Herbal Pesticides and Plant Nourishment
Plants are a
part and parcel of our lives. The green color soothes our eyes and relaxes the
mind. They add beauty to the environment and help perk up our personalities.
However having a green thumb is not everyone's forte. Many part time gardeners,
seem to follow a rigid regimen of plant care as dictated by various commercial
magazines and gardening books. Excessive reliance on chemicals and fertilizers
adds to toxicity in the soils and harms the environment. It is suggested, that,
we use nature itself to rejuvenate the natural plants. Here are some herbal
tips for plant care.
Soak 'Neem' (Azadirachta indica)
(Margosa)
leaves in hot water overnight. It is better to boil the water with the leaves
soaked. Sprinkle this cooled water the next day on the outdoor and indoor plants
and this will keep insects away. This is an easy solution, the natural way.
If you can get
hold of fresh Neem leaves, use them to enrich your flowerbeds. They will easily
negate the use of fertilizers.
Another spray
to keep plants healthy can easily be prepared at home. Seep Margosa (Neem)
leaves in water till you get a dark infusion. Stain this mixture and store the
liquid. This can be sprayed onto the plants once a month to put new life into
them.
You may also
use left over soap or detergent water as a pesticide for plants. Collect this water,
and pour it onto the soil and this will act as a safe pesticide.
Incase, the
plants are being attacked by ants, try sprinkling some
turmeric powder around
them. The ants will be repelled by the turmeric powder and the plants will stay
safe, the natural way.
To revitalize,
rose bushes and plants, put banana peels around them. The peels are an excellent
natural source of phosphorous and potassium and as they decay, they will act as
a natural fertilizer for your roses.
Egg shells can
be used as a calcium supplement for potted plants. Crumble the shells and mix
them in the soil as a natural fertilizer.
Another cheap
and good tonic for rose plants can be made at home. Add 25 grams of Epsom salt
to four and a half to five liters of water and water your plants with this
solution once a month. You will start noticing a marked difference, after the
first watering itself.
It may seem a
little odd, but you may bury your old leather boots and shoes under the soil in
your garden. As these shoes rot, they will add many useful nutrients to the
soil. This is an ecologically sound way to get rid of those old leather shoes.
continued..
Disclaimer: All information
is provided in good faith and no liability of any kind is accepted.
The information provided, is in the nature of home tips and should
be used with caution.
