From the page: Leftover rice still has a lot to give
Idea 8
Rice water for plants
Asian gardeners have used rice-washing water for generations to strengthen plants. It makes sense: it carries starch, small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and feeds beneficial soil microorganisms — a gentle, almost free fertilizer that's born even before the cooking.
What you need
- Water from washing raw rice (the first, milky rinse)
- Or unsalted cooking water
- Watering can or bottle
How to make it
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1
When washing the raw rice before cooking, save the milky water in a bottle instead of pouring it down the sink.
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2
Use it the same day, or at most the next day — starchy water left sitting ferments and attracts mosquitoes.
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3
Water your plants with it as usual, on the soil and not on the leaves, at most once a week.
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4
If using cooking water, confirm it had no salt — accumulated salt burns the roots.
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5
Watch the plants: lusher leaves within a few weeks are the sign it worked.
Finishing touches
great for seedlings and potted gardens. If the water has gone sour with a strong smell, pour it into the compost bin instead of watering with it.
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