As a gardening enthusiast or a farmer, using aspirin for your plants might seem like an unconventional solution, but it can work wonders for your crops. Aspirin contains salicylic acid, a compound that strengthens plant immunity, boosts crop yields, and promotes the growth of plants.
Want to know more about how this well-known drug can contribute to resilient and healthier crops? Let’s find out six reasons to give aspirin to your plants.
Now you can make your gardening endeavors more fruitful with a simple ingredient readily available in your home. Here’s why you should give aspirin to your plants:
Manages Climate Change Impact
Greenhouse gases like CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, etc., trap heat on Earth, resulting in global warming. This greenhouse effect disrupts the ideal temperature for crop maturity, inhibiting the plants’ growth and causing oxidative stress.
Here’s how salicylic acid, an active component in aspirin, helps to withstand climate change for your plants:
- Salicylic acid increases the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) level and decreases the activity of an enzyme, Catalase. This acts as a protective mechanism against oxidative damage and reduces stress levels in plants like mustard and potatoes to combat high temperatures.
- Plants like maize, wheat, chickpeas, cotton, cucumber, and bananas also show enhanced tolerance to cold temperatures when pre-treated with salicylic acid. This is due to reduced catalase (CAT) activity, electrolyte leakage, and an increased anti-oxidant enzyme reaction.
Additionally, you can also use the salicylic spray to counteract the damaging effects of UV radiation and ozone in tobacco plants and A. thaliana as demonstrated through studies.
How to Use: Crush 1-2 tablets (325mg) into finely crushed powder. Stir it in 1 liter of water until completely dissolved. Dip a cotton ball into the solution and gently apply it to the leaves every three weeks throughout the growing season.
Increases the Lifespan
Aspirin prolongs the lifetime of freshly cut flowers by lowering the pH level of the water. Specifically, the rose plants tend to survive longer when placed in aspirin water.
Roses naturally grow in acidic soil that contains many nutrients. Hence you can prepare aspirin water to create an acidic environment, which roses need to last for a longer period. Additionally, aspirin is anti-bacterial; it keeps the water clean and prevents any bacteria inside that can damage the flowers.
How to Use: Take 250-500 mg of aspirin per gallon of water, and dissolve it to make a mixture. Put the flowers inside this solution in a pot. Remember to change the water in the vase daily to further increase the lifetime of harvested flowers.
Accelerates Seed Germination
Unlock the easiest way to enhance seed germination and seedling growth with aspirin. The role of aspirin, containing salicylic acid, in improving plant seed germination significantly depends upon its concentration. Here’s how aspirin contributes to seed germination:
- Arabidopsis, when treated with salicylic acid at 0.05 — 0.5 mM exogenously, boosts seed germination by up to 80%. This is due to the application of salicylic acid, which forms proteins necessary for the germination process.
- On the other hand, when plants are treated with an excess quantity of salicylic acid than required, it can inhibit their germination process. For example, the quantity of salicylic acid above 1.1mM and 0.250 mM hinders the germination in A.thaliana and barley, respectively.
How to Use: Prepare a mixture of aspirin and water and mix it until aspirin is completely dissolved. Put the seeds in the solution and let them soak for 12-24 hours before plantation.
Boosts The Crop Yield
Aspirin enhances crop immunity by inducing systemic acquired resistance (SAR), which initiates its defense mechanism against potential pathogen invasions. The salicylic acid-binding protein 2 (SABP2) transmits the lipid-based signals to produce the plant hormone at increased levels in response to the microbe attack.
Studies have shown that aspirin effectively enhances the tomato plant’s immune system. The results proved that only 47% of plants treated with aspirin water showed infection. While a higher percentage, 94% of untreated plants, were infected with the phytoplasma pathogen.
Similarly, the United States Department of Agriculture found that salicylic acid boosts the immune response in nightshade family plants.
How to Use: Prepare the aspirin solution by adding the crushed 1-2 tablets into water. Directly add this mixture to the soil around the base of plants.
Promotes The Plant Growth
Bid farewell to stunted growth and say hello to the blooming flowers and plants with aspirin. Salicylic acid, found in aspirin, boosts plant growth by stimulating plants’ physiological and biochemical activities. Research indicates that salicylic acid enhances growth and productivity across various plant species.
In corn and soybeans, it increases the leaf area and dry mass production. Similarly, Brassica juncea shows a notable increase in dry matter accumulation at a lower concentration of salicylic acid. Furthermore, the carbohydrate and photosynthetic rates in barley, groundnut, and B.juncea are elevated when pre-treated with salicylic acid.
Additionally, salicylic acid has been shown to increase root growth in different plant species like mungbean, soybean, Daucus carota, and T. erecta. A healthy root system is the key to enhancing plant growth and productivity.
How to Use: To apply aspirin for enhancing the growth of plants, follow the steps below:
- Take three tablets of aspirin (250 to 500 milligrams) and dissolve it in 4 gallons (11.5L) of water.
- Pour the mixture into a bottle and spray it over the plants regularly every three weeks during the growing season.
Restricts the Fungus Growth
If you see the fungus spreading in your garden, using aspirin can effectively combat its growth and protect your plants. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conducted a study that has exhibited the positive effects of aspirin in fighting fungi disease.
How to Use: Here’s how you can use aspirin to eliminate the fungus growth:
- Prepare a mixture: Dissolve the aspirin tablets in water and mix it. You can take one aspirin tablet (324mg) per gallon of water.
- Applying the prepared mixture: Pour the solution into the bottle and spray it onto the affected plants. Make sure it reaches the stems, leaves, and all infected areas.
- Check the plants regularly: Inspect the condition of plants over time. Note any signs of improvement and adjust the concentration and frequency of application accordingly.
Say no to reduced growth, less crop yield, and pathogens attack by applying the aspirin mixture to the plants. Although traditional methods like pesticides and fertilizers are essential for your plants, aspirin will supplement their benefits and provide surprising results.
Witness the beauty of thriving plants by incorporating aspirin into your gardening routine. Start your journey of making your garden more flourishing and lively now!
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