15 Surprising Plant Uses of Milk in the Garden

Milk is as good for plants as it is for the human body. But this is something that is not known to many of us. A number of us wish to nurture a kitchen garden or simply a garden in our backyard; some of us have it as a pass time while for others it is a passion. There are people who spend quite a hefty amount in nurturing and maintaining a garden however there are a few things such as milk, for one, which comes in very handy in terms of gardening.

Here are 15 amazing uses of milk in the garden:

1. Source of Calcium

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Calcium is a nutrient which is not just required for humans and animals, it is also important for plants. Calcium can be used basically to amend the soil. Now as a gardening enthusiast you must be well aware of the fact that the plants need an optimum soil environment to grow. This environment might not be available always. That is where milk comes into play. Milk can be used to amend the soil by maintaining its pH balance and giving an optimum environment to the plants for growth. So does milk help plants grow? Yes it does indirectly by taking care of the soil.

2. Source of Proteins

Who says only animals and humans require proteins, even plants require proteins in various forms in small amounts. Milk is supposedly a very rich source of protein for plants. Proteins aid in the growth of the plant in many different ways.

3. Perfect source of N-P-K

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Milk is supposed to have a perfect combination of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. These 3 salts are very essential components of the soil and it is extremely important in providing the right kind of environment to the plants.

4. As a disinfectant

Disinfecting the plant once in a while even if it is in your backyard and in a small area is very important. There are many chemical disinfectants available in the markets and they are quite pricey as well. These disinfectants are known to work effectively on the plants but something it also does along with disinfecting the plant, is that it degrades and pollutes the soil with all the chemicals it contain, making the soil unproductive for further growth of plants. Milk is a very natural way of disinfecting the plants. It consists of certain bacteria which are capable of working on other bacteria and destroy it.

5. Fungicidal

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If your garden is full of fungus such as molds, mildew and rots it is important that you get rid of the same in order to ensure a very healthy environment for the plants in your garden. You need not use the raw milk for this purpose; a much diluted form is enough to do the trick.

Also Read: 31 Beneficial Tips for Container Gardening

6. Fertilizer

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As already mentioned before, milk has a lot of nutrients which are important for the growth of the plant. Milk acts as a very good food for plants to grow healthy and get all the nourishment required. It is far better than the chemical ones that are used in the markets. Milk as fertilizer can work wonders.

7. Aids in the improvement of absorption of pesticides

Sometimes it is difficult for the soil to absorb the pesticides which are spread over them. Until and unless the soil absorbs them, it just remains on the surface as a chemical which is of no use to the soil and in turn is harmful for the environment. This is again where the milk comes into play. The uses of milk here is that it helps to improve the absorption of pesticides by the soil and prevents it from getting washed off.

8. Keeping the beauty of the plant

Milk helps the beauty of the plants intact. So for example it is very useful for the purpose of preventing and sometimes even removing the black spots which are generally seen on rose plants. These spots are generally caused due to a fungus Diplocarpon Rosae which generally grows in wet, hot and humid climate.

9. Preventing Blossom End Rot

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There is something called blossom end rot which is very common for plants of the tomato family. This occurs due to the issue of transportation of calcium from the soil to the roots of the plant. Milk in Garden soil helps to transport the calcium easily thus providing the much needed nutrients to the soil.

10. Molasses and Milk

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Molasses and milk help in the growth of the plants by improving the soil. While milk in any form is used to improve the soil, molasses are used only to power up the effect of milk on soil. Feeding plants with milk can turn out to be a very useful and beneficial process not just in large scale but in small scale as well.

Also Read: 31 Pest Repelling Plants for your Garden

11. Milk Spray Prevents Soft Bodied Insects to Grow on Plants

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Aphids and spider mites which could otherwise grow effectively on plants in your garden lose their ability to grow if the plants and the leaves are sprayed with diluted milk from time to time.

12. Source of Vitamin E and Minerals

Among other benefits milk contains vitamins and minerals which are very essential for the healthy growth of the plant. Especially in case of nutrient deficit soil the uses of milk comes in very handy.

13. Powdered Milk is a ready to use Soil Enhancer

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In the powder form it is very easy to use milk as a soil enhancer. It can be poured over the soil without any trouble and thus this can act as a source of all the nutrients to the soil.

14. Binding

Milk also has certain binding abilities. It is known to hold the plants in place and prevents it from getting eroded away due to the effect of strong winds and fast flowing water.

Also Read: 15 Uses of Vinegar in the Garden

15. Improving Overall Health of the Crop

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If you are gardening on a small scale it becomes very difficult for you to spend a high amount of money on the health of the crop. Milk can be used in place of other chemicals which help in crop growth and nourishment. Even spoilt milk can do wonders in this case.

Final Thoughts

All this said, we can come to a conclusion that milk is very good for the growth of the plant as a whole. It can act as an alternative to most of the chemicals we use for the growth and good health of the plant. Thus in turn it can help to prevent the pollution of the soil as well as keep the soil rich in nutrients for future growth of plants on it. It also creates an optimum soil condition for the growth of any kind of plants by maintaining the soil pH and providing the basic nutrients required by the plant for the growth. It also prevents the growth of fungus, pests, mildews and other organisms on the plant. Uses of milk were known previously but its variety was not explored since very recently in certain studies. Keep your garden healthy and use milk in place of water once in a while.