"J Fortuna" wrote in message
...
I just read in the rec.gardens.orchids archives that many people use
'milk'
to clean their orchid leaves? However, while at least one post claimed
that
there is no smell, another post claimed that as a result the smell can
be
very strong. Hmm. Since I live in a small apartment I don't want the
place
smelling of milk gone bad. Has anyone out here now used milk, and if so,
does it smell or not?

What is the best way to clean/dust leaves in your experience?

Thanks,
Joanna

Hi Joanna,

I'm new to the hobby (2nd successful year!) but have found that lemon
can effectively clean off the calcium deposits from my phalaenopsis
leaves. I give my orchids this treatment approximately once every 2
months and have experienced no problems from this home remedy.

I've tried different methods, such as:
1.) squeezing fresh lemon juice onto a cloth and rubbing the cloth on
the leaves, and 2.) diluting the lemon juice with equal parts water,
soaking a cotton ball, and rubbing the cotton ball on the leaves.
Both of these work well, but from my experience the most efficient way
to use the lemon is to cut into wedges, squeeze out some of the juice
(to be reserved for tea, cooking, or whatever you wish) and rub the
partially squeezed wedge on the leaves. I believe the lemon segments
delicately "scrub" the leaves until they are shiny and clean.

Before doing this, I remove the dust with Swiffer Dusters because they
aren't intrusive and don't damage the leaves in anyway.

I have not tried milk as a cleaning solution because, like you, I am
afraid of the smell.

Take care,
Amy

Thank you, Amy! I will try the lemon wedges idea.
Joanna

"Amy" wrote in message
m...
1.) squeezing fresh lemon juice onto a cloth and rubbing the cloth on
the leaves, and 2.) diluting the lemon juice with equal parts water,
soaking a cotton ball, and rubbing the cotton ball on the leaves.
Both of these work well, but from my experience the most efficient way
to use the lemon is to cut into wedges, squeeze out some of the juice
(to be reserved for tea, cooking, or whatever you wish) and rub the
partially squeezed wedge on the leaves. I believe the lemon segments
delicately "scrub" the leaves until they are shiny and clean.