Milk on plants, everyone pours it in the garden, here are 7 good reasons to do it!

1. Natural fertilizer

Regular watering, adapted to the water needs of each plant, is the number one rule to keep them healthy and beautiful. Also, if  you add milk to the watering can from time to time, you will get a great fertilizer.  Therefore, milk is good for plants as  a natural fertilizer  .

And what happens if you water the plants with milk?  Watering plants with milk and water   provides additional minerals, especially  calcium and potassium.  For plant fertilizer with milk to be effective, it is important that  watering with it is sporadic,  no more than 1 or 2 times a month, and that the amount of milk is always less than the amount of water (10% – 20% of milk diluted in 90% – 80% water).

2. fungicide

Some  bacteria and fungi, such as powdery mildew  ,   Diplocarpon rosae  , also known as white blight, can colonize a plant, making it sick and causing various types of damage, from the  appearance of brown or black spots on its leaves,  to complete wilting.  To prevent the presence of fungi and eliminate them  , you can use milk as  a natural fungicide.

If you want to use this fungicide preventively, you can proceed as follows:

1. Prepare a  solution of 10 parts water to 1 part milk.
2. Pour it into a container with a spray bottle and spray the plant, both the leaves and the stem (if it also has fruits).
3. Leave for at least 24 hours  and do not water during this time.
4. Apply it once a month.

If your plant has already been attacked by fungi, try an even more powerful remedy by making your   own homemade fungicide with milk and baking soda   for plants as follows:

1. Mix  ¼ liter of milk and 1 liter of water in a bottle.
2. Add 20 grams of baking soda  (2-3 tablespoons).
3. Shake vigorously to dissolve the baking soda.
4. Apply throughout the plant,  focusing on the most affected areas.
5. Use the fungicide once a week until the infection is gone.

3. Protects from insects and parasites

As we have already indicated, milk  has fungicidal and antibacterial properties  , but it will not only help you counteract the harmful action of the main fungi and bacteria. Its beneficial effects   also protect against aphids, whiteflies or red spiders  , as well as fighting other types of arthropods. To do this, apply it as indicated in section 2.

4. Natural fertilizer

Not only can you use milk as  a liquid fertilizer  , you can also  add it to compost.   If you regularly prepare  organic fertilizer for your garden  with food scraps, branches, leaves, etc., do not hesitate to   add the leftover milk to the compost  . With this simple trick you will get even richer compost for your plants. You can also use expired milk.

5. Clean the leaves

Both indoors and on the balcony, dirt accumulates on the leaves and clogs their pores, making it difficult for the plant to breathe. Therefore, it is very important  to clean them frequently.  While you can do it with just water, milk  improves cleanliness and adds extra shine  . If you want to clean the leaves with milk, dip a cloth in the milk and gently rub the leaves without wetting them. The  leaves will be cleaner and brighter than ever. 

6. Tool Sanitizer

Sometimes  garden tools cause diseases and pest attacks  among plants. If you use  pruning shears to cut leaves  from a fungal-infected plant and then use them on a healthy plant, without cleaning first, you will spread the parasite to the healthy plant. Therefore, it is very important   to clean tools between plants  .

Milk is an  excellent disinfectant for tools.   Wiping a cotton ball soaked in milk over the surface of the instruments after each use guarantees complete disinfection.

7. Increases soil pH

The characteristics of the soil in which a plant grows directly influence its growth and reproduction. As we know, there are  acidic soils and alkaline soils depending on their pH level  and there are plants that behave much better in a certain type of soil than in another.

Milk  is good for plants that need alkaline soil,  because  the calcium it contains reduces acidity  , making the soil more alkaline. If that is your goal, dilute a large tablespoon of powdered milk in 1 liter of milk, mix well and water your plants with this solution. You will be able  to balance the pH of the soil in your garden and your pots.