The Interesting Benefit Of Adding Aluminum Foil To Houseplants

Houseplants are a staple in most homes, not just because they're beautiful to look at, but because they can have health and wellness benefits, too. But, knowing how to take care of your houseplants properly to allow them to thrive can be tricky since every species of houseplant is different. But the threat of pests is a commonality that nearly all plants share. There's nothing worse than checking up on your houseplants and realizing that they have been munched or damaged by pesky pests.

Thankfully for home growers, there is a genius aluminum foil hack that can deter pests, such as ants and slugs, from your houseplants. By laying foil around the soil of your houseplants, it will ultimately confuse pests because due to its reflective surface and the unnerving noise it makes when they crawl over it. Even better, it won't cost you any money as you're likely to already have aluminum foil in your kitchen cupboard. Rather than trying to find a remedy or risk having to part with your beloved plant, try this preventative technique instead.

Begin by cutting a piece of foil that is big enough to cover the surface of your houseplant soil, without it coming in contact with any stems. What's great about this hack is that you can use recycled aluminum foil, so rather than simply throwing used foil in the bin, you can put it to good use. By placing the material around the edge of your houseplant, crawling pests won't be able to make their way to your plant to damage it, and the surface will dissuade them even more. Alternatively, rather than just putting the foil around the edge of your plant, you can cover the entire top of the soil to encourage your houseplant to retain moisture for longer, which will prevent it from drying out and the leaves becoming droopy. 

Another benefit of using aluminum foil worth noting is that it acts as a thermal barrier for your houseplant, meaning that it will protect the root structure from heat. If the plant is placed in a particularly sunny area, like a windowsill, you could risk scorching it, resulting in yellow and crispy leaves. The foil will reflect the light and can stop this from happening. With all its benefits, you may even want to start filling your flower pot with aluminum foil, too.