Plant Care & MaintenanceÂ
Homemade Humidity Tray
For plants that love humidity, fill a tray with small pebbles and water. Place your plant on top, ensuring the bottom of the pot is above water. This will increase the humidity surrounding your plant without waterlogging it.
Chamomile Tea for Seedlings
To prevent a common seedling disease called damping-off, water your seedlings with cooled chamomile tea. The antifungal properties of chamomile help keep your seedlings healthy.
Garlic Insecticide
Use garlic as a natural insecticide. Crush a few cloves, mix them into water, and spray it onto your plants. This pungent mixture can deter common garden pests.
Cinnamon Ant Deterrent
Sprinkle cinnamon around your plants. The strong scent is a natural deterrent for ants and helps to keep them away from your precious plants.
Pot-in-Pot Planting
Practice pot-in-pot planting. Simply plant your flowers in a pot and then bury that pot in the garden. This makes seasonal plant swapping easy and reduces stress on the plants during transplantation.
Citrus Peel Seed Starters
Start seeds in a hollowed-out citrus peel. It acts as a natural pot that can be planted directly in the ground. As it decomposes, the peel will enrich the soil with nutrients.
Baking Soda Mildew Treatment
Combat powdery mildew naturally with a mixture of baking soda, water, and a tiny bit of dish soap. Spray it on your plants as a preventative treatment.
Aluminium Foil for Pests
Deter pests from your fruit trees by wrapping the trunks with aluminium foil. It prevents crawling pests like ants and slugs from climbing up and reaching the fruits.
Milk for Healthy Plants
Dilute milk with water in a 1:1 ratio and use it to water your plants. It's rich in calcium and can help protect against certain plant diseases.
Banana Peels for Roses
Give your roses a potassium boost with banana peels. Simply bury the peels near the base of the rose plants. As they decompose, they'll release potassium, a nutrient roses love.
Smart Watering
Water your plants early in the morning. This gives them ample time to absorb the water before the midday sun increases evaporation, and it can also help prevent fungus and mildew from forming on the leaves.
Coffee Ground Fertilizer
Don't toss your used coffee grounds. Instead, add them to your soil. They're a great source of nitrogen and are particularly beneficial for acid-loving plants like roses, azaleas, and blueberries.
Eggshell Pest Deterrent
Crushed eggshells around your plants can help keep slugs and snails at bay. The sharp edges of the eggshells create a barrier that these pests are reluctant to cross.
Pruning Time
Be mindful of when to prune your flowering shrubs. The best time is generally after they've bloomed. This way, you avoid cutting off next year's flowers, which promotes healthier growth.
Soapy Water for Pests
A simple mixture of mild soap and water sprayed onto your plants can deter common pests like aphids and mites. It's a gentle and eco-friendly solution.
Beer Slug Trap
Protect your garden from slugs with a shallow dish of beer. Slugs are attracted to the yeast in beer. They'll climb into the dish and won't be able to climb back out.
White Vinegar for Fungus
If you notice a fungal infection on your plants, white vinegar can be a handy fungus fighter. Simply dilute it with water and spray it on the affected plants.
Newspaper Weed Barrier
Before laying down mulch, layer some wet newspaper around your plants. This can act as a weed barrier, blocking sunlight and preventing weed growth.
Mulch Protection
Mulch can do wonders for your garden. Not only does it help the soil retain moisture, but it also suppresses weed growth and adds nutrients back into the soil as it decomposes.