Baking Soda Garden Hacks – H&S Homes & Gardens
5 Uses Of Baking Soda In Your Garden!
Baking soda also known as sodium bicarbonate is commonly found in the kitchen as it is used in baking and cooking, but did you know this could be used in your garden? This is a highly alkaline substance that has many uses in your garden from getting rid of many harmful pests, weeds to caring for plants giving them a boost among many other benefits.
Check out top 5 uses of this wonderful kitchen ingredient to help you have a healthy, blooming garden.
1. Balance The pH Of Your Soil With Some Baking Soda!
Plants absorb minerals and nutrients from the soil that help them bloom and be healthy. If the soil is too acidic or alkaline, it may interfere with the health of the plant. You can take 2 samples of your soil and place them in 2 cups and test the pH levels with 3 ingredients vinegar, baking soda and water.
To Check For An Alkaline Soil:
All you need is equal amounts of water and vinegar (1/2 cup each). Add the water/vinegar mixture to one sample and check for bubbles. If the soil mixture bubbles then your soil is alkaline that is, it has a pH more than.
To Check For An Acidic Soil:
All you need is a mixture of water and baking soda (1/cup water and 1 tbsp baking soda). Add this to the other cup. If the soil mixture bubbles it means your soil is acidic with a pH less than 7.
NOTE: If your soil is acidic, to balance the acidity of the soil you can sprinkle some baking soda on the soil before you water it! This simply will balance the pH. Make sure you continue testing your soil once a week until no bubbles.
2. Grow Sweeter Tomatoes!-
In continuation to the above, to have a sweet tomato you need less acidic soil, i.e. if the soil is acidic your tomato will also be acidic. Sprinkle some baking soda on the soil around the tomatoes and then water your plant. You will have sweeter tomatoes due to the cut down of the acidity.
3. Clean Up The Leaves-
Remember, plants rely on photosynthesis for their healthy growth. However, this process can be disrupted with dirty leaves that are unable to make the most out of sunlight. You can clean the leaves gently with a diluted solution of baking soda and water (using 1/2tsp baking soda in 1 litre filtered water). You can either use a clean sponge or a cloth that is dampened with the solution, over the leaves. This works great for house plants too!
4. Help Your Plants Blossom-
A lot of plants love alkaline soil some of the common garden plants include Hydrangeas, Begonia, Germaniums etc. You can make a solution from 1 tbsp baking soda in approximately 1-2 litres of water. You can prepare this health tonic monthly. Just let the plants drink up the mixture and see the results for yourself!
5. The Famous Chemical-Free Pesticide-
It can be used as an organic pesticide to get rid of all types of pests namely Spider mites, Aphids, Silverfish, Cockroaches, Slugs, Snails etc.
A. Gentle Pesticide To Help Get Rid Of Spider Mites & Aphids:
You need to add a cup of warm water, 1/3 cup of olive oil, neem oil or vegetable oil, 1tsp baking soda t0 your spray bottle or watering can and spray it to the affected areas once every few days until they disappear.
B. To Get Rid Of Harmful Infestations:
To 1 litre water add 1 tbsp olive oil, neem oil or any vegetable oil and 2tbsp of baking soda along with a few drops of liquid soap or dishwashing liquid or oil soap. Pour this into your spray bottle and spray once every 3 days to keep the bugs away.
C. To Get Rid Of Ants:
Use 1:1 ratio of powdered sugar and baking soda and sprinkle these near ants or anthills and let it work like magic. This will kill the ants getting rid of them.
D. To Get Rid Of Roaches, Slugs, Silverfish:
Sprinkle baking soda & leave it dry on the soil around the crops!