What to Do When the Plants at Home Have Dull Colors
Let's talk about what to do when the plants at home have dull colors and some effective techniques to keep the plants vibrant and full of vitality, related to green plants. The details are as follows:
A plant enthusiast messaged me the other day, saying that their pothos was growing fairly well, but the leaves were a bit dull and not glossy enough. They asked me what to do. In fact, it's not just pothos; many foliage plants can have dull colors, such as clivia, evergreen in Guangdong, peace lily, creeping fig, monstera deliciosa, and rubber tree, among others.
How should we solve this problem? The simplest method is to give them a "facial mask." Use the following three common types of "water," dilute them, and spray them on the leaves. In just half a month, the leaves will become green and glossy, looking very textured.
1. White Vinegar
White vinegar is relatively easy to use. Dilute it 1:50 and use it as water, spraying it on the leaves. It's best to spray the underside of the leaves as well, or you can water the roots. However, the interval between watering the roots should be determined based on the growth habits of the plant you are caring for, and it is generally not recommended to water the roots.
The benefits of using white vinegar to care for plants include:
(a) Improving yellow leaves. White vinegar is acidic, and most plants prefer acidity. Using white vinegar water to care for plants can improve the chlorosis of the plants to some extent. Common acid-loving plants include gardenia, camellia, michelia, jasminum, and azalea.
(b) Eliminating odors. Some plant enthusiasts like to use homemade organic fertilizers, such as fermented rice water or kitchen waste. These organic fertilizers have a strong smell, and using white vinegar water to water the roots can eliminate some of the odor.
(c) Disinfecting. White vinegar has disinfecting properties, and whether it is sprayed on the leaves or watered directly into the roots, it can effectively kill bacteria on the leaves and in the soil, preventing the occurrence of diseases.
(d) Increasing photosynthesis. This is also the most important point. White vinegar water can increase photosynthesis by about 15% and can increase the chlorophyll content in the leaves, making them greener.
2. Beer
Dilute beer 1:100 and use it as water, spraying it on both sides of the leaves. It can also be used to water the roots, but the concentration for watering the roots should be slightly higher, with 1:50 being relatively safe. However, watering the roots depends on the plant's growth habits, as many plants do not like water, and overwatering can lead to root rot. If you are spraying beer water on the leaves of clivia, you can dilute it 1:30. The concentration may seem high, but clivia is known as a "liquor lover," so there's no need to worry too much. If you are concerned about burning the leaves, you can try diluting it 1:50 first.
What to Do When the Plants at Home Have Dull Colors
The benefits of using beer to care for plants include:
(a) Beer contains carbon dioxide, protein, and amino acids, which are all good nutrients that can help plant growth.
(b) Carbon dioxide increases plant metabolism. Spraying beer water on the leaves has a particularly noticeable effect. As plant metabolism speeds up, dull leaves become significantly fewer.
3. Willow Water
Take fresh willow branches from the current year, remove the leaves, cut them into about 10 segments of 10 centimeters each (a little longer or shorter, more or less, it doesn't matter, this is just a reference for you), put them into a 500 ml mineral water bottle, fill it with water, and let the willow branches soak for 24 hours. When using, dilute the willow water 1:10 and use it as water, spraying it on both sides of the leaves. It can also be used to water the roots, but spraying it on the leaves is most effective.
The benefits of using willow water to care for plants include:
(a) The "salicylic acid" in willow branches can stimulate plant growth. Many plant enthusiasts who like to propagate plants use willow water as a rooting hormone, and it works very well. Using willow water as a foliar fertilizer is also very good.
(b) Inhibiting bacterial growth. If there are bacteria on the plant leaves, spraying willow water can have a good disinfecting effect.
(c) Improving soil pH. Willow water is slightly acidic, and using it to water the roots can better promote root growth, making the roots stronger and the leaves greener and more glossy.
That's all about what to do when the plants at home have dull colors and effective techniques to keep the plants vibrant and full of vitality. I hope this article can bring you some help in green plant management!