Your beer questions answered: Is beer good for plants?
Using stale beer as a plant fertilizer is a topic that has been debated among gardeners for years.
Some people claim that the nutrients and yeast in beer can help plants grow, while others argue that the alcohol content can harm plants.
On the one hand, beer contains small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, all essential nutrients for plant growth. The yeast in beer can also help to break down organic matter in the soil, improving its structure and fertility.
However, it is essential to keep in mind that the alcohol content in beer can be harmful to plants, especially in large quantities.
Alcohol can damage plant cells, inhibit their growth, and make the soil acidic, which can be detrimental to some plants.
Overall, using stale beer as a plant fertilizer is generally not recommended. While it may provide some benefits in small amounts, the potential risks of using beer as a fertilizer far outweigh any potential benefits. It is best to stick with traditional fertilizers formulated explicitly for plant growth.
What Does Beer Contain?
Almost 90% of beer is water, though manufacturers also add flavors to give their beers a unique taste.
The two main ingredients in beer, carbohydrates, yeast, and minerals, work together and act as plant food.
Beer also contains carbon dioxide, protein, barley, and beneficial bacteria. It also consists of minerals, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
And beer primarily contains simple sugars, just like sodas and other sweetened drinks. The beneficial microorganisms in the soil require complex carbohydrates to multiply and thrive, and adding beer to the soil isn’t going to help much with this.
Use cases for beer in your garden
The notion that using beer as a garden fertilizer is beneficial appears to stem from the fact that it contains two essential components for manufacturing beer: yeast and carbohydrates. Moreover, since beer is essentially 90 percent water, watering your plants with this beverage could be seen as an effective way to fulfill their hydration needs.
However, you must bare in mind that the alcohol content in beer can be harmful to plants, especially in large quantities.
One potential solution is to dilute the beer before using it on your plants. You can add equal water to the beer and mix them. This will reduce the alcohol content, making it safer for your plants. You can also use less beer and more water if you want to be extra careful.
But if you don’t want to take the risk that beer could be harmful to your plants.
Here are a few ideas for ways to reuse stale beer in the garden:
Beer for Compost
You can add almost anything to the compost, including dirt and gunk. The compost should be dirty enough to allow the yeast and bacteria to overgrow.
Beer and wine can be good additions since they act as compost activators. So, if you have a leftover or stale beer at your place, you can consider adding it to the compost heap.
Many gardeners like to speed up decomposition by adding different types of liquids to the compost, and beer is one of them.
For this, simply mix six ounces of beer with half a cup of ammonia to add beer to the compost. Then, add two gallons of warm water and some of this mixture to the compost.
You don’t have to add all of it to the compost; save some on the side for later use!
Beer as a Fertilizer
Beer can also act as a spot fertilizer for your lawn. The yeast in the beer acts as an ideal fertilizer, and spraying it on the spots in your garden will help the grass regrow.
If you have a homebrewed beer, that’s even better, as it likely has a thin layer of yeast at the bottom.
You can use beer as fertilizer for the whole lawn. However, make sure to dilute the beer before using it as a fertilizer. Otherwise, it will add snails and slugs to your garden.
You can use beer as a fertilizer by using a garden sprayer. Use a bucket and spread the beer around if you want to use it for the whole garden.
Beer as a Pesticide
Can beer keep pests away from your plants?
Using beer to get rid of pests is a good use of stale beer when gardening. Beer contains water, yeast, carbs, barley, and hops. These ingredients are combined and fermented to create alcohol and sugar.
The smell of alcohol and sugar attracts insects such as butterflies, cockroaches, moths, slugs, fruit flies, and moths. These insects try to drink beer but don’t know it harms them.
This makes beer an organic solution to kill pests. A study examining the disinfestation of agricultural by-products indicated that using a beer can be better than using pesticides.
Pesticides are often harmful to humans, so using beer as an alternative can be a great choice.
The Downsides of Using Beer for Plants
Beer has several benefits for plants, but it isn’t always a good option.
As mentioned above, due to the alcohol content – beer can be bad for plants. And also – you need to consider the following factors before using beer for your plants:
The Cost
Beer is expensive, and using it for your plants can be very costly. If you use it regularly as a fertilizer or a pesticide, it will be heavy on your pocket.
Plus, there are other practical and cheaper options for fertilizing your plants.
You can buy fertilizer or compost from the shop for a much lower cost. If you want to avoid chemical fertilizers, you can choose other organic and cheaper options.
This includes banana peels, egg shells, manure, and coffee grounds.
Limited Nutrient Value
While beer contains small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, these nutrients are in minimal quantities. Overuse of beer as a fertilizer can lead to excessive alcohol in the soil, which can harm plants.
Traditional fertilizers are specifically formulated to provide the necessary nutrients for plant growth and are a more practical option.
Stale Beer Smell
Another drawback of using beer for your plants is the foul smell.
Beer has a unique and strong smell that might not be ideal for everyone. In particular, when you pour beer for the first time, it gives off a strong odor.
If you’re allergic or sensitive to certain smells, the smell of beer in plants can be offputting.
However, you can use beer for the outdoor ones, as you won’t be exposed to the smell for as long.
Risk of Diseases
Frequent use of beer can increase the risk of fungal diseases in plants. Certain conditions like root rot and mildew can infect your plants and severely damage them.
Too much alcohol can harm plants, so you shouldn’t use beer regularly to water your plants or use it as a fertilizer.
The alcohol content also varies from beer to beer. Light beers may contain 3% to 6% alcohol, and strong ones may contain up to 15% alcohol.
The presence of alcohol in the beer can kill the plants if used regularly.
Verdict: Is Beer Good for Plants?
Using stale beer on plants can be a good option if you have a lot of extra or stale beer at your place and want to use it for your plants.
However, regular and frequent use of beer for your plants can do more harm than good.
You can use beer wisely to reap its benefits and make your plants healthier. For instance, use it to fertilize your lawn, but that, too, only occasionally.
The biggest problem with beer is the presence of alcohol, which can harm plants. Beer is still better than hard liquor as it contains less alcohol than liquor.
The best use of beer for plants is for trapping snails and slugs. You must pour beer into a pan and keep it in your garden to keep these creatures away.
