Before the internet , or even the printing insistence , we rely on the knowledge passed down through to read about garden . While there is so much to know from our root , some honest-to-goodness wives ’ tales about gardening just are n’t reliable . There are still a handful of gardening myth that people still use today . Instagram and TikTok are full of them ! Let ’s get to the Sojourner Truth behind these common gardening misconceptions .
Bees are only pull to the colour yellow .
urinate on a jellyfish sting will relieve the pain .
Four-leaf clovers have long been a symbol of luckfor the superstitious.
Turkey makes you sleepyheaded .
If you take back gingiva , it will take 7 yr to tolerate .
These are just a smattering of sure-enough wives ’ tales I ’ve heard over the year .
When it comes to gardening , some of these old wives ’ fib about horticulture can have a pinch of trueness to them . They ’re all rooted in some scientific discipline , even if they did n’t pull in it .
BUT ( and this is a big but ) , most of them are said to work well than they really do . Or they at least come out with good design . You ’ll see what I signify when you keep on reading !
Here are the gardening myths I ’ll be spill about today …
A Note on Listening and Experimenting
When it come to erstwhile married woman ’ tales about gardening , some of them can in reality be straight . Making them not an old wives ’ tale at all !
I ’ve always sought tofind a balance between science - based and grandma methodsthat have been fleet down .
While writingGarden Alchemy , I analyse permaculture , herbalism , autochthonous learning , and current scientific discipline to evolve constitutional concoctions for the garden . It ’s all about strike a balance between these claim and fact - establish evidence .
This critical review from Frau Zinnie sums it up . “ [ Garden Alchemy ] empowers the reader to experiment with ways to fix common garden problem with minimal effort — and render how there are so many things the menage nurseryman can do before settle to buy a “ problem - solving ” intersection at the storehouse . ”
From peat - free soil alternatives to using lucerne as a fertilizer , there are many ways you’re able to use constitutional element effectivelyin the garden usingGarden Alchemyas your guide .
And now , onto some myth busting !
Adding Coffee Grounds to Soil
The garden myth : deep brown grounds are a great soil amendment , and you could mix them right into your soil .
While coffee ground do have plant food , they ’re not a significant beginning . People add them directly to the soil ; while you’re able to do this , it ’s better to use them as a compost component . They ’re a great compost factor and will provide more benefits to your industrial plant once decomposed .
Read more onusing coffee bean grounds in the garden .
Vinegar as a Weed Killer
The garden myth : vinegar is a natural herbicide that is better for the garden than commercial herbicides .
Vinegar burns plant upon impinging , and it is gentler than most commercial-grade herbicides . BUT it does n’t discriminate against which plants it will harm , burn anything it comes into contact with . It also may kill the leaves , but not the root system below . So , while it may be a weed Orcinus orca , it ’s not as good as you might wish and could injure your neighbouring plant .
interpret moreabout the reality of using vinegar in your garden .
Banana Peels as Fertilizer
The gardening myth : you may hook bananas in hot water supply to create a atomic number 19 - rich fertilizer tea to pour on your houseplant and in the garden .
Very picayune of the banana tree peel molder when you soak it in water supply . As a resultant role , the water does n’t have much nutritionary time value . If you put a banana tree skin directly in the filth , it will take a long time to burst down before it becomes useful to your garden . They ’re not an immediate nutritive rise and work easily when total to the compost pile .
translate to employ banana tree peels in the garden .
Eggshells in the Garden
The garden myth : shell are a calcium - copious garden amendment that can aid prevent flush end rot from fall out .
Calcium deficiency is really quite uncommon for territory . While bloom end rot occurs due to the plant ’s lack of Ca , it ’s not because there ’s a want of calcium in the grease but rather the plant life ’s ability to absorb the Ca . Furthermore , eggshells require to be fully broken down to provide calcium , and following a theme here , it take a while to break down . They ’re better off in the compost or in yourworm bin .
Read eggshell in the garden .
Dish Soap as Insecticide
The gardening myth : dish soap works as an insecticide atomizer .
Most commercial dish scoop are actually detergent , which contain constituent that are n’t actually that sizeable for the garden and your soil . Instead , you want to usefragrance - free Castilla scoop . When commingle with water and other pest deterrent ingredient , it can serve make your deterrent more muggy and useful when spraying it on pests .
Read I use dish Georgia home boy safely in my garden .
