Essential Oils and Your Plants: The Truth about Safety

When it comes to caring for plants, many people turn to essential oils as a natural and safe alternative to chemical pesticides and insecticides. But the question remains: are essential oils safe for plants? The answer is yes, in most cases. Essential oils can be used to promote growth, protect against pests, and even treat fungal infections, all without harming the plant or the environment.

In fact, essential oils can be a great alternative to the abundance of chemically-filled pesticides and insecticides on the market today.  Not only are they harmful to your health, but they can leech into the soil affecting the groundwater and the environment alike.

That being said, using essential oils on plants can have many benefits, including promoting healthy growth, repelling pests, and even attracting pollinators. With the right knowledge and precautions, essential oils can be a safe and effective way to care for your plants naturally.

The Basics of Essential Oils and Plants

When it comes to essential oils and plants, there is a lot to consider.  Essential oils contain a highly concentrated and complex mixture of chemical compounds that grant each oil its distinct composition, affecting the scent, absorption, and effects on the body.

The specific part of the plant used, whether it is native to the region it is farmed, the time of day or season, and how the oil is extracted all have an impact on the chemical composition of the essential oils. For example, the chemical composition of orange essential oil extracted from the fruit is different from that extracted from the plant leaves or the flower.

Plants naturally produce essential oils as part of their defense mechanisms against insects and other predators. These oils can also attract beneficial insects and pollinators. For instance, lavender essential oil is known to repel moths, fleas, and mosquitoes, while attracting bees and butterflies.

Plants, such as citrus fruits, are cold-pressed, while others are steam distilled.  The extraction of essential oils from plant material most commonly involves the use of steam distillation. This process employs steam to release the oils from the plant, resulting in a highly concentrated oil that can be used in a variety of applications. It is a widely accepted method for extracting essential oils due to its effectiveness and efficiency.

Understanding Essential Oils’ Impact on Plants

When it comes to using essential oils on plants, it’s important to understand their effects. Essential oils can have both positive and negative effects on plants. In this section, we will explore the effects of essential oils on plants.

Positive Effects

• Repelling pests: Certain essential oils have insecticidal properties that can repel pests and insects. As an example, peppermint oil can repel ants, aphids, and beetles.
• Stimulating growth: Essential oils can stimulate the growth and development of plants. In this instance, clove oil has been known to increase the growth of tomato plants.
• Enhancing flavor: Essential oils can enhance the flavor of fruits and vegetables. Case in point, basil oil can enhance the flavor of tomatoes.

Negative Effects

• Burning or damaging leaves: Essential oils can be too strong for some plants and can burn or damage their leaves. It’s important to dilute essential oils before using them on plants.
• Stunting growth: Essential oils can stunt the growth of some plants. For example, cinnamon essential oil can stunt the growth of tomato plants.
• Killing beneficial insects: Essential oils can also kill insects, like bees and ladybugs. It’s important to use the oils carefully to avoid harming beneficial insects.

Using Essential Oils on Plants

When used with caution, essential oils are a great addition to your plant care regimen.  Gardeners have used lavender, tea tree, peppermint, orange, rosemary, cinnamon, citrus, citronella, basil, and oregano essential oils as natural repellents for both indoor and outdoor plants.  In this section, we will cover the benefits of essential oils, how to choose, dilute and apply them to plants, and some recipes for essential oil sprays.

What are the Benefits?

You can use essential oils in a glass spray bottle or an oil diffuser to keep pests away from your house plants.  Here are a few benefits:

• Natural Pest Control: Peppermint, rosemary, citronella, and tea tree essential oils will help repel pests like ants, aphids, moths, ticks, fleas, slugs, gnats, snails, and mosquitoes.
• Promoting growth: Lavender oil and orange oil can stimulate the growth of plants and improve their overall health.
• Fungal Disease Prevention: Oils like tea tree, neem, and oregano contain antifungal properties that can protect plants from diseases like powdery mildew and black spot. You can mix a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle to help prevent fungal diseases.
• Aromatherapy for Plants: Just like humans, plants can benefit from aromatherapy too. Essential oils like lavender and rosemary can help reduce stress and anxiety in plants. Peppermint oil adds a pleasant scent to your plants and your home.  These oils can also help improve the plant’s immune system and overall health. Use an oil diffuser to spread the aroma throughout your home and garden.

