November 3, 2025, 10:18 am | Read time: 2 minutes
The internet is full of tips and tricks. Sometimes they are really useful, and sometimes they are nonsense or even harmful and dangerous. Recently, a trick has appeared online that promises to be good for houseplants. It involves putting aluminum foil in flower pots. myHOMEBOOK consulted an expert.
What’s Behind the Trick of Aluminum Foil in Flower Pots
Aluminum foil is said to regulate the temperature in flower pots. It is supposed to ensure that the substrate does not reach too high temperatures, causing moisture to evaporate faster. Additionally, aluminum foil is said to reflect light. This has the advantage that leaves located lower down are not shaded. Furthermore, aluminum foil in the flower pot is supposed to act against pests by forming a kind of barrier.
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What an Expert Thinks of the Trick
The expert views this trick critically. “The idea of using aluminum foil in flower pots has no advantages from my perspective,” explains Sandra von Rekowski from the Federal Association of German Allotment Gardeners. From an ecological standpoint, the disadvantages even outweigh the benefits, she explains. The soil climate would be disrupted, potentially causing harm to microorganisms. Additionally, aluminum foil in the flower pot leads to insufficient ventilation, which could promote mold growth, for example.
Moreover, aluminum foil is environmentally harmful due to “energy-intensive production and poor recyclability,” von Rekowski explains.
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Everything Works Better Without Aluminum Foil
There is no need for aluminum foil in flower pots. “More light reaches the plant by ensuring sufficient planting distances and, depending on the culture, thinning out—that means removing excess leaves,” says the expert. The temperature can also be better regulated without aluminum foil by using good soil and ensuring adequate ventilation.