AN urban gardening guru has revealed her inexpensive and easy hack to protect your plants.
Kia Jade, who describes herself on TikTok as an Urban Garden Enthusiast, only uses two items – which everyone has in their kitchen – for this hack.
Urban gardening guru Kia Jade has revealed a hack to protect home gardensCredit: TikTok/kia_urbangardener
All homeowners need is milk from their kitchen and waterCredit: TikTok/kia_urbangardener
With one half of a bottle filled with water and the other with whole milk, Kia recommended that viewers spray their plants for daysCredit: TikTok/kia_urbangardener
The mixture supposedly protects against aphids and powdery mildewCredit: TikTok/kia_urbangardener
“I can’t believe I’ve gate-kept this for so long from you guys,” Kia (@kia_urbangardener) noted at the beginning of a recent clip.
The gardening guru continued that her hack is for those with plants that suffer from aphids, a type of insect that can damage them, or powdery mildew that can often form.
“This is going to change the game for you,” she explained, revealing the hack to be whole milk and water paired together in a spray.
“Add one part full-fat milk and one part water,” Kia instructed.
“Put it in a spray bottle, spray it all over your plants.”
Kia noted that if viewers continue the spraying process consecutively for several days, it works incredibly well with aphids.
The insects suffocate from the milk’s fat, according to the TikToker.
“The aphids will actually suffocate from the fat in the milk,” she said.
Not to mention, the added benefits of the milk and water mixture are that the spray provides calcium and protein to the garden.
The video then transitioned to Kia’s dog, and she jokingly commented that the spray wouldn’t fend off any pups.
Kia’s gardening hack gained thousands of likes from fans, and several asked questions about minor changes they could make.
“If it’s the fat that’s effective, could you use straight cream? Would it be more effective?” a curious user asked.
The gardening guru responded, noting that it could work, but there may be a nasty smell as a consequence.
“Ah I think it might smell a bit – could be worth a try though,” she replied.
Another questioned the spray mixture’s harmful effects on bugs that assist or cause no issues for their garden.
“Will this harm beneficial bugs though? I definitely have an aphid problem but I don’t want to harm the ladybugs!” a viewer exclaimed.
Kia noted that the spray should not be dispersed directly onto ladybugs, and, if they spot these insects they may be in luck as they tend to eat aphids.
“Don’t spray it directly on the ladybugs and you should be fine,” she wrote.
“Although the ladybugs should also eat your aphids so you might not need to try this.”
Other fans noted that they had to try the hack because they had no other options for getting rid of aphids.
“Am gonna try this bcoz am desperate. Even my mint and chives have aphids. I don’t what’s going on,” one said.
The gardening guru pleaded with the user that they use the milk and water spray for at least three to five days to make it effective.
“Let me know how it goes. Do it consistently for at least 3-5 days! Keep me posted,” she added.
For more related content, check out The U.S. Sun’s coverage of one gardening expert’s tip for plant growth, although it may seem counterintuitive.
The U.S. Sun also has the story of why one gardening guru says homeowners should never plant artificial grass.