Citric acid: properties and use in the garden
Citric acid is used in gardening. Many home methods are used to grow plants. One of them is the use of citric acid.
It has bactericidal and antifungal properties, which reduces the risk of plant diseases. Moreover, it has an acidifying effect and regulates pH levels. It can be used both for fertilizer and for watering plants.
People with extensive experience emphasize that acid is a strong stimulator of plant growth: it supports metabolism and increases the efficiency of absorption of nutrients directly from the ground.
It turns out that phosphorus fertilizers dissolve in citrates. This means that phosphorus salts, which are difficult for the root system of seedlings to reach, are easily dissolved in citric acid.
Fertilizing plants with citric acid
Plants can be fertilized with citric acid from time to time (for example, several times a season). Citric acid does not play a significant role in directly providing plants with nutrients. Its role is slightly different and it would be more correct to call it a growth stimulator.
Thanks to its citrate content, it helps plants absorb essential nutrients from the soil, including: potassium and phosphorus, calcium, iron and copper. Converts micro- and macroelements that are difficult to access in the soil into an easily digestible form. Thanks to this, plants grow faster, bloom and bear fruit more abundantly.
Note! In addition, fertilizing with citric acid protects plants from certain diseases, especially blossom end rot, which occurs as a result of calcium deficiency or excess salts in the soil.
Which plants should be fertilized with citric acid?
Watering plants with water containing citric acid helps acidify the soil. The product is ideal for acid-loving ornamental and edible plants (for example, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, blueberries, cranberries). Adding a small amount to irrigation water (1 g per 1 liter of water) allows you to maintain soil pH at the appropriate level, which is necessary for the proper development of acid-loving plants. It should be avoided for species requiring alkaline soils.
Of course, you can use citric acid to support most plants, but use it in moderation as it can do more harm than good.
Citric acid is often used to fertilize tomatoes and cucumbers. Use once a week (about half a liter of solution per bush), after watering the plants. The effect can be noticed after the first use of the drug. Citric acid for tomatoes can accelerate their growth by up to 25%. Watering tomatoes at the root with a solution of citric acid improves the nutrition of the bushes and also leads to an increase in yield.
Peppers and eggplants will also thank you for this conditioner. This is an excellent remedy for even the weakest plants. Use it when seedling growth and fruit development are inhibited, and the leaves become deformed, curl, turn yellow or fall off.
How to make fertilizer from citric acid?
Preparing citric acid fertilizer is very simple and takes only a few minutes. Add a teaspoon of acid to 10 liters of water and mix thoroughly. The mixture prepared in this way is ready for use immediately, without the need to dilute the solution. Using citric acid, home vegetable growing will come to life, and the yield will exceed your wildest expectations.
When do tomatoes and cucumbers need feeding? It seemed that the necessary care procedures were constantly being carried out, and yet, something was wrong with the tomatoes and cucumbers? Use citric acid when you see that:
- the growth of seedlings and the development of fruits has slowed down;
- leaves become deformed, curl or fall off;
- the lower leaf blades turn yellow.
How does natural citric acid fertilizer work for tomatoes and cucumbers? Stimulates growth and promotes efficient absorption of essential nutrients from the soil.
Cucumbers need a lot of nutrients in the soil to grow and develop. Therefore, they require regular feeding. They require large amounts of nitrogen before flowering, as well as phosphorus and potassium during fruit set and the growing season. It is worth using organic fertilizers in your own garden. You can feed cucumbers with citric acid.
Additional Information! Citric acid is a real boost of energy for vegetables that are becoming weak. The previously mentioned symptoms may be a result of potassium and phosphorus deficiency.
How to make a homemade remedy for cucumbers and tomatoes? Dissolve one tablespoon of acid in 10 liters of water. Once mixed, the mixture is immediately ready for use and does not need to be diluted. First, water the cucumbers and tomatoes as usual, then pour a maximum of one liter of solution under each bush.
What effects can you expect? Typically this procedure only needs to be performed once. After a week, a visible improvement in the condition of the seedlings will be noticed. Healthy bushes mean abundant fruiting! It should also be taken into account that in the case of tomatoes, the use of citric acid reduces their susceptibility to dry blossom rot.
Fertilizer with citric acid for peonies . Using the powder in the garden can protect peonies and other plants from dangerous fungal diseases.
In a container of 10 liters of water, add 10 g of citric acid, you can also replace it with 10 ml of freshly squeezed lemon juice. A mixture based on citric acid and water will help peonies absorb macro- and microelements. In addition, it reduces the risk of plant diseases to almost a minimum.
Citric acid, unlike other acids, is completely non-aggressive and absolutely harmless to both plants and humans.
