Learn about some amazing Caltrate Uses in the Garden that will boost the growth of the plants while helping in other ways too!
Plants also suffer from calcium deficiencies just like humans, and giving them a boost is a good idea to help battle blossom-end rot, stunted growth, brown spots, and rotting vegetables. Here are some excellent Caltrate Uses in the Garden if you want to know how!
Learn How to Make Calcium Enriched Soil Amendment here
What is Caltrate?
Caltrate is an external source of Calcium & vitamin D3 that doctors recommend to people for preventing osteoporosis (weak or brittle bones) and curing calcium deficiency. It is also a great source of vitamin D that helps the body to absorb calcium effectively.
Caltrate Uses in the Garden
1. Boosts Overall Plant Growth
Caltrate can play a crucial role in correcting the calcium and magnesium deficiencies in the soil and plants. To make a foliar spray, crush two tabs of Caltrate in a liter of water and spray it on the foliage of the plants when the sun is low.
2. Nutrients for Indoor Plants
You can also add Caltrate to the soil as calcium helps strengthen cell walls and boost new growth. It also aids in root and pollen tube growth as well.
Crush 2-3 tabs, mix in the growing medium, and water well.
3. Helps Plants to Form Healthier Fruits
Calcium plays a vital role in fruit and vegetable production in plants. If the soil does not have an adequate amount of calcium, it will prevent the uptake of nutrients in the fruits, causing them to grow smaller in size.
Adding Caltrate to the growing medium will significantly enhance the quality and size of the fruits. Add 3-4 crushed tabs in the growing medium once in 8-12 weeks for best results.
4. Prevent Stunted Growth in Plants
If the plants in your garden show signs of stunted growth, it might be due to calcium deficiency.
Calcium is taken up by roots from the soil and delivered to the shoot via the xylem. Symptoms of calcium deficiency first appear on younger leaves and tissues, where you can spot brown chlorotic spots developing along the margins, which eventually spread to unite in the center of the leaves.
With its calcium supplement, Caltrate adds structural strength to the stems and aids in strengthening the cells, which makes the stems strong.
Crush 3-4 tabs, mix it in water and use the solution to water the plants once in 4-6 weeks.
5. Get the Shine Back on Houseplants
Cleaning the houseplant foliage using Caltrate is a good idea as it will clean the leaves and provide a healthy dose of calcium!
Crush 4 tabs, make a fine powder, mix it in a liter of water, stir well, dip a soft cotton cloth in it and use it to wipe the foliage. It will get rid of the dust accumulated on the leaves, helping the plant with photosynthesis too!
Check out some DIY leaf shiner recipes here
6. Prevents Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes
As the University of Wisconsin states, blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the fruit. This lack of calcium may be due to low calcium levels in the soil. If you notice your tomatoes suffering from the same diseases, it would be great to use Caltrate to combat the problem.
Crush 4-6 tablets, make a fine powder, mix it with 2 liters of water and use it to water the plants once in 3-4 weeks. You can also use it as a foliar spray.
Learn the best-kept secrets of growing tomatoes in containers here
7. Help Potatoes Grow Better
Calcium is a very vital nutrient when it comes to growing potatoes. It also helps maintain cell walls, healthy foliage, and overall tuber development. The growing medium must be rich in calcium if you want the best tuber quality.
If you want to increase the size of potatoes, crush 3-5 Caltrate tabs, mix them in a liter of water and use it to water the plants once in 4-6 weeks.
Learn 18 incredible ways of growing potatoes at home here
8. Helps Roses and Petunias
According to a report by Clemson University, calcium in Caltrate works in roses and petunias as much as it does in humans. It binds with materials in plant cell walls, making it more difficult for the fungus to penetrate and cause infection.
Spraying Caltrate solution on petunia flowers helps them increase tolerance to Botrytis infections.
Crush 4-6 tabs of Caltrate, make a fine powder, and add it to 2 liters of water. Use this solution to water these plants once a month.
