Other Tip Burners Plant shine compounds may enhance foliar appearance a great deal. But too much shine can reduce a leaf's ability to photosynthesize and may injure its growth. The injury starts, of course, at the leaf tips. If you apply these compounds to keep dust away, be sure to follow the instructions on the product label. In urban areas, dust is a major problem.
Unseen pollutants are even worse.
Ethylene, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and several other air-borne pollutants can be damaging to green growth. Plants growing on city windowsills or near carports are especially susceptible to these woes. One plant's medicine may be another plant's pollutant. Don't use a farm or garden pesticide on a houseplant. And don't hold an aerosol spray can too close to a plant.