The 39p hack gardeners are swearing by to ‘boost plant performance’, and you can nab some from your local corner shop
COCA Cola is one of the most popular soft drinks around the world – but it could be key to helping your plants thrive.
According to gardening experts, adding cola to the base of your azaleas could help to boost “plant performance.”
The next time you pop a bottle of Coke, you may wish to set some aside to use in your garden.
Professionals say you only need 120ml poured onto the soil at the base of your azaleas to help them grow.
It is said that any brand of cola will do, so you may as well opt for the cheap stuff from your local shop than forking out for a name brand.
You can use this carbonated beverage in place of expensive soil and feeding.
But why does it work?
Experts at House Digest wrote: “The reason cola helps azaleas grow is because of its genetic makeup: the beverage contains elements like potassium, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and sodium, which work together to keep these plants healthy and thriving.”
However, you should be careful to not overdo it with adding the soda drink to your azaleas.
They added: “This isn’t something you ought to be doing on a daily basis.
“At most, you should give your azaleas a cola bath every once in a while.
Pest-free perk
Not only does cola help plants to grow, but it can also be used as a pesticide.
While it is not the sugar or caffeine that kills bugs, the sugar attracts ants, which ten eat the larva of pest species without hurting the plants.
Watering your garden in the morning will allow water or Coca Cola to soak deeply into the soil, with little evaporation.
“Unless you water with a drip-irrigation system, avoid watering in the evening,” says expert gardener Melanie from Factory Direct Hose, a gardening products supplier.
“Plants often remain wet throughout the entire night when watered in the evening, which is a recipe for plant disease.”
Orange juice
Orange juice is another day-to-day beverage that can be used in the garden, as it works well as a fertiliser.
The juice is very acidic so don’t add too much otherwise you risk killing the plants.
Just pop a few tablespoons of the juice into your can before you water the garden.
Lemonade is also great for increasing your plant’s lifespan, add a small amount to your watering can.
The acid and sugar work together to prevent bacteria growing on the plant.
You may have heard that milk is helpful for plants and that is the case.
The expert said that the vitamin B and calcium promote growth just as it can in people.
November gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, shares the tasks to do this month.
Get your garlic in a sunny spot of ground, and you can also plant sweet peas and cut and come again lettuce to see you over the Winter.
Depending on where you live – think about protecting your more tender plants – one brutal frost can set you back psychologically and financially. I’ve had success with plastic cloches which can look nice on smaller plants rather than the bulky fleece. But for plants like bananas, cut them back and wrap them up.
If all the leaves are off your apple tree, you could consider cutting it back. The usual dead, diseased, damaged and crossing branches should be pruned. It will open the tree up and encourage strong Spring growth.
You can either prune your roses the usual way, by cutting off side stems and tying in – or experiment like Niff Barnes – and create incredible sculptures by stripping all the leaves and bending the main framework into swirls and shapes. Its also a good time to take cuttings.
Hellebores are great winter cover – get them in the ground now – along with bright cyclamen for splashes of colour.
Clean your greenhouse – wipe down all the panes – fairy liquid and water is absolutely fine – and work up a sweat by giving it a good tidy and sort out before it’s too cold to be out there too long.
Sounds simple but rake your lawn regularly – you don’t want the grass to die back under mounds of old rotting leaves. Keep the leaves to make leaf mould.