Plant your seedlings with this simple remedy - strong shoots, lush flowering, and a rich harvest are guaranteed! Is it possible to water indoor flowers with beer (stale)? How to water flowers with beer.
Nothing will stop the desire of true gardeners to improve the lives of their plants. Each of us wants his favorite flowers to grow, bloom and not get sick. So flower lovers decide to experiment with various things after reading advice on the Internet or hearing something out of the blue from friends. One of these common modern miracle tips is watering flowers with beer. But is it really possible to water indoor flowers with beer?
Why all the cheese?
I want to start with why people even thought of watering indoor flowers with beer. The fact is that yeast has been used in agriculture as a plant feed since the 1970s. At first they fed mainly cucumbers and tomatoes; later the technique was adapted for floriculture.
For example, indoor flowers need fertilizer even more than other green spaces. After all, they grow in
The secret to the effectiveness of yeast feeding is that yeast is a fungus that, when it gets into the soil, begins to change its composition. Microorganisms living in the planting soil awaken under the influence of yeast fungi, and once in a favorable environment, they begin to actively process organic matter. During this decomposition, a large amount of nitrogen and potassium is released, which, in turn, are very necessary for indoor flowers in cramped pots, where there is a limited amount of soil, and, consequently, an area for collecting nutrients. In addition, children at home may not find themselves in the most favorable conditions for growth and development. They are often placed on window sills, where it is too dry and hot or, conversely, there are drafts and lack of sunlight. All this has to be compensated for by the timely use of various types of fertilizers. As a result of its availability and low cost, yeast as a supplement came in handy.
Yeast stimulates the growth of the root system and shoots of plants, improves flowering. Some gardeners note that after using yeast fertilizers, flowers simply come to life. In addition, yeast is considered not only a good growth stimulator, it also has a positive effect on plant immunity. At the moment, yeast is used in the production of many modern fertilizers, for example, Baikal M1.
What does yeast feeding have to do with the idea of watering indoor flowers with beer? The most direct. Beer contains brewer's yeast. Apparently, someone, having learned about the benefits of yeast fertilizer for plants, remembered this and decided to try diluted beer as a fertilizer. When did this first happen?
It is unlikely that anyone will accurately answer this question. Most likely, a very long time ago, and perhaps the discoverer even had good results.
Should you water flowers with beer?
To answer this question you need to evaluate the pros and cons. The advantages of beer feeding include the following:
1. usefulness of brewer's yeast for plants;
2. the presence of hops and malt in beer, which can also provide the flower with additional nutrients.
However, in this barrel of honey there is far from being a spoon, but rather a big piece of ointment. Modern beer production technology involves a far different list of components (water, yeast, hops and malt) that were involved in the last century. Nowadays various concentrates and preservatives are added to beer, which allow the drink to be stored for up to six months, which would be completely impossible with the classic composition of beer.
If you water flowers with beer with such a composition, you may not feed, but rather kill the flower completely. Is it worth it? The modern flower market offers many tested, certified fertilizers for indoor flowers. Their use will be much safer. Perhaps in the days of making beer without chemicals, watering plants with beer was effective and safe, but only the manufacturer of the drink will say this now, if he goes to reveal the trade secret of making the drink.
Watering flowers with beer: feeding proportions
If the previous arguments do not alarm you, you are firmly confident in the quality of the beer you consume, or you brew a foamy drink yourself, you can try beer fertilizing when watering flowers. To do this, mix beer with water in a ratio of 1X10 and water the plants periodically. But don't do it too often. If there is an excess of such fertilizing, mold will begin to form on the soil, an unpleasant odor will appear, and moss may even grow. Everything is good in moderation.
Conclusion: Despite the usefulness of fertilizing plants with yeast, I would answer the question of whether it is possible to water flowers with beer in the negative. Especially considering that there is no significant need for this.
There is another option - to water the flowers not with beer, but to feed them using the usual nutritional yeast. Yeast is in every housewife's kitchen. Both raw and dry are suitable. In fact, there is no such fertilizer to be used. If you want to feed your flowers with yeast, you don’t have to use beer for this - you can buy ready-made yeast-based fertilizer at a flower or garden store. This decision is also supported by the fact that for different plants the proportions of yeast may be different. This is taken into account when making fertilizers. What is beneficial for a cactus can be disastrous for a violet.
