What Happens When You Water Flowers With Milk: The Result Will Amaze You

You water your flowers with mineral water, tea leaves and even beer, but your roses still look like they were chewed by a tractor?

You may be missing the most unexpected item in your fridge.

We're talking about milk - a drink that not only saves you from a hangover, but can also turn sickly flowers into lush bushes. But be careful: one wrong step, and instead of fertilizer you'll get a stinking swamp with dead flies.

Milk contains calcium, proteins and B vitamins, which act as a growth stimulant. But its main value is lactic acid, which suppresses fungal infections. Research at the University of Michigan has shown that spraying leaves with diluted milk (1:3) reduces the risk of powdery mildew by 60%. This is especially effective for roses, peonies and violets. However, scientists warn: whole milk is a time bomb. Fats and lactose clog the pores of leaves, attract ants and provoke root rot.

How to use milk without harm? Only skim milk and dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:4. For root watering - 1 cup of the mixture per 1 plant once every 2 weeks. For spraying - 1:10, so as not to leave white streaks. Milk is especially useful at the budding stage: calcium strengthens the flower stalks, and amino acids enhance the brightness of the petals. Experiments at the Missouri Botanical Garden confirmed that petunias fed with milk bloom 10-12 days longer, and their color becomes rich even in the shade.

But there is a nuance: milk is not suitable for all plants. Succulents (cacti, aloe) and orchids hate it. Their roots, accustomed to poor soils, cannot cope with the excess of organic matter. After watering with milk, they turn yellow and shed their leaves. Also avoid this method for seedlings - the immature shoots will die from excess nitrogen.

The most dangerous myth is that "milk replaces fertilizers." This is a lie. It only works as a supplement to mineral fertilizers. For example, a week after adding superphosphate, water the flowers with a milk solution - this will improve the absorption of phosphorus. But if you use milk as the main fertilizer, bacteria that cause root rot will begin to multiply in the soil.

Another life hack is milk against aphids. Mix 100 ml of skim milk, 2 drops of iodine and 1 liter of water. Spray the leaves in the morning - the milky film will suffocate the larvae, and the iodine will disinfect the bites. In 3 days, the insects will disappear. But do not repeat the procedure more than once a month - iodine in high doses burns the leaves.

What to do if the soil is moldy after watering with milk? Immediately remove the top layer of soil and sprinkle the bed with wood ash. Water the plants with a solution of phytosporin (5 g per 10 l) to restore the microflora. And do not experiment with full-fat milk anymore - only skim milk and only in the rainy season!

Many gardeners make a fatal mistake: they use expired milk, considering it "more natural". Such feeding is a breeding ground for pathogens. Fresh milk can be stored in a closed jar for no more than 3 days. It is better to freeze it in portions and defrost before use.

After a month of proper feeding, you won't recognize your flowers. Roses that barely opened their buds before will bloom like crazy. And geraniums that everyone thought were dead will put out new leaves. Your neighbors will bombard you with questions, but you can keep the secret. Or share it - let their gardens bloom too.