Asked on May 07, 2015

Dusty Christmas cactus

Linda
by Linda
I recently had some drywall work done in a room we tried to seal off. Dry wall plaster dust escaped the room and found my Christmas cactus in the next room. What should I clean it with? The leaf segments are rather fragile to wipe each off without breaking them.
  10 answers
  • EdiLeck EdiLeck on May 07, 2015
    Is it small enough that you can easily move it? I regularly take mine from the window to the bathroom for a nice shower! Spray it off then leave it in the shower until it's dry.
  • Sharon Cocanougher Sharon Cocanougher on May 07, 2015
    water does a great job on all plants. Good Luck.
  • Darla Darla on May 07, 2015
    Maybe you could blow the dust off with canned air used to blow dust off keyboards.
    • Linda Linda on May 07, 2015
      I tried water on it once before and it left the leaves water spotted but if I take all your suggestions, hummm, I think I will try to blow most dust off with canned air tben wash the plant with water, tben blow most water off with the canned air again. This might work! Thanks!
  • Gale Gale on May 07, 2015
    I just cleaned my christmas cactus,I USED THE GARDEN HOSE IN THE FINE MIST ALL CLEAN. HOPE THIS HELPS.
    • Linda Linda on May 07, 2015
      If my dust was just dust.....but it is plaster dust. Still think I'll take the hose to it and hope it doesn't turn to drywall mud and encase the plant! Just kidding.
  • Julie Flynn Julie Flynn on May 08, 2015
    How about a hair dryer, set on low, cool air. Cover the pot and soil .
  • Tim Baker Tim Baker on May 08, 2015
    I have cactus also very big but am able to take outside and rinse with garden hose
  • Doreen Lytle Doreen Lytle on Apr 04, 2016
    I tried cleaning mine by spraying is with water and it got what looked like burn spots on some of the leaves.
  • Rita Lineberry Vichinsky Rita Lineberry Vichinsky on Mar 12, 2018

    Spray with warm water only to avoid water spots on leaves

  • Linda Linda on Mar 12, 2018

    Have never heard this. Will try, thanks.

  • Gordon Ober Gordon Ober on Apr 30, 2019

    I use one oz, of Dawn dishwashing soap in a gallon of water to spray my tomato plants for bugs and it does not hurt the plants, maybe you could try it on a small cactus then spray it off with just water