There is a reason why people use vinegar as a natural weed killer: it can damage and even kill plants in a very short time. Therefore, if you accidentally spray a plant with vinegar that you do not want to kill, it can be very problematic, particularly if it is very important to you.
The best way to remove vinegar spray from plants is to dilute it by soaking the leaves and stems in lukewarm water, then amend the soil pH with lime or change it altogether and protect your plant from direct sunlight until it recovers.
The faster you act, the higher the chance of recovery, so if you act quickly, you will be able to save your plant.
Will Vinegar Spray Hurt Plants?
Vinegar is a natural herbicide, so it is capable of killing plants. However, it is highly acidic and can dry out a plant’s leaves, causing it to wilt, curl or turn brown. For this reason, using vinegar is a highly effective way to naturally kill weeds in your garden, but it can pose a problem if the vinegar spray spills onto sensitive plants.
Does White Vinegar Harm the Soil?
White vinegar is highly acidic, which can alter the soil’s pH levels. While vinegar can be an effective way to kill any fungus or bacteria in the soil, it can also kill beneficial bacteria or insects living in the soil. It can also cause the soil to dry out, depriving the plant of the nutrients and water needed to survive. For this reason, it’s likely best to explore alternatives to amend your soil.
Does Vinegar Kill Plant Roots?
The acid in the vinegar will dry out your plant’s roots to such an extent that it can kill off the roots completely. Plants need moisture to survive, so you will want to avoid letting vinegar come into contact with your plant’s roots.
What Happens if You Accidentally Spray Vinegar on Plants?
If you have accidentally sprayed vinegar onto your plants, you will want to act quickly to remove it to save the plant.
Step 1: Dilute the Vinegar as Much as Possible
You will want to reduce the damage by diluting the vinegar as much as possible to reduce the acidity. First, pour lukewarm water over the entire plant. Make sure you soak the whole plant, including the leaves, stems, and undersides of the leaves. For this step, you can use protective goggles to ensure that if any vinegar gets splashed into your eyes, they will be protected.
Step 2: Soil pH and Acidity
Next, you can neutralize the soil pH by sprinkling lime onto the soil surrounding your plant. Consider changing the soil if your plant is in a container or pot. In this case, you can soak the roots in lukewarm water and then repot your plant in fresh soil. If your plant is outdoors, add mulch to the top of the soil. This will help lock in moisture as much as possible.
Step 3: Protect From Sunlight
Next, provide your plant shade from the sun, which could damage the leaves. The vinegar may have stripped away the outer layer of the affected leaves, so you will want to protect the plant as much as possible. Cover your plant using stakes to hang a sheet over it, or if it is in a container, move it inside temporarily.
Step 4: Monitor and Recover
Monitor your plant over the next few weeks. At this time, your plant could be vulnerable to pests or other adversities, so do your best to protect it and give it optimal conditions. Once it has recovered, you can slowly and gradually reintroduce it into the sunlight. The chances of your plant fully recovering depend on how quickly you responded to the vinegar.
Can I Spray Vinegar on Plant Leaves?
You should never spray undiluted vinegar directly onto your plant leaves unless you hope to kill the plant swiftly. Household vinegar is composed of 5% acetic acid, which will destroy the cell membrane of the plant leaves. On the other hand, commercial brands can often contain up to 20% acetic acid, so you must avoid it at all costs.
Is Vinegar Good for Plant Leaves?
Generally, vinegar provides minimal, if any, benefit to a plant’s leaves. The acidity in the vinegar will strip away the outer layer of the leaf. This outer layer is how the plant retains water; without it, the plant will completely dry up and die. Some people will dilute the vinegar mixture with water and spray that on the leaves. This can reduce the damage to your plant, but it will also reduce the efficacy of the benefits.
Can You Spray Vinegar on Plants to Kill Bugs?
While vinegar is an effective pesticide as it will kill many bugs on contact, you should be careful when using it on your plants for any reason. You can try to spray heavily diluted vinegar on your plant leaves to combat pests, as long as you make sure that you test it before on a single leaf and monitor your plant for signs of stress before proceeding to treat the rest of the plant.
If you use diluted vinegar, ensure it does not get into the soil, as it will dry out and kill off any nutrients. In most cases, there are more effective alternatives to using vinegar to kill bugs which you should explore first, as introducing vinegar to your plants can be incredibly risky.
Alternatives to Spraying Your Plants With Vinegar
There are several different alternatives to vinegar that you can use on your plants that will not harm them. It’s always good practice to introduce any new product, chemical, or method on a single leaf before treating the entire plant, as some can be more sensitive than others. Here are a few alternatives to vinegar that will solve common plant problems:
- For pest prevention, many alternatives will work more effectively than spraying vinegar on your plants, from insecticidal soap to neem oil, to gentle dish soap or castile soap, and even adding diluted mint essential oil.
- To clean your plant’s leaves, you can simply use a microfiber cloth with some water to give your plant leaves a shine.
- To treat root rot, you can use hydrogen peroxide instead of vinegar, effectively killing off any unwanted bacteria or fungus in the roots. You can also use this to kill any pests hiding in the soil, particularly if they are in their egg or larva stage. Hydrogen peroxide will also kill any beneficial bacteria in the soil, so you may have to supplement the soil with a soil enhancer or add some diluted fertilizer after treatment.
- Instead of using vinegar to repel household pets, try moving your plant to an inaccessible place, such as on a shelf or in a room where the door can be closed.
Summary
While vinegar is an inexpensive, everyday household item with many uses and benefits, spraying it on your plants can have catastrophic results due to its acidic properties. Not only can it harm the leaves of the plant, but it can also damage the roots and change the soil pH.
If you accidentally spray vinegar or use a vinegar-based spray on your plants, there is a chance that you can still save your plant as long as you act quickly.
The best way to remove vinegar spray from plants is to dilute it by soaking it in lukewarm water, then amend the soil pH or change it altogether and protect your plant from direct sunlight until it recovers. To prevent future vinegar damage to your plant, avoid spraying neighboring plants with vinegar before setting up a protective covering.