Can I Water My Plants With Potato Water? (2024)

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Q:

I've heard you can water plants with potato water that came from boiling your potatoes. Are there any real benefits of this and how should I go about doing so?

A:

Several gardening sources suggest that using water from boiling potatoes, for use in watering plants is beneficial. This makes sense, as potatoes are nutrient-rich with potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and a host of other vitamins and minerals. The only caveat I might suggest is to (obviously) let the water cool down first, and refrain from this application if the potato-water contains seasonings.

Can I Water My Plants With Potato Water? (2024)

FAQs

Can I Water My Plants With Potato Water? ›

Potato water is good for indoor plants and gardens

How to make potato water for your plants? ›

Place peels into a bowl of water. Let them soak for two days before mashing them with your hand to get all the starch out. Strain the potato water and use it to water your plants with.

What can I do with leftover potato water? ›

Here are 4 ways to use it.
  1. Thickening sauces and stock. The starch in potatoes, which is released when cooked, makes their water a powerful natural thickener, perfect for sauces and stock, therefore giving them a thicker texture. ...
  2. Softer leavened products. ...
  3. Watering plants. ...
  4. Getting grease off the dishes.
Oct 10, 2022

Is raw potato juice good for plants? ›

Plants can use many of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in potato water to stay healthy and grow. Here are the nutrients that are available, and how they benefit fruits, vegetables, flowers, and more: Potato starch, which makes great food for flowers and vegetables.

Is egg water good for plants? ›

You can also use water from boiling eggs, which is full of calcium your plant needs to grow. This method of watering your plants works because it acts like a fertilizer to give your plants the nutrition they need to survive. This is a great alternative if you do not have the space or time to develop a compost pile.

Is banana water good for plants? ›

It is important to note that though banana water does contain some important nutrients, it doesn't provide everything your plants need to grow. Relying on banana water as your sole source of fertilizer may result in plants with stunted growth, yellowing leaves and other signs of nutritional deficiencies.

What plants benefit from starchy water? ›

Any plant that needs watering will benefit from pasta water, with the starchy water providing some nutrients all house plants need. However, while it's a good way to save water, it doesn't offer better benefits than clean water and house plant food.

Is pasta water good for plants? ›

For all its versatility in the kitchen, it turns out that pasta water can also benefit your vegetation because the starch introduces nutrients like zinc, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium to the water. These are all highly advantageous for thriving plants, as they can help them grow and thrive.

Is rice water good for plants? ›

Rice water also contains important nutrients for healthy growth, such as magnesium, calcium, iron and sulfur. Sulfur is believed to promote the synthesis of thiamine (vitamin B1), which helps plants resist diseases. Rice water also contains many B vitamins, which are essential to plant health and growth.

Is potato peel water good for plants? ›

Nutrient-rich potato peels can also be steeped in water to make a plant-friendly tea. Just take a handful of peels, drop it in a container of water and let them steep about four days or up to a week. Give the brew a quick stir every day during this steeping period. Strain the mixture and start watering your plants.

What is potato water good for? ›

Potato water is good for indoor plants and gardens

Nourishment for your indoor plants and garden. After you boil the potatoes, remove the water, and allow to cool down. At room temperature, you can add it to your watering can and water your precious plants both indoors and outdoors.

Is boiled potato water good for tomato plants? ›

Several gardening sources suggest that using water from boiling potatoes, for use in watering plants is beneficial. This makes sense, as potatoes are nutrient-rich with potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and a host of other vitamins and minerals.

How to use potato water for plants? ›

To try this plant care hack, simply drain your leftover potato water back into a pan the next time you cook, rather than pour it down the drain. Make sure you let the water cool completely, and then use it as a substitute in your standard watering regime.

What are the disadvantages of potato juice? ›

Drinking potato juice can cause heartburn, bloating, and diarrhea. It is LIKELY UNSAFE to eat damaged potatoes, green potatoes, and sprouts. These can contain poisonous chemicals that cannot be destroyed by cooking.

Should I boil water before watering plants? ›

Boiling water will kill bacteria and any microorganisms that are present in the water, which can be harmful to plants. However, few chemicals are removed when you boil tap water. In fact, after you boil water, any contamination present may be concentrated and less safe for plants.

Why does potato water turn green? ›

In particular, the reaction between chlorogenic acid and glutamine that occurs under mildly alkaline conditions, like those of the potato cooking water, led to a mixture of blue-green and brown pigments with properties similar to the green water colouring matter.

What to do with potato juice? ›

Potato juice is used in some European countries as an antacid, and the results of at least one study suggest that freshly squeezed potato juice may improve symptoms of indigestion. Potato juice may also have beneficial effects on inflammation, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Why is it good to leave potatoes in water? ›

The reason is to prevent the potatoes exposure to air, which causes dehydration, oxidation, and discoloration.

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