"SeaShel" wrote in message
...
Doug Kanter wrote:
"SeaShel" wrote in message
...
Hi - I recently purchased a pothos plant, and noticed a strong
chemical odor on the leaves, maybe it is a pesticide? I have one
other pothos in the house and some other assorted plants. Should I
wash it off? If so, how? The bathtub? Soap? I need to re-pot it
soon so a washing would work out to do at that time. The plant very
healthy and I wiped the leaves with a damp paper towel but the smell
is still strong. Thanks for answering!

That's exactly what you're smelling - pesticides. Cover the soil with
some paper towel or cheesecloth (which you don't mind discarding).
This will keep the soil from splattering all over the leaves. Then,
put it out in the rain. Or, use the shower, or kitchen sink sprayer.
Rain is preferable because who knows what's in your water (minerals,
water softener salt) which will leave a residue on the leaves.

Many of the cut flowers you get from florists and supermarkets are
dosed pretty heavily, too.

Thanks...so, is there somekind of plant soap or cleanser that will wash
the stuff off? Plain water did not work for me, but maybe it is a matter
of time. My plan was to do the washing with no soil, since what it came
with is inferior to what I will re-pot it with.

Nooooo....don't do it without soil. No, no, no. Don't.

As far as soap, got any very basic shampoo, without vitamin E, anti-aging
ingredients, dye, bleach, softener, straightener. youthener, detangler,
protein, eggs, or other crap? Put a few drops in a bowl, add water, swish to
make it a little sudsy, and wipe the leaves with cotton balls. You could
also try filling a bucket with the stuff, holding the soil in the pot with a
towel, turning the plant upside down and dipping it in the water, but I
think it's going to need friction. Pesticides contain ingredients to make
them stick.

Don't soak the soil with shampoo/water, by the way. I don't know why.
Intuition just says it's not such a hot idea. Cover the soil with plastic
wrap.