We prepare the fertilizer like this:
Take ten grams of yeast per 10 liters of water,
Add three tablespoons of sugar to the solution,
Mix the solution and let it sit for a couple of hours in a warm place to allow fermentation to begin.
That's all. You can start feeding.
If you are a beer lover and have no one to drink with, then drinking beer with a flower is not recommended.
If you water flowers with beer, you can kill the flower completely. The fact is that now almost all beer is added with all sorts of chemicals that are harmful to both humans and plants.
Natural beer contains yeast sediment, which contains bacteria. So, these bacteria can contribute to the development in the soil where the flower grows of new bacteria that are not known how they will affect the growth of the flower. The same bacteria can kill those that are already present in the soil and this will cause the flower to die.
The fact that the dough grows from yeast will not work with the flower. So it's better not to take risks.
I think it’s not worth it - there is still no yeast in the finished beer and there cannot be, they are extracted from there, and vitamins and microelements useful for humans can be harmful to plants. And then don’t forget that beer is a product of plant origin; it is unknown how it will affect plants. At home we sometimes water flowers with diluted milk.
I think that beer contains a lot of substances that are beneficial for plants, but of course, potted flowers should not be watered with beer, but with a mixture of it and water in a ratio of at least 1 to 10.
In my childhood, it was believed that it was good to fertilize flowers with water drained from meat. Yes, the flowers grew better, but there were worms in the ground. Therefore, first you need to test how much beer is good for plants and safe for the earth, and then water it.
I’m curious, for what purpose did you need this? Beer contains carbohydrates and vitamins that have too complex a structure to be absorbed by the plant. At the same time, these substances can cause rapid growth of bacteria and fungi, which are not at all desirable in the soil. It is better to water the plants with tea; the tannins contained in it, on the contrary, can destroy unwanted microorganisms living in the soil.
No. Well, to be more precise, not only is it not recommended to water flowers with current beer, but you shouldn’t drink it yourself. And the point is not a protest against alcohol, but the fact that dangerous components are added to beer, so simple hops and malt are a thing of the distant past. But. If we are talking about natural beer (let’s say you are your own brewer), then in this case you can water the flowers. But, at the same time, it is worth understanding that the beer must be diluted. The most universal proportion is 1 to 10. This will give the flower strength, saturate it with the necessary components and allow the flower to grow better.
So, when watering a flower with beer, it is better to refrain if you are not sure of the quality of the drink.
I know that brewer's yeast is used as a plant food because it stimulates the growth of the root system, that is, it is especially useful for young seedlings and when replanting plants. I also heard that in some places they use beer to water plants and it seems that this makes the flowering plants feel very good and they immediately begin to bloom. Of course, for watering it is not pure beer that is used, but diluted and, if I call it correctly, live fermentation. The norm for diluting beer varies from 1 to 10 to 1 to 40. Probably, this norm is different for different flowers and you need to experiment with the proportion yourself. In addition, beer contains potassium, that is, in fact, it is an easily digestible potassium fertilizer. And potassium stimulates flowering, which may be why beer is praised as a fertilizer.
If you want to experiment and are not afraid that the flower will disappear, you can try it.
My wife grows only flowers that bloom and are very difficult to care for, so she took the offer to water the flowers with diluted beer as if I had offered her to pour acid on them.
It turns out that beer can cause pests in the soil and they feed on the small roots of indoor plants.
As a result, the plant does not seem to disappear, since the large roots of the flower are not affected, but there is no growth (flowering).
And the pests in the pot are so small that when you look at the ground, you won’t see them right away. Many can only be seen through a microscope.
On one of the gardening forums I read information about the beneficial effects of watering with spent brewer’s yeast on growth and flowering, but now focus only on flowering plants. Moreover, not for everything. Ficuses, cacti, roses and many indoor plants grow well. But when watering, the soil in the pots became covered with mold, and then became stale and smelled strongly.
