If you are into gardening and tired of using all those chemicals in your garden then you should look into the benefits of tea tree oil on plants.
Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic that helps to fight infection in the garden. If you use it in the right way, you will surely get good results.
Contents
- 1 11 Benefits Of Tea Tree Oil On Plants
- 1.1 1. Tea Tree Oil Has Powerful Antimicrobial Properties
- 1.2 2. Using Tea Tree Oil As A Natural Pesticide Is Effective And Environmentally Friendly
- 1.3 3. Tea Tree Oil Is A Superior Anti-Fungal And Anti-Bacterial Agent
- 1.4 4. Tea Tree Oil Is Not Harmful To Plants And Insects Are Unaffected
- 1.5 5. Tea Tree Oil Act As Pest Deterrent
- 1.6 6. Tea Tree Oil Works Well With Bug Bites
- 1.7 7. Tea Tree Oil On Plants Can Be Mixed With Water Or Other Dilutions
- 1.8 8. Tea Tree Oil Is Generally Safe For People
- 1.9 9. Tea Tree Oil Is Safe For Pets
- 1.10 10. Tea Tree Oil Helps Restore Your Garden To Its Former Glory
- 1.11 11. Tea Tree Oil Works On An Array Of Different Plant Diseases
- 2 How To Use Tea Tree Oil On Plants
- 3 Tea Tree Oil On Plants – Conclusion
11 Benefits Of Tea Tree Oil On Plants
Tea Tree Oil is a colorless to pale yellow essential oil that can be found in narrow-leafed tea trees. The specific variety of the plant from which it is derived is called Melaleuca alternifolia. T
ea tree oil, a powerful antimicrobial agent, has many beneficial properties and can pose a great benefit to the health of indoor plants, especially within greenhouses.
Tea tree oil is an important component of many natural remedies, including treatments for acne and lice. It is also commonly used in alternative medicine as a defense against infectious pathogens, insect infestations, and parasitic diseases.
The antimicrobial properties are found in both the oil and the water-based solutions of tea tree oil.
In addition to its antimicrobial capabilities, this essential oil is also an effective antiviral and fungicide. It can be used in a variety of ways, ranging from perfume for humans to a pesticide treatment for plants. In the case of our indoor plants, we use it as a defense against various infectious pathogens, fungi like powdery mildew or gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), and insects.
Let’s look at the benefits of tea tree oil for plants;
1. Tea Tree Oil Has Powerful Antimicrobial Properties
Tea tree oil has been used for over 100 years as an antiseptic.
It is extremely effective against tiny bacteria that spread easily through contact with water and can cause serious infections in humans, like Staphylococcus aureus (a common bacterium that can lead to staph infection) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (which causes a various respiratory, wound, urinary tract, gastrointestinal, liver, eye infections).
It is effective against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.
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2. Using Tea Tree Oil As A Natural Pesticide Is Effective And Environmentally Friendly
Pesticides are commonly used to keep plants free of insects and other potentially harmful organisms, like fungi or bacteria. However, there are various problems with chemical pesticides. One is the fact that they can be toxic for plants as well as people who use them improperly.
Another issue is that developing countries do not always have access to these chemicals, which makes them vulnerable to plant diseases, something that can lead to famine.
Another concern is that some of these chemicals are carcinogenic and their long-term effects on humans are still unknown.
Most natural pesticides, like tea tree oil, can be just as effective as chemical pesticides but do not have any serious side effects. Tea tree oil works because microbes cannot build up a tolerance against essential oils, which means that, like all other natural pesticides, it is also very environmentally friendly.
When using essential oils as a pesticide spray for plants, make sure to only use the pure oil and not one of the premade mixes available at most pharmacies.
3. Tea Tree Oil Is A Superior Anti-Fungal And Anti-Bacterial Agent
Fungal diseases are very common in plants because the conditions required for their proliferation are easy to meet, especially indoors. Many fungicides that can legally be sold over the counter contain chemicals that have been banned because of health concerns.
Tea tree oil is a completely natural way to deal with fungal infection in plants. It can be effective against both mold and mildew.
4. Tea Tree Oil Is Not Harmful To Plants And Insects Are Unaffected
Since essential oils are made up of extremely small molecules, they cannot penetrate the cell wall of plants like other chemical pesticides do.
