![What is Diatomaceous Earth? The Complete Use Guide of DE For Your Beloved Houseplants [2021]](https://allthingsgardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SPRING-18-1.png)
The beauty of a plant depends on the level of maintenance it receives…
Aphids and slugs aren’t something anyone wants in their home or garden…
… and throwing them out of the room every time isn’t very pleasant either.
It is likely that these slimy structures are highly harmful to plants during the rainy season…
They also leave behind an unpleasant odor…
For food, the soft-bodied mollusks consume algae, leftovers, mold, and compost…
A refuge area is any vent or drain they can use as a home…
A smelly area is a favorite of slugs as well…
So how can you get rid of them?
Hear it from Gabriel!
Oh how I hate pests infesting in my houseplants, indoors or outdoors!
I tried every way possible to get rid of them…
… primarily using natural repellents to also save the environment.
Nonetheless, these pests won’t just go away!
I consulted to a local nursery and find out that…
… something called the Diatomaceous earth will get rid of them in no time…
… especially for slugs and aphids.
There’s your answer!
Slugs can be eliminated by using this substance…
The purpose of this article is to highlight the benefits…
… of using diatomaceous earth for houseplants. Let’s get started.
What Is Diatomaceous Earth?
Table of Contents
Potted plants benefit from diatomaceous earth…
… by preventing slugs and aphids from getting into them.
These are fossilized remains of microscopic organisms known as diatoms…
… which have been found in the ocean, river, and other bodies of water.
Diatomaceous earth (also known as DE, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur, and celite) is a soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock. It consists of the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. White to off-white in color, it is easily crumbled into a fine powder. The powder is highly porous and very light, and it has an abrasive feel, similar to pumice powder.
New World Encyclopedia
It is essential for the formation of this substance that silica is present…
Diatomaceous earth is useful for finding silica, which is an extremely scarce mineral…
However, the substance adversely affects insects like pill bugs…
… mites, slugs, beetles, aphids, and other exoskeletons.
There is a sharp edge on the substance…
… that has a powdery white appearance and is shaped like small modules.
As a result of the sharp edges, the insects’ exoskeletons are ripped…
… which causes their bodies to lose water and fat.
Therefore, they become dehydrated to death within a few days…
… after applying diatomaceous earth to the soil pot.
What Are The Types Of Diatomaceous Earth?
The three types of diatomaceous earth are used for different purposes and are treated very differently…
Pool Grade DE
The diatomaceous earth in pool grade acts at high temperatures…
It is referred to as calcination…
The substance of this type is actually used for filtering water impurities…
… and is not intended for use in gardens or homes.
Food Grade DE
No calcination is required for the food grade type…
It is made up of amorphous silica…
This variety also goes through some quality tests…
… so it can claim to be suitable for foods.
It is the best quality that is used in the home and garden…
It is a very safe dewormer for livestock and pets…
… because of its natural abilities to de-worm.
Using this method on house pets can also…
… get rid of parasites such as fleas, ticks, and other pests.
Feed Grade DE
Diatomaceous earth feed grade is no longer useful in today’s world…
This type was once the “go-to” thing for every purpose…
… before food-grade diatomaceous earth was developed.
Since then, the market has shifted to diatomaceous earth made for food…
How to Use Diatomaceous Earth for Potted Plants?
Use it while treating a potting plant infested by pests…
The first thing you should do is keep children away…
… from the house while you apply diatomaceous earth.
In the morning, when the dew has peeled off, apply it to the soil…
In addition to the little sun after a light rain, mixing the soil is preferable at this time…
There is a dry powder-like substance in the substance…
Use it after the rainy season and before fertilizing your plants…
… to prevent it from being washed away.
Ensure that they are protected from contamination by dust…
A windy day is not recommended as the powder may wear off!
In order to apply diatomaceous earth effectively…
… the soil should be covered with it.
A dust spreader can be an effective tool for spreading dust over a large surface area…
The foliage can also be spread with it to kill insects and protect plants from damage…
In addition to applying it to potted plants…
… you can mix it with water as well.
By doing so, you do not have to worry about dust being trapped all over your garden…
The ratio of diatomaceous earth to water is simple…
Put 2 cups of diatomaceous earth and 1 gallon of water in a container.
Soak your plants and soil in this solution, and then spray it all over…
How Often To Apply Diatomaceous Earth?
