves. However, looks can be deceiving. Certain products can be incredibly harmful to plants based on a variety of factors, including how they are applied and what they contain. On the whole, most leaf shine products (and even their DIY alternatives) contain nasty, synthetic materials and oils that can potentially prove fatal to your beloved plants.
Below, we’re taking a closer look at what leaf shine is and why it is harmful, along with how you can go about getting that glorious sheen without harming your plants.
What is Leaf Shine?
Leaf shine refers to products, often sprays, used to enhance the shine and appearance of plant leaves. Leaf shine products will usually contain oils, which is what gives the leaves that glossy, almost wet-look appearance.
What is Leaf Shine For?
The leaves of certain plants, and in particular those of Schefflera (Schefflera actinophylla), zz plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) and mirror plant (Coprosma repens), are naturally very glossy. However, a lot of the time, particularly if you’re buying from a store, you’ll find many plants have been sprayed with leaf shine (or leaf polish) to give them an extra sheen and look more alluring to the eye. This is especially the case with florists, who use leaf shine to elevate their arrangements. Leaf polish makes the leaves of a plant appear shiny and what most would describe as ‘healthy’; however, appearances can be deceiving!
Manufacturers of leaf shine will often promise that their formula removes dust, dirt and lime deposits, helps the leaves breathe better, reduces evaporation and prevents dust. However, the formula itself will often contain nasty, hidden chemicals and leave behind an oily residue – the exact chemicals differ between manufacturers, but we’ve listed a few common ones to be aware of below.
- Surfactants, such as alkylphenol ethoxylates, which can be toxic to aquatic organisms
- Oils, such as petroleum-based oils, which can cause skin and eye irritation to humans and block the stomata of plants
- Waxes, such as paraffin wax, which can be toxic if ingested or could potentially contaminate the soil of your plant.
The usage of leaf shine product has also been linked to toxic effects such as phytotoxicity, resulting in burned or discoloured plant leaves and slower growth rates. Similarly, neem oil can burn your plants and cause grave harm to beneficial insects due to containing azadirachtin, a toxic chemical.
When Does Leaf Shine Spray Become a Problem?
When you spray leaf shine onto the leaves of your plant and leave behind an oily residue, you’re at risk of blocking the stomata. The stomata are tiny openings on the surface of the leaf which the plant uses for gas exchange and respiration; so, when you block the stomata, you essentially suffocate the plant.
The main issue here is the oily residue. Residues of any kind are problematic for two reasons:
- Just like a build-up of oil in our skin clogs our pores and leads to breakouts, a build-up of oil on plant leaves blocks the stomata, which hinders the plant’s ability to photosynthesize.
- Residue can also lead to insect resistance. Just like viruses in human bodies develop immunity to antibiotics after being repeatedly exposed to the same vaccine, insects develop resistance to repeated exposure to insecticides, whether systemic or residual.
When the label of a shine product assures you that the formula helps the plant breathe better, but also reduces water loss due to transpiration, be aware that this is contradictory information. Plants do most of their breathing via stomata, but in doing so, they also allow water to escape. Anything you do to increase a plant’s respiration will also increase transpiration … and anything you do to reduce evaporation will decrease respiration. If a manufacturer promises that their product does both, it’s not a good sign.
Why is Leaf Shine a Bad Idea?
You might have guessed it already, but using leaf shine is sometimes a bad idea if you want happy, healthy plants. We’ve listed a few of the main reasons below:
Clogged Stomata
Leaf shine products can coat the leaves with a layer of oil or wax, which can block the stomata. Stomata are tiny pores on the leaf surface that allow plants to take in carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and release oxygen and water vapor during transpiration.
Hindered Respiration
When stomata are blocked, plants cannot respire effectively, which can weaken them and make them more susceptible to disease.
Reduced Photosynthesis
The layer of leaf shine can also reduce the amount of light that reaches the leaves, which can slow down photosynthesis.
