Will Diluted Vinegar Kill Plants? 10+ Uses of Adding Diluted Vinegar for Plants 

Hey folks! Welcome back!

Are you looking to use some of the innovative ways for your plants so that they grow well? Then, you can choose vinegar as it will be effective for your plants and help them grow naturally faster. It is economical to use and even easy to use. It tends to have some of the benefits too on the plants. 

Vinegar consists of 5% acetic acid which is not good for indoor plants as it damages their cell membrane and then its leaves. When the vinegar is directly poured into the soil, it destroys the whole plant with its effect. 

So, let’s get started to know more about whether diluted vinegar kills plants or not. Stay connected to this guide. 

Will Diluted Vinegar Kill Plants?

Folks, do you know if the diluted vinegar kills plants? Here the question comes, Will diluted vinegar kill plants? Yes, it is true as spraying it on the plants will make them dry and they will die.

So, you have to be cautious while using it as it contains 5% acetic acid which is not liked by indoor plants as it is harmful to them. Make sure not to use ever the full-strength vinegar for your plants.

Diluted Vinegar

 A few of the tips for using diluted vinegar safely: 

  1. You should be aware of the place and weather where you going to plant so that you spray accurately. 
  2. Make sure to wear some clothing including goggles and gloves so that you do not get harmed. 
  3. You can first do a test to see if the plants react in a good way to the vinegar or not. 

How does vinegar kill houseplants?

Folks, do you know how diluted vinegar kills indoor plants? If yes, then it’s great but if not, then we are here for you. As you know vinegar contains 5% acetic acid which is not liked by indoor plants as it is harmful to them. 

So, when you spray it on the plants, it begins to eat the outer sides of the leaves which tend to damage the waxy cuticle. Cuticle is the source of preventing water loss from the cells but when it gets destroyed, then plants begin to die. 

Therefore, this way leads to the death of the plant with the help of vinegar by keeping the leaves of the plant dry. If it is spread on the leaves only, then only the leaves will get damaged. The plant will not be affected. 

Guys, be cautious not to let the vinegar spread in the soil, as it will make the roots dry and then destroy the plant. Then your plant will not be saved. 

Diluted Vinegar

10+ Uses of Adding Diluted Vinegar for Plants 

As mentioned, there are various uses for adding diluted vinegar to plants. So, it is important to know those uses so that you can apply the vinegar to your plant accordingly. They are as follows: 

  1. For lowering the pH in the soil
  2. Clean terracotta and planting pots
  3. Animal and Rodent Repeller
  4. To Control Slugs and Snails
  5. To control the ants
  6. Weed killer 
  7. Drive away fruit flies from your plants
  8. Cleaning your garden stuff
  9. To Provide Free or Soluble Calcium to Your Plants
  10. Increase the process of germination

Let’s know about them in detail: 

To lower the pH in the soil

You have to add vinegar when you water the plants to decrease the level of pH of your soil. You have to take a jug or bowl or can. Now, add white vinegar with 240 ml quantity and cool water to about 4 liters, and mix it in the jug. 

Now, you have to keep stirring so that they mix well, and then you have to pour the mixture on the plant beds so that the pH level decreases which helps the plants grow well azaleas, gardenias, roses, etc. as they are acid-loving plants. Water them with this mixture for about every 15 days for good growth of the plant. 

Clean terracotta and planting pots

It becomes easy to clean the terracotta plants with the help of diluted vinegar.

Yes, you have to make a solution of diluted vinegar and water and then soak them in this mixture for a few hours or overnight so that all the salt and minerals dissolve. 

Then, let the pot dry by removing the mixture from it. Also, it helps in killing the fungus, and virus in the potted plants. 

Animal and Rodent Repeller

Oh wow, now you can remove the animals such as dogs, cars, deer, and rodents from the area with the help of diluted vinegar. Isn’t it amazing? Of course yes, but how to do so? 

You have to soak a cloth in the vinegar and then put the cloth in the places where these animals come from like entrances or their hidden spots. So, with its smell, they won’t be able to come to your garden area and the area’s beauty will be revived. 

To Control Slugs and Snails 

Another thing that can be resolved with diluted vinegar is the killing of snails and slugs that tend to ruin your vegetation. 

All you have to do is use diluted vinegar directly in them by putting it in a sprayer and then waiting. It will get dissolved on them and they will die. Though it doesn’t sound nice, to save your garden area, you have to do so. 

To control the Ants

Ants will not roam around your plants if you use vinegar in your garden. But how? 

You have to pour the solution near the ant’s hills or some plants that are loved by ants or around the potted plants so that when ants come, its smell kills them or keeps them away from the plants. 

Weed Killer

To kill the weeds, you can make use of white vinegar. But be cautious while doing so as your favorite choice can be harmed by it. 

Its mechanism is that it tends to dissolve the cell membranes which results in the dry tissues and then causes death in the plant. 

Drive away fruit flies from your plants

Make a mixture by adding one cup of water half a cup of vinegar, 1 tbsp of honey, and ¼ cup of sugar, and mix the mixture properly. 

Choose an empty container put the mixture in it and hang it on the affected fruit trees as it will attract the fruit flies and trap them which will be helpful for your plant. 

Cleaning Your Garden Stuff

Vinegar helps you to clean the dirty tools so that the plant does not get infected. 

You have to pour the vinegar into the tools for about 15-20 minutes so that all the germs or dirt wash away and rinse them off. 

To Provide Free or Soluble Calcium to Your Plants

To provide calcium to your plants, you have to use diluted vinegar so that the roots absorb the solution. 

Make the solution by adding lime or eggshell powder to the white vinegar, shake the mixture well, and then add water after some time. Now you have to water the mixture to the plants so that they can receive a source of calcium and grow well by absorbing it. 

Increase the process of germination

You have to soak the seeds in water and vinegar so that the germination process increases. You have to do it for the newly seeded plants which will make them grow at a faster pace. You have to do it before planting the plant. 

Choose a bowl and then Mix the water with 500 ml and white vinegar with 125 ml. Now, add the seeds to this mixture. Now let them soak the mixture one night when you are going to plant the plant the next day. 

Wrapping up the context 

In this guide, you come to know that Vinegar contains 5% acetic acid which is not good for indoor plants as it damages their cell membrane and then its leaves. When the vinegar is directly poured into the soil, it destroys the whole plant with the effect. 

Read the whole guide so that you understand it properly. I will be there with another informative guide for you all very soon. Till then safe gardening. 

Thanks for reading! Happy gardening! 

Anna Scott

Anna Scott loves gardening and has been doing it for a long time. She wants to help new gardeners learn from her experience. Through her writing, she shares tips and advice on how to make gardens beautiful. Anna hopes her words will inspire new gardeners to succeed.

You may also like...

Ask in Community