Using Pasta Water!? Thoughts??

[mrming]

Found this - what do others think?

Daily Express - Garden Newsletter

After boiling up a big pot of spaghetti or penne, most households will dump the leftover water down the drain - but gardening experts have another idea. They claim that this water can provide all plants with "many benefits and no cons".

Many gardeners overlook the importance of fertilising plants. However, correct feedings are essential to grow healthy, beautiful and thriving garden plants. The idea of using pasta water for plants is pretty simple. Rather than using plain tap water, you save the water left over when cooking pasta and use this to water plants instead. Because the water has drawn out loads of starch from the pasta, it’s supposed to help to fertilise plants and stimulate growth. But is there any truth behind this? Or is it just a gardening myth?

Gena Lorraine, a gardening expert at Fantastic Services, is all for this hack. She said: “Watering plants with pasta water has many benefits and no cons.”

“Pasta water is full of starch and plants love starch. Why? Well, because it’s often rich in vitamins and minerals. So not only does pasta water act as a fertiliser for your plants but it also stimulates their growth.

“Starchy water is good for growing all types of plants, whether they be veggies, flowers, fruits or even weeds.”

The expert stressed that this hack “cannot harm your plants in any way” and that she can’t think of “any plants that wouldn’t benefit” from being watered with pasta water.

Gardening experts at Flourishing Plants are also in favour of this trick. They said: “The nutrients in the pasta water will fertilise and feed your plants, giving them a healthy start by feeding the bacteria in the soil. 

“It can also add minerals such as phosphorous and potassium to the soil which will also boost plant growth.”

To carry out this method, households don’t have to use the pasta and throw it away. Pasta water can be obtained as a byproduct of an everyday cooking routine and it reduces waste by reusing the remnants of the pasta from washing or soaking.

Start by pouring pasta water on your plant’s roots twice a week, and letting it soak for five minutes. 

Gardeners can also pour it onto the soil of the plant or use a spray bottle with pure water mixed with equal amounts of pasta water.

According to the pros, the “best time” to apply pasta water is before the crop has started its growth cycle. They said: “During this time frame plants are most active and require food and nutrients to carry about their biological activities and pasta water can be an environmentally friendly and waste-free way to provide plants with the food they need to grow."

However, gardeners should be slightly cautious with this hack as some experts have offered warnings.

The gardening pros at HeyPlants explained: “Unsalted pasta water can give a nutrient boost to your plants and is a great sustainable way to save water. However, use it sparingly.

[GMO]

works great but smells like rotting arse. same with water from boiling any veg. amazing for plants but they can smell propa nasty for a few days after use, the smell does go but not something ill want to be adding too often

maybe use it in the outdoor garden

[MommaB]

Very interesting I’ve seen people doing this lots with house plants. I actually wondered if cannabis plants would like it.

[HRH]

Recently asked JJ for tips on Christmas cactus flowers & he said pasta/potato water hes used . Judging by the amount of flowers compared to mine may give it a go. Not sure about the smell though.

[Home Grown]

Don’t some people you rice water too.

[Paul_led]

It’s a deffo no no from me , what’s the point when we can give the plants the correct food they want ?

Paul

[Sage]

Yeah you're adding carbs and trace elements, It raises your brix so a good thing. Like anything don't overdo and yup can be stinky after a bit. I also collect up a few banana peels and soak them overnight and water with that mostly for a potassium bump.

[JJ]

Yes...all the time...catch in bowl n dun
Veggies
Potatoes

[Hmr81]

ive used potatoes/veg and rice water on my chilli's. never on weed though. Only do it once in a while, perhaps three times over a chilli plants life perhaps.

[Inactive account]

I sometimes keep the veg water if I remember and put it out on the garden plants , not trued it on weed though could b a thought


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