Watering Plants with Kitchen Liquids: What Works and What Doesn't

Evaluating Homemade Plant "Teas"

A gardener asked about watering plants with garlic water, rice water, vegetable water, and aquarium water. Here's the breakdown:

Garlic, Rice, and Vegetable Water

No evidence supports watering with these liquids improving plant health. Garlic produces allicin when injured—a compound with insect-repellent properties as a foliar spray, but root uptake of such mixtures doesn't convey nutrients or systemic pest resistance. They won't make a begonia smell like garlic or repel pests.

Aquarium Water: A Genuine Benefit

Freshwater aquarium water is excellent for plants. It's chemical-free and teems with beneficial microbes essential for soil health. Boosting soil microbial populations enhances nutrient cycling and plant resilience—a real win for the lucky plants receiving it.

Bottom Line

Skip the kitchen concoctions for watering. Use aquarium water if you have it, and rely on proper soil biology and organic amendments for plant nutrition.