Using baking soda in your garden is more harmful than helpful.
Here’s why, and what to use instead to help your garden thrive.
Helin Loik-Tomson / Getty Images
What Is Baking Soda?
Credit:Helin Loik-Tomson / Getty Images
Why Do People Use Baking Soda for Plants?
When applied to plant leaves and stems, baking soda does slow or stop the growth of fungi.
However, the benefits are fleeting at best.
None of these are scientifically backed and aren’t effective ways of achieving any of these aims.
Baking soda is a salt, and all saltsalong with other minerals in excesscan be detrimental to plant growth.
Salt acts as a desiccant on plants and causes wilted foliage, stunted growth, and eventually, death.
Healthy plants can quickly go downhill from an excess of salts.
Another issue with baking soda is that it candramatically change the pH of the soil.
Most plants have a preferred soil pH range in which they grow.
Instead of using baking soda, check out these organic alternatives.
Neem Oil
Neem oilis extracted from the neem tree native to the Old World.
It works as an organic pesticide and miticide, and is an excellent fungicide.
Neem oil is typically mixed with water and sprayed liberally onto the leaves and stems of plants.
Use a copper spray to prevent the spread of fungiespecially while plants are dormant.
For example, copper sprays are commonly used on dormant roses and fruit trees to prevent future outbreaks.
Baking soda has no effect on the flavor of tomatoes.
The variety of tomato and other environmental factors such as watering frequency affect tomato flavor.
