A potted green plant is surrounded by a rectangular white box with a black outline. Inside the box, black text reads "DIY Plant Therapy." The background consists of stone tiles and gravel.
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DIY Plant Therapy

ByLisa
2 Comments

Ok friends, today I am coming at you with something a little outside of my box, but I felt like it was worth sharing! So let’s talk about plants. If you know me at all, you know plants are somewhat of a challenge for me, particularly since we have moved to Colorado. We have a very tricky climate here and clay soil. The weather changes at the drop of a hat and temperatures can swing 40 degrees in one day. Crazy I know! And on top of all of that, it doesn’t rain much here. Yes, we get a lot of snow in the winter, but we have very little humidity so snow melts quickly. So why am I telling you this? Mostly, to justify why I have difficulty with plants so you don’t judge me 🙂A lush green plant with broad leaves and small budding flowers growing amidst smooth, rounded gray stones. Tall grass is visible on the right side.

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A few years ago when we added our patio I found this plant called Sedum that I totally fell in love with! It is drought tolerant which is great for me and Colorado’s climate and they are super low maintenance. Late in the summer/fall the flowers turn red and they are so pretty! I have several of these in our yard and in pots and haven’t had any trouble, until this season! My Sedum that I have planted in two of my pots started coming back in the Spring and naturally I did my victory dance because I hadn’t managed to kill them yet 🙂 This is what it looked like in May. See it there behind Miss Moka? A black and tan dog with white markings lies on a green outdoor sofa. The sofa is adorned with a red and a patterned pillow. The scene is set on a patio with potted plants and a wooden fence in the background.But then one day in June I noticed my favorite plants looked like they were shrinking! What??? Upon closer inspection, it appeared they were being eaten by bugs! And in a matter of days my plants went from this.A potted Euphorbia plant with green leaves and thick stems is placed in an outdoor garden setting, surrounded by a wooden fence and stone pavement. The soil in the pot is covered with dried stems and mulch.To this! Kinda looks like asparagus, right?A potted euphorbia tirucalli plant with numerous green, pencil-like stems in a black pot, set outdoors on a grassy area with a wooden fence and stone border in the background.

I told my mom about it because she is the plant whisperer (if only she could whisper to my plants 🙁 ) And she told me about a “DIY Therapy” she tried on some of her’s and had success with. I figured, eeeh why not. What do I have to loose? Sticks? The therapy is vinegar and peppermint oil in a spray bottle. That’s it. I used 1 1/2 cups of vinegar to 15 drops of peppermint oil.A countertop displaying a spray bottle, a large jug of distilled white vinegar, a small bottle of peppermint essential oil, a measuring cup, and a cap. These items are likely for making a homemade cleaning solution.I sprayed my plants liberally, coating all the areas. Then after a few weeks it started coming back! And no more bugs!!!A close-up of a potted succulent plant in a black pot. The plant has green, fleshy stems and is surrounded by dried roots on the soil. The pot is placed on an outdoor patio with paving stones and gravel nearby.And this is what it looks like now, a little over a month later. Potted succulent plant with thick, fleshy green leaves, placed on stone tiles with pebbles visible in the background. A lush, green succulent plant with thick, rounded leaves grows in a black pot. The background features a wooden fence with a gravel surface beneath. A lush, green plant with small, rounded leaves grows in a black pot placed on a stone patio. The background shows a mix of grass and white pebbles.I highly recommend trying this if you have a bug problem with your plants! It was very easy to make and was effective after only spraying them once. However, I am NOT a plant expert, so proceed at your own risk 😉

Enjoy reading along? Subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a post! Are you on social media? We can be friends! Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!Collage of plant regrowth and DIY cleaning supplies. Top: two images of potted plants with new growth. Bottom left: bottles of all-purpose spray, vinegar, dish soap, and a measuring cup. Bottom right: close-up of a green, leafy plant. Text reads "DIY Plant Therapy".

 

2 Comments

  1. What a great tip, thanks! I also really like that the treatment is all natural, no yucko chemicals involved! Happy to see your plants made a come back.

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Shelley! And surprisingly it smells more minty than vinegary 🙂 I will take any small victories I can in the plant department!

      Reply

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