How to Use Milk As A Garden & Houseplant Fertilizer

If someone told you to pour milk on your plants, would you do it? Probably not. But, today I will tell you why you could (and should) use milk as a fertilizer for your plants.

I remember visiting my Aunt Pam and Uncle Bernie as a kid and watching them save food scraps, milk, eggs, and other compostable items. Then we would take a fun trip to their backyard and spread the compostable goods into their garden area. My favorite was throwing the eggshells and then stepping on them to hear them crack even more. I also remember pouring expired whole milk from a carton – BUT – I never questioned, “why milk?” until now.

While using milk as a fertilizer is a little more complicated than just dousing your garden with a carton of fresh milk, it’s a great way to keep your plants healthy and beautiful! So let’s talk about the benefits of fertilizing with milk and the process you need to use to get the most out of this gardening hack!

The Benefits of Using Milk As A Garden & Houseplant Fertilizer

Believe it or not, milk has been used as fertilizer for centuries. All the reasons that make milk healthy for humans are why it is also great for plants! The calcium keeps plants from drooping, vitamin B is essential to plant growth, and other proteins in the milk keep plants from developing infections.

But how do you use milk as a fertilizer?

It’s important to note that milk should not be left undiluted and used as fertilizer. If you pour milk directly from the carton into the soil surrounding the plant, it will spoil quickly, making your garden smell and potentially grow mold. The key is finding a balance for the amount of milk you plan to use in your garden and indoor houseplants.

What Type of Milk Can I Use for My Plants?

You might be wondering what type of milk is best. The answer is all types of milk can be used for fertilizer! Using milk slightly past its expiration date can be a great way to reduce waste, but any kind of milk will work well as fertilizer.

Evaporated, skimmed, and even powdered milk are all great options for improving the well-being of your plants!

This is such a crazy gardening and plant hack; I am still mind-boggled! So next time you’re looking for a way to bolster the size of your plants, either in your home or in your garden, you don’t have to look any further than your refrigerator!

Is Milk Good for Indoor Plants?

We all know milk is good for our bodies, but did you know it can also benefit your houseplants?

While you may not think of giving your plants a glass of milk, it can help them to grow and stay healthy. So if you’re looking for a way to give your plants an extra boost, consider adding milk to their diet.

Milk is A Great Source of Nutrients for Plant

Milk is an excellent source of plant nutrients, including calcium and nitrogen.

Taking good care of houseplants is not only about the right environment but also about giving them a well balanced diet.

Plant fertilizers are great for ensuring plant nutrition, but did you know that milk can be an excellent plant food too? Milk contains both nitrogen and calcium, two essential nutrients for plants.

When used as plant fertilizer and diluted with water, milk gives plants a much needed boost. Not only does this help keep houseplants healthy and happy, increased plant vigor also helps protect vegetation from pests and diseases.

So the next time you’re looking for a way to provide your houseplants with essential nutrients, remember that nutrient-rich milk can do the trick!

Milk Can Help to Promote Growth

Milk can help to promote growth and prevent disease in plants.

Milk is much more than just a drink for humans, it can also be used to help plants grow and ward off disease! While it might sound strange at first glance, using milk in the garden has been around since ancient times as an organic form of pest control. Not only can you spray an affected plant with milk, but you can also dilute it and use it as fertilizer – giving your plants the nutrition they need to get healthy again. So the next time you have extra milk in your fridge, don’t forget about your green thumb- bring it out to the garden and see what wonders it can do!

Keep An Eye Out for Bugs

However, milk can also attract pests to your plants, so be sure to keep an eye out for bugs.

When gardening, milk is a great go-to tool for encouraging strong, healthy plants. With its high calcium content, it’s the perfect nutrient-rich addition to your soil.

However, caution should be taken when applying milk to your houseplants – it can attract pests to your plants if left unchecked. Whether mildew or aphids are the culprits, it’s important to keep an eye out and check your plants regularly to make sure no bugs decide to linger.

As long as you educate yourself on natural methods of pest control and stay vigilant about inspecting your garden for any unwanted, unsightly visitors, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of milky goodness for your indoor plants!

If you do see bugs, I would water your plant thoroughly and then use Yellow Sticky Traps.

How to Use Milk As A Fertilizer

For Your Garden

I’ve found that a mixture that is equal parts milk and water tends to work best when using milk in your garden. For just a few small plants, try using a spray bottle with the milk mixture, spritzing directly at the soil surrounding the plant.

For a large garden or outdoor plants, mix milk and water in a watering can for the best results. It’s also essential not to over-fertilize your plants. Employing this milk fertilizer every six to eight weeks can be very effective in speeding up the growth rate of your plants.

For Your Houseplants

Houseplants won’t need much because they do not get as much sunlight and exposure to natural air as outdoor plants. You will want to just add just a tablespoon or two of milk to a quart-size pitcher filled with water. Mix it and then pour the diluted milk into the soil once or twice a month. I’ve tried it and had great success with my Jade Plant, English Ivy, Parlor Palm, and Spider Plant.

Conclusion

Milk is a great way to give your plants extra nutrients, but be careful of pests! Watering your plant and using Yellow Sticky Traps should help to keep the bugs away. Have you ever tried milk for your plants? Let us know in the comments below!