Water plants with vinegar It seems like a grandmother's trick, but it turns out that it is something with beneficial effects in certain cases. Vinegar is a product that surprises us every day because it has uses that go beyond food, since it is also very useful for cleaning and disinfecting.
As we said, it can be used to water plants, but it must be done with caution and keeping in mind that this is only good for certain species. To avoid making a mistake and causing damage to your plants, pay attention to what we are going to tell you.
What benefits does vinegar have for plants?
If you have a bottle of vinegar at home, take good note of all the uses it can have. vinegar for plants.
soil acidification
Vinegar is acetic acid and, as such, has the ability to reduce the pH of the soil if it is too alkaline.
There are plant varieties such as azaleas and rhododendrons that grow better in slightly acidic soils, so it doesn't hurt to add a little diluted vinegar to the substrate to improve its conditions and make it more suitable for this type of plants.
soil acidification
Hard water with a lot of lime is not good for watering plants, because it retains the minerals that serve as nutrients. A simple solution is to use vinegar to acidify the water. This gets those nutrients released and can be absorbed for the plants.
To achieve this effect, let the irrigation water sit for a few hours with a few drops of vinegar. Add a tablespoon of vinegar for each liter of water you are going to use.
Weed control
Vinegar is a natural herbicide that is highly effective in controlling the growth of unwanted weeds.
Apply it on the area to be dehydrated, at the top of the plants. Be careful not to wet the plants that you do want to keep, since these could also be damaged by the effect of the vinegar.
Removal of lime deposits
If your pots accumulate lime deposits or other minerals on the base, apply a little vinegar with a cloth and you can remove them quickly and easily.
Pest control
Vinegar is a natural repellent for insects such as ants and slugs. All you have to do is spray a solution of vinegar diluted in water around the plants, or directly on the pests if they are doing their thing.
Disinfection of garden tools
You can use a cotton ball soaked in vinegar to clean your gardening tools and flower pots. This way you prevent the spread of diseases from one plant to another.
Water plants with vinegar, yes or no?
The answer is yes, but only in very specific cases. For example, we can use vinegar for hydrangeas to adjust the pH of the water so that they look their best.
Vinegar can be used in small quantities and only occasionally in:
- Plants that prefer acidic soils. Like gardenias or blueberries. From time to time we can dilute a little vinegar in the irrigation water to acidify the soil.
- Vinegar-tolerant plants. Some species benefit from occasional use of vinegar, such as cacti and succulents. But always in very small quantities and very sporadically.
- Plants with fungal or pest problems. If you have a plant infected with fungus or an insect infestation, spray a diluted vinegar solution around the plant or even on the leaves themselves. Do it at the end of the day so that the sun does not shine on the vinegar and end up burning the leaves.
If you are going to water your plants with vinegar, follow these tips to avoid damage:
- Apply the vinegar only sporadically.
- Dilute it in water, Never apply it directly.
- Make a little presistance test before watering completely a plant with vinegar diluted in water.
- Do not apply it on hot, sunny days so that burns do not occur on the stems and leaves.
Why you shouldn't water plants with vinegar?
Outside of the cases we have seen, it is not recommended to add vinegar to the irrigation water of your plants, because it can have harmful effects.
Root damage
By acidifying the soil, it can cause damage to the roots of plants that do not need such an acidic environment. These could burn or rot, and It would be almost impossible to recover them.
Leaf burns
Concentrated vinegar can burn the leaves if applied directly on them, This occurs because its acidity damages the outer layer of the leaves, causing the appearance of brown or yellow spots.
Disturbance of soil balance
Excessive use of vinegar in irrigation water alters the nutrient balance of the substrate, which can affect the health and growth of plants.
If the pH becomes too acidic, some nutrients will be less available, and this can cause nutritional deficiencies in many species.
Death of beneficial microorganisms
Vinegar is capable of killing microorganisms that are in the soil and that are responsible for decomposing organic matter and providing nutrients to plants. If we finish them off, We will notice that the plants begin to grow more slowly. and appear less vigorous.
Damage to sensitive plants
Some plants are especially sensitive to vinegar and can die if we regularly expose them to this product. Its effect is especially serious on indoor plants, They require more specific care and are more delicate than outdoor ones.
In short, watering plants with vinegar is only allowed in very specific cases, and always applying very small quantities. If you have doubts about whether a plant supports vinegar or not, it is best not to try it.