Coconut oil is highly beneficial for human beings. But is it the same case with plants as well? Can coconut oil be used on plants? Is it beneficial for their health? Let’s figure it out in this article.
Coconut oil is good for plants. It provides them with adequate nutrients and nourishment. Specifically, coconut oil on leaves gives a shiny look and repels dust; on roots, it helps absorb moisture. Hence, using coconut oil on plants is safe and beneficial for their overall health.
But you might wonder about the additional benefits that coconut oil offers. Yes, there is a lot to know more about coconut oil and how it is an excellent oil for the health of plants.
Is Coconut Oil Good for Plants?
Coconut oil is good for plants. It acts as a great dusting and shining agent. It is a good moisturizer for plants. It can make homemade plant-based pesticides and fungicides. Coconut oil is also used to repel pests like ants, aphids, and mealybugs.
Coconut oil offers various health benefits to plants. It prevents the plants from diseases and helps them grow. Since it is used as a fertilizer, it is applied to the leaves of plants to help with plant diseases like powdery mildew.
It also acts as an insect repellent, protecting plants from insects that may try to eat them or damage their leaves.
Coconut oil benefits plants by improving root systems and reducing the risk of water loss because of evaporation.
Some of the top benefits of coconut oil for plants have been listed in the next section of the article. Read further.
This is the coconut oil we have used on our indoor plants. You can find it on amazon at a great price by clicking here!
Benefits of Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil has many benefits for plants and gardens. It might sound astonishing how coconut oil can benefit plants, but this is true.
The general benefits of using coconut oil on your plants include:
- It gives them a boost in immunity and helps them fight off diseases and viruses
- It moisturizes their leaves to keep them looking healthy
- It promotes faster growth
- It helps them absorb nutrients better
- It boosts their flavor with its natural sweetness
Besides this, the following are the specific benefits that coconut oil offers to plants:
Coconut Oil for Glossy Appearance of Leaves
If you are behind the glossy look of leaves, then coconut oil is the best option. All you have to do is rub a wee bit of coconut oil on plant leaves. Take a cotton cloth and add some drops of coconut oil to it.
Gently rub the cloth on the leaves. You can also apply cotton cloth dipped with coconut oil to foliage as it disrupts the leaves from absorbing too much moisture.
See the magic! A little coconut oil makes the leaves shine more and look beautiful.
I have also used a cost-effective Liquid Fertilizer called Purived to help strengthen my plant leaves, stems, and their overall health. You can find it by clicking here!
Coconut Oil for Improving the Quality of Fertilizer
Fertilizers are an essential ingredient for determining the quality of the soil. Hence, before adding fertilizer to the soil, add drops of coconut oil. Coconut oil acts as a surfactant. Therefore, it will provide better coverage to plants and gardens.
Coconut Oil for Preventing Grass from Sticking
Often, the grass gets stuck to the lawnmower catcher. Use coconut oil to get rid of this problem. All you need to do is coat the lawnmower’s inside with coconut oil. This has to be done before mowing the garden.
The most significant advantage of applying oil to a lawnmower is that it helps in preventing the glass blades from sticking. Blades can also be coated with coconut oil, so the grass doesn’t get stuck on them.
Coconut Oil for Pest Control
Coconut oil comprises fatty acids. These fatty acids contain such long-lasting repellant properties that they can prevent the attack of pests. Coconut oil compounds help repel the biting of flies, ticks, bedbugs, and mosquitos.
A study by the USDA found that coconut oil compounds acted as a better repellant than DEET. It was found to have strong and long-lasting repelling effects that can help pest control.
Coconut Oil for Weed Killing
Coconut oil can be used as a weed killer or an herbicide. It is the best alternative option where there is no use of chemicals to kill weeds.
Coconut oil is a suitable option for this purpose because coconut oil contains plenty of fatty acids, also known as nonanoic or pelargonic acids.
The presence of this acid impairs the ability of plants to take part in the photosynthesis process further and remove the waste through transpiration. The weed cannot retain its moisture through this procedure and hence dies.
Cleaning Leaves with Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an all-natural, non-toxic, and environment-friendly way to clean leaves. It is also inexpensive and can be used in a variety of ways.
It can be used as an alternative to chemical products for cleaning leaves. It can also be used as a fertilizer for the soil in your garden or container plants.
This idea is not new. It has been around for a while. People have been using coconut oil to clean their leaves for years. This is because coconut oil is a natural product with no harsh chemicals that will damage the plant’s leaves.
Without damaging it, it can remove dirt and grime from the leaves of plants, such as palms and ferns. It can also be used as an insect repellent and an organic fertilizer for plants.
It handles the cleanliness of the leaves with coconut oil in such a way that the leaves become bright, shiny, and glossy. Besides this, every part of the plant gains nourishment.
Can Coconut Oil be Used in Soil?
Coconut oil is a type of oil extracted from a coconut’s meat. It is a natural product that has many uses.
One of these uses is as a soil conditioner.
It can be used in soil because it has high levels of nutrients and is an excellent natural fungicide.
It helps improve the soil quality and can also help with pest control. When coconut oil is mixed with compost, it helps suppress weed growth and improves the overall health of your plants.
It can protect them from frost, pests, and other harmful elements.
It can be used in place of petroleum-based products such as pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides because it provides all three functions without harming the environment or your plants’ roots or leaves.
It is also known for its ability to improve the soil structure and its ability to retain water.
Coconut oil can be used in soil because it has high levels of nutrients and is an excellent natural fungicide.
The Downsides of Using Coconut Oil
The only downside of using coconut oil while cleaning your plants is that it can get expensive over time because you will need to buy more coconut oil every few months, depending on how often you use it on your plants.
Besides this, it can also make the soil too wet and cause root rot. So, coconut oil should be used carefully.
Besides, coconut oil is beneficial for the health of plants because of its properties. Coconut, apart from being used as an oil, can also be further used for various purposes.
For instance, coconut shells are used for creating furniture and coconut bowls. Coconut bowls are biodegradable and decompose naturally into organic compounds once used.
Coconut bowls provide many long-term benefits. Hence, there is no specific downside to using coconut oil. Ensure coconut oil while on the plant isn’t exposed to high levels of sunlight; otherwise, the plant gets sunburnt.
The Takeaway
Coconut oil is good for plants. It is a natural and organic way to care for your plants. It can be used in many plants, including flowers, vegetables, and trees.
It is also safe for the environment and will not harm other nearby plants when applied to the soil. Coconut oil is one of the best plant oils for growth and development. It is an excellent source of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that help fight disease in plants.
Coconut oil offers nourishment, adequate nutrients, and a shiny look to the plants. It also enhances roots’ absorbing quality and improves plants’ retention capacity. It has been proven beneficial for the overall health of plants.
So, use coconut oil on plants and see the difference!
