Save potato water: Turn kitchen waste into plant gold

Potatoes are one of the most popular side dishes for dinner, especially when paired with cutlets or meats stewed in sauce. Cooking them is simple—it's time to drain them once they are soft. Instead of pouring the water down the sink, consider saving it for later use.

Think about how often you cook potatoes each week. How many times do you pour the potato water down the sink? It turns out that potato water is excellent for fertilizing plants. By using it, you not only save money on chemicals but also care for your home garden. If you notice your potted, balcony, or garden flowers starting to wither, it's time to cook some potatoes for dinner.

Potato water is a real treasure for houseplants. It's rich in minerals that houseplants love, especially potassium, which strengthens plant leaves and makes their flowers more lush. Another essential component of this natural fertilizer is phosphorus, which positively affects the development of the plant's root system. Meanwhile, starch protects plants from pests and strengthens them.

To use potato water as a plant fertilizer, remember a few essential rules. First, do not add salt to it—otherwise, instead of helping, you will harm your plants. Second, the water must be cooled before using it. Always pour it directly onto the soil, not onto the plants themselves. Regarding watering frequency, there are no significant restrictions since it can be done almost every time.

To support the growth of potted plants, you can also use potato starch. Like potato water, potato starch provides plants with potassium, phosphorus, and calcium.

Simply remove about half an inch of soil from the top of the pot and sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of potato starch there. Then, add soil and mix it with the starch. Place fresh potting soil on top to activate the microorganisms that process the starch. Now, just water regularly and enjoy a lush, domestic crop.