The oil coats the plant’s exterior but it is not able to enter through the stomata, the tiny pores used for gas exchange. This means that it is not harmful to plants and will not lead to any mutations or long-term damage.
It was shown in studies on tea tree oil that insects were completely unaffected by its use as a pesticide. It only affects the microbes that would harm the plants if they spread so the insect populations were completely unaffected and continued to thrive.
5. Tea Tree Oil Act As Pest Deterrent
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that tea tree oil repels insects and rodents. They dislike the tea tree oil smell, making them feel suffocating.
6. Tea Tree Oil Works Well With Bug Bites
If you have been bitten by a mosquito or another insect, use a drop of tea tree oil directly on the bite to reduce swelling and discomfort.
It also helps with symptoms associated with bee stings and wasp bites. Tea tree oil is anti-inflammatory, so it will reduce inflammation. It will also kill the bacteria that caused the infection, due to its antibacterial properties.
7. Tea Tree Oil On Plants Can Be Mixed With Water Or Other Dilutions
Tea tree oil can be mixed with water or other essential oils to make a spray for plants. Make sure to keep the concentration of tea tree oil the same as it is sold at pharmacies, varying only the dilution rate.
8. Tea Tree Oil Is Generally Safe For People
Tea tree oil should never be ingested because it can cause respiratory damage when inhaled in large amounts, but topically it is completely safe. Since it is non-toxic, it will not accumulate in the body.
9. Tea Tree Oil Is Safe For Pets
Just as for humans, tea tree oil is completely safe for pets. Animals do not have a sense of smell that is as acute as humans, so they cannot detect the scent of the oil. It can be applied directly to animal bites or insect bites and will not cause any harm except for a slight irritation at the point of application.
10. Tea Tree Oil Helps Restore Your Garden To Its Former Glory
Tea tree oil can be used to revitalize plants that have become weakened or sickly.
The antiseptic action of the oil against microbes will boost the plant’s natural immune system and help it fight off infections. Once plants are restored, they should no longer need additional applications of tea tree oil in the future.
11. Tea Tree Oil Works On An Array Of Different Plant Diseases
Tea tree oil can be used against most plant diseases. It is particularly effective against fungal infections but is also effective against mildew, scabies, and black spot that affects roses. Make sure to use it at least once a week for preventive maintenance to keep the plants healthy.
Tea tree oil has a lot of benefits as a natural pesticide, but it is important to understand that you cannot use this oil on every plant. It will be ineffective on some plants and entirely too strong for others. Make sure to consult a list of safe plants before applying the oil to ensure it does not kill your prized rose bushes or other plants in your garden.
If you have a plant that is suffering from mold or mildew, make a solution of one part tea tree oil and four parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the top and bottom of the leaves to get rid of any fungus infestation.
To keep plants free from disease, just mix two tablespoons of tea tree oil into a liter of water and add the mixture to your plants every other week. This will keep them healthy and free from disease without causing any harm.
How To Use Tea Tree Oil On Plants
Soak cotton balls with tea tree oil and place them in different parts of your plant’s pot for several days. This will kill most fungi, bacteria, and viruses on contact. Repeat this process regularly (daily or every other day) until the plant is fully healthy. Let’s follow the following steps;
- Step 1: Mix 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil into a quart of water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle.
- Step 2: Spray it on all surfaces, including underneath leaves and stalks when there is an infestation. Do not rinse off after spraying because that can spread the infection even further.
- Step 3: Repeat every 10 days for a month if the infection persists.
Tea tree oil can also be used on houseplants by making a solution with 10% tea tree oil and 90% water. Spray this solution over the leaves of the plant, preferably early in the morning when sunlight is less intense, for several days until you see no new spots or streaks of fungus on the plant’s leaves. You can then switch to spraying the plant every other week.
Tea Tree Oil On Plants – Conclusion
Tea tree oil has a lot of benefits when used as the solution for houseplant problems. Tea tree oil is a completely natural way to deal with diseases on plants, whether they are fungal or bacterial.
It can be effective against both mold and mildew and does not have any negative effect on insects or the plant itself. Tea tree oil is easily available and can be used to make spray or soaked cotton balls for individual plants.