If anyone finds it useful: Yeast is used after 4-5 generations. You can't water them clean. It is necessary to do a very strong dilution. One tablespoon per 8 liter bucket. If pouring with light beer, then use a 1/10 dilution.
Of course, first of all, beer is wonderful in itself - as a drink, but there are also many everyday situations in which it can be useful. Try using it in the garden, kitchen and bathroom. Below we offer 12 unusual ways to use beer. Maybe next time you need to grab some extra packaging at the store?
In the garden
1. Both garden and indoor plants can be watered and sprayed with beer from time to time. Sugar and yeast promote the development of beneficial bacteria in the soil, which are good for vegetables, flowers and herbs. 
2. Mix a bottle of beer with a cup of ammonia, dilute the mixture in 15 liters of water and pour it into the compost pit to speed up the decomposition process.
3. To easily get rid of snails and slugs, place a shallow bowl of beer in the garden in the evening - they will crawl towards the tasty drink. 
4. Place cups of beer around the perimeter of your area - for some time this will save you from bees and wasps.
In the kitchen
5. If you have fruit flies, a glass of beer will help. Cover the container with cling film, leaving a small opening for flies to enter. They won't be able to get out. 
6. The acid present in beer makes it a good cleaning agent, especially for brass and copper cookware. You can also pamper your gold jewelry by putting it in beer. Wait until it is absorbed, then rinse with water and dry your rings, bracelets and chains with a soft cloth.
7. Beer makes an excellent trap for cockroaches. Soak a piece of bread in the drink and place it in the bottom of a glass jar. Lubricate the neck of the vessel with Vaseline. Kitchen monsters will get inside, but will not be able to get out of the jar. 
8. A foamy drink is an excellent addition to marinades, barbecue sauces, and fluffy dough. You can also add it to water when steaming clams, cooking shrimp or even rice. Well, how can you not remember the classic recipe - chicken on a can of beer? 
In the bathroom
9. Wash your hair with beer to give it shine. Some people advise simply applying the drink to a clean head, waiting a few minutes and rinsing. There are also more complex recipes. They recommend first evaporating the beer to a quarter volume, then mixing it with a cup of your usual shampoo and then using it as usual. Try the effectiveness of this method for yourself. 
10. You can also take a beer bath. Simply add a bottle of the drink to water and soak. Beer hops help cleanse and rejuvenate cells. In a warm bath, the skin pores open and the body receives beneficial minerals from beer. Your skin will become softer. And if you like the smell of beer, then this is a kind of aromatherapy. You can also steam your feet in a bowl of foamy drink: this will relieve fatigue and soften the skin of your feet. Use ice cold beer to increase carbonation - this bottle can be used to massage your feet. 
Other uses for beer
11. Pour a little beer on the rusty bolts that you cannot unscrew - the acid in the drink will soften the plaque.
12. Wipe wooden furniture with your favorite drink - it will not only become cleaner, but also shine. 
For most of the purposes listed, you need the beer at room temperature. Therefore, open the bottle you purchased in advance before going to bed, and by the morning you will be able to use it in one of the described ways.
DIY fertilizers at home
Food Waste Fertilizer No. 1: Sleeping Tea
Dry tea (repeatedly or repeatedly brewed) actually loosens the soil in the pot, making it light and airy, neutralizing the high acidity of the soil. But tea leaves attract insects, and for ground flies it’s just nectar! Without consequences, sleeping tea can be used when replanting plants. At the bottom, as always, we put expanded clay, a layer of tea leaves on top, then soil, as usual. I would not call sleeping tea a fertilizer; rather, it is a leavening agent, a soil filler.
Food fertilizer No. 2: eggshells
Some recommend mixing it with soil, others insist on eggshells as water for irrigation - in a word, flower growers who firmly believe in the nutritional properties of egg waste reward it with truly magical qualities.
There is indeed a lot of calcium in the egg shell, but it is unlikely that your indoor plants will be able to absorb it. At best, pieces of eggshell will work as soil looseners. At worst, they will lead to chlorosis of the plant. After all, most indoor plants not only do not absorb calcium, they simply do not tolerate it! Excess calcium in the soil can cause various diseases in indoor flowers such as gloxinia, violet and azalea. Those plants that benefit from calcium should receive it in complex fertilizers, but if you insist on the miraculous properties of eggshells, then add them to the soil exclusively in the form of fine powder.
