If the idea of using vinegar on succulents is like nails on a blackboard, you’ll be really surprised to learn that this is something several succulent owners do!
Vinegar may be considered a gardener’s best friend and for succulents, the household condiment has a myriad of uses.
Grab that old bottle of vinegar that has been covered in dust in the depths of your pantry, get ready to read about the essentials of using vinegar on succulent plants.
When used correctly vinegar won’t kill your succulents
Vinegar has been an integral part of garden practice for centuries, and while it is an acid, it is simply a weak acid that can be mixed with water for horticultural purposes.
As a plant that enjoys acidity, succulents can accept and flourish with the small usage of vinegar.
If used improperly vinegar has the capability of harming/killing your important succulents, as we further explain.
Believe it or not, vinegar does have some great benefits for your succulents
Vinegar has a variety of amazing uses for succulents that are definitely worth a try!
Here are a few that have been used and proven.
1- Use vinegar to clean water stains from your succulent
If you use hard water to water your succulents, you’ll notice white buildup on the soil or container or on the leaves of the plant.
This white buildup is caused by calcium and magnesium contained in the water and will also cause watering issues with the succulent as you notice the white buildup on the plant.
Doing the following will take care of the white stains with no harm to the plant when you:
- Spray the succulent with a diluted vinegar
- Let it sit for about 30 seconds
- Rinse the plant off under running water
The vinegar will dissolve all the hard water stains.
You may want to consider repotting the succulent in fresh soil that has no hard water so the stains do not re-occur.
Important – Be careful with letting the vinegar go into soil as this will ultimately kill the succulent.
2 – Vinegar can help manage succulent water problems
Succulents are best suited to acidic soil, with an ideal pH balance of 6.5 to 6.0.
You may want to test the pH of your water and lower it to an appropriate level with both white vinegar and distilled vinegar.
This is useful if you are watering your plants with tap water.
In addition, vinegar will help to soften tap water that is considered hard and causing a scale build up on both the succulents and the soil.
Before each watering, test the pH of the vinegar solution, as the tap water can vary in pH. If the pH is acceptable, continue to use the solution in every watering.
3 – You can control fungus on the leaves of your succulent with vinegar
To eliminate surface mold from your broader-leaved succulents, you can use diluted vinegar.
You may lose leaves but the vinegar will stop the fungus and kill it.
Make sure your vinegar is no more than culinary strength and lightly spray the plant where you see mold.
You may get some light damage but it will save the plant.
4 – Vinegar can be effective in removing insects
While vinegar does kill some insects, it is not as good at removing sapsuckers or other waxy pests compared to the rubbing alcohol that is frequently applied.
Vinegar simply does not penetrate or remove moisture from insects to the same degree that alcohol does. You can try a stronger concentration (dangerous) or apply it by physically, even damaging the plant further!
5 – Protect succulent seedlings from mould with vinegar
Vinegar can help keep a check on mold when germinating seeds.
Succulents or seedlings are especially prone to the mold in compost.
When compost sits in a moist, warm environment can cause mold to emerge and become overwhelming for the seedlings some insects and flying insects lay eggs that can lead to mold.
Vinegar is more effective than anything else, especially with regard to mold that is growing across the surface of the soil.
This suspended mold is especially lethal, and mold can spread quickly to destroy your entire seed tray. Misting this mold with vinegar will stop the spread, and save your seedlings.
Interestingly: The seedlings can survive the vinegar, but too much vinegar can kill the seedlings.
Can I use vinegar on my succulent plant?
If you are using vinegar on your succulents, make sure it is diluted and consider rinsing off any application time after topical application.
If left on a succulent, this can burn surrounding tissues and penetr planes opening that will damage the thick waxy cuticle of the leaves, stem, and roots, making it more susceptible to fungal infection.
Use the right vinegar
It is vital that you do not use vinegar on your sweet succulent that is too strong:
- Despite its name, horticultural vinegar, this is highly corrosive and will eliminate almost any foliage that touches it because it comes in 20+% pure acid. This can also cause a nasty burn to you.
- Household vinegar is 3-10% acid, depending on which kind you have, and will not kill your plant. Anything in this range is strong enough for any plant. Carefully, it can also burn when used without dilution. White vinegar is commonly a 4-7% acetic acid.
How much vinegar should I be using?
The amount of vinegar to use will depend on the pH and buffering capacity of your water .
The use of measurements like teaspoon per gallon and/or percentages can put your plant at risk .
It may take a trial and error framework so be prepared to alter your vinegar solution for each watering .
Damage from applying vinegar to succulents
Don’t mistake the thick skin of your succulent plants into believing that spraying them won’t cause damage.
Even durable plants such as aloe, jade, or euphorbia can scar surprisingly easily.
Most damage is cosmetic, but fungal outbreaks can happen to the point of killing the plant after a vinegar application.
Don’t allow the vinegar to dry on the plant, seriously. Often, death from vinegar exposure is delayed for several months after the vinegar application.
Citric acid is an effective alternative to vinegar
Certain succculent owners prefer to acidify the water with citric acid.
Most of the plant moms and dads out there use white vinegar because they already have it on hand, but citric acid is easier to measure out and will probably take a whole lot less than the vinegar to prepare one batch of acidified water (assuming you use the and not add it to the water each time and make the water acidic just once).
Once you understand citric acid, it’s easy to find in stores, or online, and will last a long time.
Rounding up
Without a doubt, vinegar is a part of the delicate balance of taking care of succulents.
But also extremely easy to get wrong and harm your plant.
Don’t leave the vinegar on the foliage of your succulent and, if you are using it to acidify your water, be sure to check the pH is proper for your plant.