Revive your succulents with these simple hacks
What's the story
Succulents are all the rage nowadays, what with their low maintenance and quirky looks, but sometimes they just refuse to thrive. Luckily, you can bring them back to life with some common household items. Using these simple solutions, you can bring your succulents back to life without splurging on fancy products or calling an expert. With things you probably already have at home, solve issues like overwatering, pests, nutrient deficiencies, etc.
Coffee grounds
Use coffee grounds for nutrients
Coffee grounds are an excellent source of nitrogen and other key nutrients that succulents require for healthy growth. Just sprinkle a little bit of used coffee grounds on the soil surrounding your succulent every few weeks. This will give a slow-release fertilizer effect, improving soil quality over time. Just be careful not to overdo it, as too much nitrogen can hurt your plants.
Eggshells
Eggshells for calcium boost
Succulents love the calcium carbonate present in eggshells. Crush clean eggshells into small pieces, and mix them into the soil or sprinkle them on top of the soil surface. The calcium will leach into the soil, gradually giving an essential nutrient boost. This yields strong cell walls in your plants.
Vinegar solution
Vinegar solution for pest control
A diluted vinegar solution can be an effective way to control pests, such as aphids and mealybugs, on succulents. Mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a spray bottle, and lightly mist affected areas of your plant. The acidity of vinegar helps deter pests without harming the plant when used sparingly. Ensure not to saturate the leaves or roots with this solution.
Cinnamon powder
Cinnamon powder as fungicide
Cinnamon powder serves as a natural fungicide that prevents root rot in succulents from fungal infections due to overwatering or poor drainage conditions. Dust some cinnamon powder on affected areas after trimming away any rotted parts from your plant's roots/stems before repotting it into fresh soil mix, if necessary.
Banana peel
Banana peel fertilizer
Banana peels are loaded with potassium, which is crucial for succulent growth and photosynthesis. They also make roots resilient against drought. When you compost chopped peels directly under the soil, they break down slowly, releasing nutrients naturally over time. Plus, it's way cheaper than commercial fertilizers and doesn't harm the environment either.