Attracts Dust
The oil or wax in leaf shine can attract and trap dust, making the leaves appear dirty and reducing their ability to absorb sunlight.
Alt text: An image depicting the cell layers of a plant leaf and where the gas exchange occurs. Leaf shine spray can be detrimental to this process.
Are There Any Leaf Shine Spray Benefits?
The only benefits offered by leaf shine spray are purely aesthetic and not related to the health of the plant. Getting that ultra-glossy sheen will likely come at the cost of blocking your plant’s essential gas exchange and respiratory abilities.
What is a Good Substitute For Leaf Shine?
A quick internet search on ‘homemade leaf shine’ or ‘how to make leaf shine spray’ will provide endless recipes and product inspiration – everything from mayonnaise to olive oil is cited as a great leaf shine. However, while these products may make your leaves look shiny, the principle still stands – they will decrease the availability of light and harm respiration if not applied correctly. Also, homemade coatings may have an unwanted odor, leave behind the same oily residue and be quick to attract dirt, dust and pet hair. They may also end up being worse for your plant than a commercial product, which is why they are generally best avoided.
If you’re looking for a healthy, reliable alternative to harmful leaf shine sprays, try using one of the following methods instead:
Damp Cloth
Tried, tested and trusted for decades, the damp cloth method is an oldie, but a goodie. Simply wet a clean microfiber cloth or sponge and wring out any excess water – you don’t want to wet the plant, but you want enough moisture to remove any dust and clean the surface of the leaf. Using your hand to support each leaf underneath, wipe gently down away from the stem.
Shower
Showering is a great option for all plants, but especially for those which have really small leaves that are difficult to wipe. Run a slightly lukewarm, gentle spray shower and use your hands to carefully expose the undersides to the water, too. This method works great for ferns, orchids and palms – just be careful to not lose too much mix in the process.
ECO Green 3 Leaf Wash Spray
Want the best option? EPM’s ECO Green 3 leaf wash spray is a versatile plant wash that restores your plant’s natural luster. Specifically formulated to gently cleanse plant surfaces that water alone can’t effectively clean, ECO Green 3 is a level up from just using a damp cloth or shower to give your plants that healthy shine and free them from any dirt, oil, dust and pests.
What is ECO Green 3 Leaf Shine?
ECO Green 3 is a plant wash designed for different kinds of plants, from ornamental to food crops. Carefully formulated by the experts at Environmental Plant Management, this biodegradable, water-based product is important for growers who use oil-based and sulfur pesticides. It serves as an essential solution between pesticide applications, effectively removing growth-retarding films and restoring natural plant luster.
Unlike many conventional products, ECO Green 3 contains no oils, detergents, or wax, making it a safe and eco-friendly choice. Instead of making plants look like fake plastic after application, it returns plant leaves to their natural luster as if they just unfurled – because plants are already beautiful without needing to look artificial!
Moreover, the gentle yet effective formula of ECO Green 3 means that dust, grime, pollen and other debris is washed away, promoting healthier growth via optimal stomata and chloroplast function.
How to Use ECO Green 3 to Keep Your Plants Looking Good Without Risking Their Health
Both indoor and outdoor plants can often end up with a buildup of oil, dust, dirt, grime, or biofilm residue that is harmful to roots and leaves. This buildup clogs their stomata and chloroplasts – ECO Green 3 plant wash is the perfect way to rid your plants of any debris whilst enhancing their natural beauty.
ECO Green 3 washes any film and dirt away, without the need to rinse it off. You’ll notice that the pores naturally open, allowing your plant to glisten just as nature intended. Not only do leaves look cleaner, but plants are healthier inside and out.
There is no usage limit with ECO Green 3, meaning you can apply it as often as needed to keep plants looking the way you want them to look. Once the initial oil, detergents, dirt, and grime are gone, you can wash them weekly. Good for outdoor and indoor use on both real and artificial plants, ECO Green 3 has also passed rigorous testing, and so can be used by professional growers.