The problem
Plant care has had a glow-up. There is now an entire regime that’s been lifted straight from the bathroom cabinet: cleanse, hydrate, serum, tone. These beautifully boxed kits promise lush plants, make lovely gifts and look wonderful on a shelf, but the question is: does your monstera actually need a four-step routine?The hack
The promise is that plants, like skin, thrive on a structured routine, and that investing in a multi-product care kit will reward you with glowing foliage.The method
Work through the routine. Depending on the kit, this might mean cleansing the leaves, adding feed to the water, then toning and shining the foliage with a spray, serum or oil. Repeat every week.The test
I worked through each step in turn. The cleanse is genuinely worthwhile, as dust-free leaves absorb light far better, though a damp cloth does the same job. The hydrating and feeding steps were no different from what I already do. The serum was essentially a leaf shine: it left the foliage looking glossy, but products like this can clog the stomata, the tiny pores a plant uses to breathe.The verdict
