Will Plants Grow Better With Vinegar or Water?

Vinegar has a high acid content, which means that adding it to soil will lower the pH of the soil. Adding a vinegar to petunias, spider plants or coleus plants can cause the plant to suffer, wilt or die. Therefore, plants grow better with water.

Benefits

Soils that have a lot of limestone in it will benefit from adding one part vinegar mixed with eight parts water to the soil. This is only if the plant that is planted in the soil has a low pH needed. Some plants will grow better when water and vinegar is used.

Plants

Blueberry plants need a low pH level in the soil of about 7.0 parts per million. If the soil has a high pH, vinegar will benefit the blueberry plants by lowering the pH. Other plants that need low soil pH include azaleas, rhododendrons and grape plants.

Warning

Before adding vinegar to soil, the soil must be tested for pH levels. Soil testing is done at your county agricultural extension office.

Effect Of Acidic Vinegar Water On The Growth Rate Of Plants?

Vinegar is highly acidic, and it can have many negative effects on the growth of plants. Vinegar is often used as a natural weed killer, and any contact with a plant may damage or kill the plant. The acetic acid found in vinegar is the most harmful element to plants. Repeated use on young, actively growing annuals can cause more damage, even preventing the weeds from establishing roots and setting seeds that allow them to self-sow for their next growth cycle. Vinegar can lower the pH of soil and prevent plants from growing. Low pH levels are not suitable for the growth of many plants. The acidity of household vinegar, with about 5 percent acetic acid, is not strong to cause lasting damage to the soil, and the soil should return to normal pH levels after a few days.