Do you know you can use the leftover wine for plants from your last dinner party as an immunity booster if it is not too old?
Even white wine can be an option, but red has the best effect. Learn more on how to use wine for plants and understand its benefits.
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Can You Water Plants With Wine?
The wine produced from fruit-based fermentation holds around 80% of the water content significantly higher in red wine. This can help in hydrating plants.
However, both wines have around 12% alcohol, which is harmful to the plants, stunting their growth. Also, 25% ethanol alcohol can kill your plants.
While doing so, some might think about plants getting drunk. However, that is impossible in plants as they lack nervous systems.
Also, plants cannot taste or tell the difference as they lack the brain to sense stimuli. So do not think much about drunkness while using the wine.
Nevertheless, wine for plants is recommended because of its benefits. Some of the wine benefits are explored below.
1. Fertilizer Benefits
Wine is a rich source of nitrogen and sugar content. So healthy microorganisms grow when a few droplets are poured into the compost bin.
One famous recipe is mixing coffee grounds for plants with 4 ml of red wine, baked eggshells, and carrot and potato peelings.
During the processing, wine even works as a moisture supplier to the compost and bacteria growing in it.
Alternatively, you can directly add 4 to 5 tablespoons of well-fermented wine with less than 5% alcohol to the plant’s roots as a fertilizer. Do it once monthly.
2. Weed Killer
The wine that has been spoiled and expired turns into vinegar due to excess fermentation of the alcohol. This chemical change increases the ethanol content of the wine.
Once the alcohol percentage exceeds 25, you can spray the wine vinegar over unwanted weeds in the garden and pots.
Thus, such prepared wine vinegar is the most effective herbicide you can get at no expense. But it might sometime affect the houseplants too.
So before applying it to the plant, check for its effect on your nearby plant by experimenting in a small area.
3. Natural Pest and Disease Deterrent
Another benefit of wine is using it as a natural treatment method to eliminate plant disease and deter pests.
The disease treatment method has been proven since the 17th century. The tannins in wine hold antimicrobial qualities that inhibit the growth of fungi and viruses.
Also, running cotton balls dipped in diluted wine over insects eggs of mealy bugs and aphids will help to get rid of them. Perform it weekly for better control.
However, do not apply the wine directly, as it can burn the leaves. Maintain a 1:10 ratio of wine and water, respectively.
Vodka can be an option to deprive the ethylene gas responsible for the maturity of plants. This may help to keep your plant younger for a certain time.
How Do You Add Wine To Houseplants? [Application Method]
The direct appliance of the wine into the plant can be dangerous if the ethanol concentration is higher than 5%.
Thus, follow specific safety ways to add wine to your pot depending on the benefit you want to leverage.
- Misting: Dilute the wine with water at a 1:10 ratio and fill it in a mister. Then, mist the leaves of your houseplants as they will absorb the wine solution from foliage. You can follow this method for wine acting as a pesticide.
- Bottom Watering: Take a saucer and fill it with the diluted wine. Then, place the pot over it to allow slow absorption from the soil. The bottom watering method works best for fertilizer supply.
- Top Watering: Pour the diluted wine solution using a long spout watering can directly into the topsoil. This method is better for killing weeds on the ground and pot.
However, all plants may not respond the same for wine application. So consider your plant’s health before experimenting with the wine.
Tips And Tricks To Use Wine Bottles For Plants
If you are not planning to use wine or beer for plants, you can go for empty bottles, as fancy wine bottles are always an eye-catcher.
However, prioritize safety while dealing with glasses. Choose a thick one with a rounded bottom for more volume of soil.
Choose small plants preferring consistent moisture, like succulents and herbs, and small tropical plants like Hoya.
Alternatively, you can create a self-watering planter by turning the wine bottle upside down and digging it at least 2 inches deep in the soil.
The bottle can work as a slow-dripping irrigation system for any plant and provide constant hydration for several days.
You can use terracotta spikes to hold the wine bottles you will use for irrigation. It will keep the bottle upright and hydrate the root zone.
From Editorial Team
Extra Tips!
Some other significant ingredients in your garden are baking soda to make plant bloom, white vinegar to remove algae from the patio, and cayenne pepper to deter squirrels.
Do not cut the planter with bare hands. Use a glass cutter kit and a heat source to line the cut part and sandpaper to smoothen the edges after cutting.
