8 HOMEMADE GARDENING TRICKS THAT WILL KEEP YOUR PLANTS SPLENDID

1. TRY IRRIGATION WITHOUT LIME

“Rainwater is ideal. If it is not possible to collect it, another option is to let a little water stand for a couple of days before irrigation”, advises Eduardo Azna. 

2. AERATE THE EARTH

To do this, prick with a stick. This allows air and water to penetrate well and to reach the roots, favoring a good development of the plant, according to the expert from Floristería Navarro. 

3. STIMULATES THE GROWTH OF NEW ROOTS 

Plants that grow in pots end up with the soil full of roots. "When transplanting them to a larger pot, it is often convenient to cut part of the roots, thus stimulating the growth of new roots," Eduardo suggests. 

4. GIVE MORE HOURS OF LIGHT

If your plants don't flower, give them more hours of light. Many flowers require at least six hours of sunlight to bloom. Plants need the sun to photosynthesize, so if they don't get enough sun, they get stressed. One of the first things a stressed plant does is shed its flowers and buds and put all of its resources into staying alive. Remember: you will know if it lacks light when it grows tall and lanky, when it directs its leaves and branches desperately in the direction of the sun. 

5. USE BICARBONATE, IT IS A HARMLESS ALLY

In general, the public is unaware of the potential of a product as humble and cheap as bicarbonate, but it is a great ally of your plants as a pesticide and fungicide. "Since it is so harmless to humans, pets and the environment, we have every reason to substitute very expensive toxic products with it, which seriously harm the environment and, above all, our health", explains Jesús Arnau, gardener and co-author of Agenda for the organic garden and garden. "It is enough to dilute a tablespoon of baking soda in a liter of water and we have already prepared our preventive remedy to maintain the health of our plants."

 6. MAKE HOMEMADE PEST REPELLENTS

The little bugs usually cause havoc and many times we don't even know about it. "The insects that are never missing from a plant are aphids, better known as aphids, mealybugs and whiteflies," says Carlos Rebolleda Sánchez, plant section manager at Fronda Garden Centers. “They are biting, sucking insects that feed on the sap of our plants. A very useful remedy is to spray them with soap and water. In a one-liter spray bottle of water, pour 4 tablespoons of oil for 2 of Fairy-type soap. We mix and spray the plant. This creates a film on the leaves that repels and prevents insects from landing on them.” 

7. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UNSUSPECTED NUTRIENTS

If you have an aquarium with fish, you also have a food source for the plants. Carlos Rebolleda explains how to do it: “Every time you clean the aquarium and extract the water, instead of discarding it, use it to water your plants. This wastewater contains organic waste such as feces or algae, essential and natural elements for plant nutrition. They provide a large amount of nitrogen, favoring the growth and greenness of all of them”. This expert gardener also reminds us that if you have a swimming pool and you decide not to treat it with chemical products during the winter, you can use that water rich in algae to water your plants and give them a supply of fertilizer that will keep them splendid. 

8. MUCH GREENER LEAVES

That your indoor plants lose their intense green is a very common problem. Carlos Rebolleda has a home remedy that will surprise you: “If the leaves have lost their greenness or are yellowish, and the veining is clearly visible, the plant has a clear symptom of iron chlorosis, that is, a lack of iron. Solving it is very simple: just take some nails from our toolbox (if they are slightly rusty, better) and drive them into the ground. As we apply irrigation to the pot, due to the humidity, the nail will rust and provide iron to the plant. In a very short time we will see how the greenery recovers. Important!: do not wait for the plant to show iron chlorosis, if you want to keep it always green; provides iron regularly”.