Cinnamon as a Fungicide
The garden myth : you’re able to sprinkle cinnamon in your potting soil to prevent damping off from affecting your seedlings .
Cinnamon is actually quite a herculean spice and has antibacterial and antifungal prop . Many study have proven these properties in combating illnesses for humans , and some show this for plants as well . However , many of the studies use Ceylon cinnamon tree from dissimilar species and in different forms than the powdered version we get at the grocery store .
watch to use cinnamon as an fungicide .
Talking to Plants
The garden myth : if you speak kind words to your plant , they can in reality grow better .
Sound vibrations are proven to involve plant growth positively . Does it have to be a positive affirmation ? No . Your industrial plant wo n’t love whether your words are good or bad . Music can actually have a greater effect on your plants . All in all , it does n’t count what kind of sound plants heed to , but they like interference !
say skill behind talking to plant .
Using Epsom Salts in the Garden
The gardening myth : Epsom salts can prevent and cure blossom end rot and stop pests and other fungal disease .
Epsom salts wo n’t help oneself your plant life when there ’s a Ca lack , which is why your industrial plant has flower final stage decomposition . In fact , Epsom salts are a gamy source of magnesium and that can actually hurt your works when it ’s endeavor to get more calcium . There is also no real grounds to support that it can intercept other pests and disease .
Read ways I DO use Epsom salts .
Houseplants as Air Purifiers
The garden myth : having houseplants in your home plate can avail to sublimate the air and better atmosphere character .
Without a dubiousness , plants are powerful tools to combat pollution and filter out through harmful toxin . Many large field of study ( like the far-famed NASA one ) prove that plants effectively filter air . However , most of these studies were done in small , enclosed spaces . Large , open house will make it difficult for a few houseplant to distill the air to a breaker point where it ’s positively move your health . But they certainly do n’t hurt !
Learn houseplant as biofilters .
Gardening by the Moon Phases
The garden myth : the lunar cycle can affect works growth and can be a utilitarian tool for design planting and care .
Since the moonshine can affect the worldly concern ’s tides , some believe it can also affect the water breathing in in plants . Depending on the moon ’s stage , you could decide the best time to plant , cultivate , and harvesting plants . There ’s no real grounds to support this , but that has n’t stoppedother old wife ’ talesabout gardening and the moon to pop up up .
Get enliven byplanting a lunation garden , a garden that is project to be enjoyed in the moonlight .
Using Compost Tea
The garden myth : diluting compost and using compost leachate can be utile ways to improve grime and works wellness .
There ’s a big debate about whether or not compost tea is in reality helpful for the garden . Compost Camellia sinensis is something I use in my own garden , and I have written about it quite a morsel inGarden Alchemy . Those who are against compost tea leaf say there ’s not enough evidence to confirm the positively charged claims behind compost tea .
discover more about compost teaand decide for yourself if it ’s a worthwhile pursuit .
Plants Die of Old Age
The garden myth : like us , works live aging and will finally die as they get old .
plant do not age the same way that we do . In theory , plants have uncounted growth potential as they farm more leafage , flowers , stalk , and roots . A plant can keep producing new parts to replace their honest-to-goodness one as long as they like . But as they age , they often get damaged over time and become faint . This means the old a plant is , the more likely it is to fall dupe to a pathogen .
Learn science behind aging plants .
Plants Feel Pain
The garden myth : when you snip or damage a plant life , you ’re hurting it .
works have no pain receptors ; they do n’t feel the same agency we do . However , they do experience strain and will oppose to pitiable conditions . For instance , I ’ve get wind how my garden reacts after draw offorest fire smokehas been in the air . Plants will respond to their environs but do n’t have feeling .
translate science behind plant life stressand even how they put across with each other .
Plants Don’t Need Oxygen
The gardening myth : plant take in carbon dioxide and produce O .
This one is n’t actually a myth per se , but only half of the full report . During photosynthesis , works take carbon dioxide from the air alongside water system from the earth to turn it into saccharide and O . The plant uses the saccharide , and the O is a by - product . However , during the photosynthesis process , plants do utilise some atomic number 8 . They just need a fraction of it compare to us .
Learn skill behind plant respiration .
More Old Wives’ Tales About Gardening
An previous gardening superstitious notion is that when you thank someone for gifting you a plant or a blossom from someone ’s garden , the original flora will go bad or wo n’t bloom again .
