There are many wacky ways to keep plants healthy, and one of them is to use lemon juice. It might sound a little weird, but believe us, using lemon juice for garden maintenance has its own benefits. In this article, we will see 8 uses of lemon juice for plant maintenance.
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lemon juice for plants
Boosting the germination process, adding compost, balancing soil pH levels, getting rid of certain pests, and more, these are the benefits of using lemon juice in the garden.
Apart from the effective uses it can bring, it is also cheap, safe and easy to make for all gardeners. If you are one of those who love organic gardens, lemon juice is one of the best products. To learn more about uses in the garden, keep reading with us.
1. Weed treatment
Lemon juice can be used as an organic weedkiller: take 100 ml of lemon juice and mix it with a quarter of white vinegar. Mix well, put it in a spray bottle and spray it on the weeds.
It will kill wild growth by lowering pH levels. This organic solution is most potent during the hottest hours of the day. The effects do not last long, so you will have to do several applications.
2. Increase germination rate
According to the study carried out at the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers of China, lemon juice promotes the growth of cell division, stimulates the activity of certain enzymes and helps transport nutrients to plant parts more easily. .
Add 10 ml of lemon juice to one liter of water and use the solution to water the seeds when sowing.
Soaking hard-shelled seeds overnight in this solution before sowing will also increase the chances of germination.
3. Balance soil pH levels
Any alkaline soil with a pH above 7 can be balanced using diluted lemon juice once a month. It works well in keeping the soil close to neutral or making it slightly acidic, which is good for acid-loving plants.
For this, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to 1 liter of water and pour this solution at the base of the plant. Make sure you don’t get the leaves wet with it or they’ll burn.
Note: This trick is particularly useful for small areas or potted plants!
4. Clean plant leaves
The mixture of lemon juice, vinegar and water is effective in removing residue buildup on the leaves.
However, be careful not to overdo it. Start by mixing one teaspoon of vinegar, two of lemon juice in three liters of water. Then, dip a soft cloth in the mixture and gently dab it onto your plant leaves. In addition, the aroma of vinegar combined with that of lemon is excellent for repelling pests or curious animals.
5. Keep cats away from plants
Lemon juice and lemon zest work to keep cats away from plants. Place lemon zest and chunks around the edges of pots or beds, also sprinkle lemon juice around the plant, but be careful not to wet the soil.
The strong lemon scent will keep cats away, but you need to apply it every few days as it loses the scent, once the cats realize the scent is there they won’t come back.
6. Get rid of spiders
Lemon juice also works great for repelling spiders. Add 10-14 drops of lemon juice to a cup of water with 8-10 drops of peppermint oil. Mix well and spray the solution around the spider web.
You can also cut the lemon in half, put some cloves in it and place it near the area where the spiders are infesting to keep them away.
7. Lemon zest
Adding a handful of citrus peel to the compost will boost nitrogen levels.
Lemon peels are a rich source of magnesium, calcium and sulfur. Mix them into a powder and add them to potting soil and garden soil to improve the health of your plants.
Lemon peels are powerful in getting rid of aphids. Boil the lemon and orange peels in a 50:50 ratio, strain, cool the solution and transfer it to a spray bottle. Spray it around the aphid-infested area to get rid of them.
Rub lemon zest on the skin to repel mosquitoes. Boil the envelopes in water and spray the solution on the mosquito infested area.
8. Clean metal and copper pans
Lemon juice is also a good option for cleaning metal and copper pans. Its acid content helps remove hard water deposits and stains, making them look like new!
Add a few drops of lemon juice to a clean cloth and rub it on the jars for a few minutes before rinsing with water for best results.
You can also use it to clean metal figurines, glass jars and vases. Cut a lemon in half and rub it over the outer surface to remove any marks.
It may also be interesting to read: How to use garlic for plant care (recipes and applications)
Similarly, use your juice with a clean cloth to get rid of lime stains inside jars and vases.
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