The soil or plants can be treated with it whenever insects are present…
Every month, I apply thoroughly to the soil…
By making the soil porous, you don’t need to apply as much fertilizer each day…
Different Uses of Diatomaceous Earth
A multipurpose element, diatomaceous earth has many uses…
It can be used for different purposes at different times…
Filter-Grade And Food-Grade Ingredient
Algae fossils can be used for a variety of purposes…
As described above, silica is a primary ingredient present in crystalline and non-crystalline forms…
Nowadays, it is referred to as a dietary supplement…
For industrial applications, the crystalline form is necessary thanks to its glass-like appearance…
The crystalline silica that it contains is between 0.5 and 2% when used for food…
Concentrations of this substance are used in agricultural agriculture or as insecticides in food production…
Non-food ingredients used include diatomaceous earth with crystalline silica content of 60% or more…
Dynamite can be produced with it and water can be filtered with it…
DE As An Insecticide
If you enjoy gardening, insecticides are your best friend…
In this way, they conserve the health of the plants and soil…
… by keeping out any creatures that could harm your plants.
There is no problem that diatomaceous earth cannot solve for houseplants…
Insecticidal uses of diatomaceous earth can be found every day…
By removing the water content from their bodies, it kills the slugs…
All you have to do is aerate the soil with some powdery structure, and let it rest for several days…
Using DE to Get Rid of Wasps
Gardening with aphids and wasps can wreak havoc on the natural balance in the garden…
Their diet is derived from plants’ leaves, which they can fully decompose in less than a month…
It is very effective to use diatomaceous earth to kill wasps…
Diatomaceous earth should be sprinkled in areas where wasps are present…
Don’t forget to provide adequate coverage for the area…
When you live in a dry climate condition, you should apply it wet…
Using DE to Kill Termites, Ant Hills, Maggots, etc
A fast-breeding termite population creates an enormous problem during these seasons…
Manure, leaves, and dirt piles left untouched contribute to maggot infestations…
Seeing an anthill at the corner of a garden or tub is not uncommon either!
With diatomaceous earth, you can control termites in your garden or home…
… as well as protect them from any unwanted substances.
Using DE To Dry Flowers And Preserve Them
Our tendency is to preserve the first flower for as long as we can!
Those who are one of these people can dry their flowers with Diatomaceous Earth…
It can be used on multiple flowers in your home, or it can be stored as a fragrance element!
Flowers can be dried very quickly by diatomaceous earth…
You can use diatomaceous earth as a preservation medium for your favorite seasonal flower as a keepsake…
DE for Plant Porosity
Potting soil is necessary for growing houseplants…
A potting mix is necessary for some plants…
For potting mix, it can sometimes be necessary to use an excellent medium…
One of the best mediums with multiple benefits is diatomaceous earth…
Diatomaceous earth is a necessary component for growing bonsai in hydroponic culture…
By gradually releasing fertilizers, it keeps them in the soil…
Combining this with the porosity results in the perfect container gardening combination…
Diatomaceous earth should be mixed with the soil to improve airflow and drainage in the root zone…
DE to Deodorize In-House Plants
The result of gardening under a roof is that your plants will not get sufficient sunlight every day…
It is for this reason that not every plant can thrive indoors…
The absence of sunlight can sometimes make them stinky…
The smell usually occurs when the soil becomes swampy…
… and the roots begin to swell before the rot occurs.
Watering at the right frequency and amount is often overlooked by homeowners…
This is why there is a strong odor in the room…
In the upper layer of soil or around the roots, it can cause mold, mildew, or fungus…
In a short period of time, diatomaceous earth can eliminate the smell…
Known for its natural deodorizing ability, it ensures cleaner air in the home…
If you sprinkle a little Diatomaceous earth on the soil…
… you can eliminate the unpleasant smell from the houseplants.
To sum it up…
A green environment is good for your eyes…
Keeping your surroundings green will provide you with more calm…
They are the easiest creatures to maintain, which makes them the simplest of all living creatures…
Besides the basics, all you have to do is to ensure that it stays healthy…
Maintain a clean environment with Diatomaceous earth by removing the impurities…
You’ll have a beautiful garden in no time!
Conclusion
Now that you know the benefits Diatomaceous earth may give you…
Share this post to your friends who may be in need of solutions!
Comment down below if you want to share any experience…
… or contact us for further information!
Have and awesome gardening journey!
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