By adding honey to your garden, you are providing a natural way to stimulate growth, revive dying plants, and even ward off unwanted pests. Don’t you believe it? Take a look at these five uses for honey in the garden and orchard.
Contents
Introduction
There are many delicious ways to use this natural substance, but did you know that honey can also be used in your garden?
It is important to bear in mind that when applying honey in the garden, it should always be diluted in water (except when propagating by cuttings). This will help reduce the risk of attracting more pests.
5 uses of honey for plant care
1. Acts as a natural fertilizer
Do you want to improve your garden plants? Sprinkle them with a little honey.
It has been discovered that when plants are given a mixture of water and honey, it acts as a natural, organic booster.
This is especially true for plants that are flowering or fruiting. It also enhances the flavor of the fruits they produce, making them even sweeter.
To make this natural fertilizer, add one or two tablespoons of honey to about six or seven cups of hot water and stir well until the honey dissolves.
Let the mixture cool (never water with hot water, it can kill your plants!), add it to your watering can and soak the soil around your selected plant so it can reap the benefits of this fertilizer with honey and water.
2. Provides antifungal and antibacterial properties
Honey is known to be good for your health: it is put in tea to soothe a sore throat and added to lozenges to relieve cold symptoms. The same goes for plants. Honey is packed with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that provide antifungal and antibacterial protection.
A dose of honey could help a plant restore stronger roots or overcome an illness.
3. Revive Dying Plants
If you’ve done all you can for a dying plant (check for signs of overwatering, remove dead leaves, get rid of pests, etc.), the next method is to give your distressed plants some honey.
A pinch of honey on the leaves or a mixture of honey and compost water (see recipe above) may be just what you need.
When dying plants are given honey, it provides them with abundant nutrients that help them revive.
It has been observed that honey protects and helps plants against various diseases or even root rot. Exactly what your plants need to thrive and thrive!
4. Help cuttings thrive
Propagating plants from cuttings is a great way to grow completely new vegetables, herbs, flowers, shrubs or trees.
The problem is that it can sometimes be difficult to get these cuttings to grow and survive on their own. Honey is here to help. Putting honey on the cuttings protects the cut ends and promotes growth.
The properties of honey act as a “rooting hormone” which encourages cuttings to root firmly.
To enhance the natural growth and survival of a cutting, dip the cut end directly into a small bowl of honey, then place the honey-soaked cutting in a previously made indentation in your garden soil.
Push the soil around the stem to fill the hole and hold the cutting. Then sit back and watch it grow into a whole new plant.
5. Used to attract and trap pests
Do you have a garden invaded by slugs, flies or mosquitoes? Use honey to attract unwanted insects and capture them so they no longer bother your plants.
To create a slug trap, find a small container and lower it into your garden soil, keeping the opening at ground level.
In this container, pour a mixture of honey and yeast that will attract the snails, trap them in the sticky liquid, and allow you to remove them later.
If your problem involves flies or mosquitoes, honey is also useful in trapping these insects. All you need is an empty soda bottle.
Simply cut the soda bottle in half and fill the bottom half with a mixture of honey and water. Then, flip the top of the bottle upside down so that the screw cap opening faces the inside of the bottom half.
It may also be interesting to read: Fruit peels ideal for plant fertilization
Clip the two halves together and place it outside where the pests are most concentrated. This way, your new trap will attract flies, prevent them from escaping, and save your plants the hassle.
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