Other Benefits to Help Your Plants

Essential oils can provide many health benefits for plants. Rosemary essential oil, thyme, and clove oil contain nutrients that can help improve the plant’s health. These oils can also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which help increase the plant’s yield.

Plant-specific factors should be taken into account when selecting essential oils. Some plants may be more prone to certain pests or fungal growth, while others may benefit from oils that enhance their natural fragrance or promote the flower to bloom.

By identifying these factors, you can tailor your essential oil selection to address the specific challenges for your plants.

Types of Plants That Can Benefit from Essential Oils

Most plants can benefit from essential oils, but some types are more receptive than others. Here are some examples:

• Herbs: Herbs like basil, thyme, and rosemary can benefit from essential oils that repel pests and insects.
• Flowers: Flowers like lavender, chamomile, and geranium can benefit from essential oils that promote growth and enhance their scent.
• Fruits and vegetables: Fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries can benefit from essential oils that prevent diseases and improve overall health.

Essential Oils That Are Safe for Plants

Not all essential oils are safe for plants, but some are generally considered safe when used properly. Here are a few examples:

• Lavender essential oil: Lavender oil possesses calming properties and is often used for aromatherapy. It can also be beneficial for plants, as it has antifungal and antibacterial properties that can help protect them from pests and diseases.
• Peppermint essential oil: Peppermint oil is a natural insecticide that can repel pests and insects from your plants.
• Rosemary essential oil: Rosemary oil is a natural fungicide that can help prevent diseases in plants.
• Orange essential oil: Orange oil is a natural insecticide that can repel pests and insects from your plants while attracting pollinators.
• Tea tree essential oil: Tea tree oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties that can help prevent diseases in plants.

How to Dilute

Essential oils are highly concentrated and can be harmful to plants if used undiluted.  Simply mix a few drops with a carrier oil like coconut oil, olive oil, or any vegetable oil you have in your cupboard. The amount of essential oil you use will depend on the plant and the oil you use. As a general rule, use 1-2 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil.

How to Apply

There are a few different ways to apply essential oils to plants. One method is to mix the diluted essential oil with water and spray it directly on the leaves and stems of the plant. Another method is to add a few drops of pure essential oil to a cotton ball and place it near your plants.  You can also use a humidifier or diffuser to disperse the oil to promote healthy growth.  Diffusing is not only great for plants but also for everyone in the house.

Essential Oil Plant Spray Recipes

Here are a few spray recipes I think your plants may enjoy:

Pesky Pest Banisher

• 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
• 5 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil
• 16 ounces of water

Directions:  Add this powerhouse blend of essential oils to a 16-ounce glass spray bottle.  Fill the rest with water and shake to combine.  You can spray the underside of leaves or around the garden to get rid of pesky pests without alienating beneficial ones.

Buzzworthy Blossoms

• 5 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil
• 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
• 1 cup of water

Directions:  Combine the oils in a colored glass spray bottle.  Top the bottle with water and shake well. Spray the blend onto flowers to attract bees and butterflies.

Some plants may be more sensitive to essential oils than others, and too much oil can harm your plants. Always test a small area of the plant, like a single leaf before using any recipe on the entire plant.  If the plant starts to show signs of discoloration or stress, discontinue use.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using essential oils may provide many benefits, including natural pest control, fungal disease prevention, aromatherapy, and health benefits for you and your plants. By incorporating them into your plant care routine, you will support the growth and development of your plants.

Many gardeners believe that the application of certain essential oils, such as thyme, clove, rosemary, lavender, yarrow, catnip, basil oil, and peppermint, can provide significant benefits to their plants.

In addition to their benefits for plants, essential oils can also have benefits for humans. They’ve been shown to improve memory, sleep, and mood. They also have medicinal properties and are commonly used in alternative medicine.

However, it is important to use essential oils in moderation when using them around your plants.  I’d recommend diluting them with carrier oil and water before spraying the mixture onto the leaves. Too much oil can be harmful to both the plant and the person using it.

The neem tree produces neem oil, which effectively controls pests without harming the plant, making it a superior alternative to synthetic pesticides. It is also important to note that essential oils are not a cure-all solution for plant problems. If your plant is suffering from a serious issue, it is best to consult a professional.