How Dust Can Harm Your Indoor Plants

Created By RISC | 7 months ago

Last modified date : 7 months ago

Indoor plants are increasingly popular, not only for their beauty but their benefits for health.​

Each plant has its own requirements. But being indoors has an unavoidable impact on growth. Dust from human activities in cities not only harm us but also our plants.​

We generally find few particles on the leaves of outdoor plants since they’re washed away by rain. Indoor plants, on the other hand, don’t receive rainwater.​

A study suggests particles on leaves can obstruct stoma, preventing respiration, transpiration, or gas exchange, as well as impacting photosynthesis. The more dust on the leaves, the less efficient the photosynthesis process. Plants will absorb less water, resulting in dehydration and other problems.​

Another common mistake is to clean particles from leaves by spraying water or wiping with a damp towel. This method can harm the plant. Fungi thrive on the moisture that remains on the leaves. Indoor plants have high humidity without sunlight to remove fungi and reduce moisture on leaf surfaces. Extra wetness should be avoided.​

If leaves get dusty, use a duster and carefully brush the plant to avoid bruises. To avoid mold, use a dry cloth. Spray water on the foliage of semi-outdoor plants or wipe the leaves with a moist towel.​

As we can see, particles impact plants too. We shouldn’t overlook this issue for healthy plants, another step toward true coexistence between people and plants.​

Story by Teerajet Aeimphan, Intern from Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, and Thanawat Jinjarak, Senior Researcher, Environmental Department, Urban Environmental & Biodiversity Engineer, RISC​

References:​
Agnes van den berg and Magdalena Van den Berg. 2015. Health benefits of plants and green space: Establishing the evidence base. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282426219_Health_benefits_of_plants_and_green_space_Establishing_the_evidence_base ​
Shamaila Zia-Khan et al., 2015. Effect of Dust Deposition on Stomatal Conductance and Leaf Temperature of Cotton in Northwest China. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/7/1/116#:~:text=Leaves%20covered%20with%20dust%20receive,plant%20biomass%20formation%20and%20yield. ​
A. Moradi et al., 2017. Effects of dust on forest tree health in Zagros oak forests. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320308250_Effects_of_dust_on_forest_tree_health_in_Zagros_oak_forests ​
University of Georgia Extension. (unknown). Growing Indoor Plants with Success. https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=B1318&title=growing-indoor-plants-with-success