Fertilizer or Poison No. 3: Meat Water
Meat water is water in which raw meat has been washed. There are “experts” who advise watering flowers with milk water. I think everyone understands that in the summer such watering will enrich your flower garden with the aromas of garbage. Moreover, it will begin to smell before the flower has time to absorb anything nutritious from meat or milk water... Flies will flock to the aroma... In general, decide whether the dubious benefits are worth such sacrifices.
Food fertilizer No. 4: coffee grounds
Coffee grounds as a fertilizer are suitable for those plants that grow well in acidic soil.
Refrigerator Fertilizer #5: Beer
This recipe allegedly came to us from Singapore, where flowers are watered with beer diluted at the rate of one part beer to forty parts water. I’ll be honest, I haven’t tried it.
Food fertilizer for flowers No. 6: vegetable oil
Some people advise rubbing the leaves of indoor plants with vegetable oil or milk to enhance their shine. There really was a shine, but over time the tips of the leaves began to turn yellow and curl... And all because the oil clogs the pores through which the leaves breathe.
Feeding from waste No. 7: onion peels
Once a month, no more often, pour boiling water over the onion skins, leave for an hour or two, filter and spray the plant and the top layer of soil in the pot with this mixture. Only fresh infusion is suitable.
Waste Fertilizer No. 8: Orange Peels
Prepare a decoction in the same way as from onion peels, but leave for 5-6 hours. Such spraying can save the plant from spider mites.
I don’t put it in a separate subsection, but there were recommendations to water flowers with water after washing various cereals. I tried it: no harm, no benefit. The same thing with potato broth. Experiments with watering flowers with mineral water should be carried out very carefully: salts are not the best friend of plants, at least not for all. And carbon dioxide is generally harmful.
There are a lot of tips and recipes with “folk fertilizers”, but it’s better, I’m sure, to use proven scientific methods!
After water and tea, beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the world. When we go to the dacha, we always stock up on beer for future use and often are unable to finish it completely. In order not to pour out the leftover beer, you can find an excellent use for it in the garden.
Option 1.
Beer is a great attractant for fruit flies. Especially spruces, they swarm around the compost heap in your garden. Just pour some beer into a flat glass or cup. Wrap double-sided tape or fly tape around the edges of the cup. Place these baits around the entire perimeter of the garden, especially in the center of the compost pile. You will be pleasantly surprised how many flies will be eliminated.
By the way, snails and slugs are also greedy for beer. Simply place wide-mouthed containers on the ground overnight and fill them one-third full with beer.
Option 2.
Getting back to the compost, you can increase its mineral content by sprinkling it with more beer. But this should be done with compost that has already reached. And try not to pour beer on him so that he drowns in it.
Option 3.
Use beer directly as fertilizer. It should be diluted with water and watered over the plants. You should not pour out undiluted beer, as snails and slugs are too susceptible to this smell.
Option 4.
Beer perfectly cleans garden wooden furniture from dust and dirt. You should not wash your chairs and benches with beer. It is enough to moisten a clean, soft cloth with it and gently rub the contaminated areas with it.
Option 5.
During the era of brewing development, leftover beer was used to clean copper vats after brewing beer in them. You can continue the tradition by pouring beer into a copper cauldron (in which, for example, you cooked pilaf or stewed meat), leave it for a few minutes, then rub it. You'll have a shiny, like-new copper pot in minutes, with no effort, no cleaning, no dishwashing liquid required.
By the way, you just need to immerse your gold jewelry in it, wait a few minutes, and then polish it with a soft cloth.
When your beer is finished, don't throw away the empty aluminum or plastic bottle. They can be useful for building a box for a compost heap, they can be used to lay out paths or make mini-fences for beds. In general, use your imagination, and beer will help you with this!
Irina Kalina,
08.07.2011
Reproduction without the consent of the editors is prohibited
