A gardening expert has shared a “genius” hack for using dishwashing sponges to help your plants grow – something you should do before the end of July.
Items in the sink can be useful in the garden
Gardening can be a bit of a headache, especially when it comes to keeping your plants looking their best.
With summer in full swing, your garden flowers need even more care than usual. Believe it or not, your everyday dishwashing sponge could be your secret weapon. A gardening enthusiast from YouTube channel Simple and Fast shared some valuable advice, telling her followers to “never” throw away their old dishwashing sponges, as they are “worth pure gold to your plants.”
Gardening gurus lamented that every time they toss a sponge in the bin, they're throwing away a powerful friend – leaves, garden and potted plants. For those wanting to boost their plants' health, experts recommend putting these tips into practice before July ends to help them thrive in the remaining sunny months of August and beyond.
According to the Express, she starts by soaking the sponge in water with “just a little bit of soap” for an hour. “This sponge is super useful for all kinds of plants,” the gardener explains. She then grabs a pair of scissors and cuts the sponge into small pieces. The gardener continues, “Once the sponge is all chopped up, I'm going to start using it to help with the soil for my pots and plants.”
Mix a piece of sponge into the soil in your plant pot. “The sponge has already started absorbing the nutrients from the soil itself and the moisture from the soil in the bucket,” gardening enthusiasts say. Gardening experts say the sponge helps keep your plants moist for a longer period of time.
This method is great for plants that dry out quickly, or if you want to make sure your plants are well-watered when you go away, they explained. The gardening gurus even suggest that the fertilizer will last much longer, as the sponge gradually releases it. They added: “You don't have to worry, as the soil will always have just the right amount of moisture and enough water – that's thanks to the sponge.”
The sponge acts as a water reservoir, feeding the plants and over time decomposing to provide food for the plants. Simple and Fast has amassed over 526,000 subscribers, with thousands tuning in regularly to see their lifehacks. The video has garnered over 21,000 likes and over 3 million views.
More than 1,000 viewers also took to the comments section to share their thoughts. “I love these kinds of tips, I've always been a recycling fanatic,” one viewer wrote. Another added: “Genius idea! Why didn't I know about this before?” However, some people expressed concern, particularly with the advice about edible plants. One viewer warned: “I'd be very careful not to use this on anything I plan to eat, like herbs, as the plastic from the sponge will get into the food.”
“Usually when people grow vegetables, fruit or herbs it's to avoid harmful substances like microplastics and pesticides, but it seems like a good idea for regular plants – it would also help with drainage and stop soil washing out through the holes in the bottom of the pots.” Others have shared their gardening tips.
One person wrote, “A trick I use when repotting a plant is to use the original pot to make space in the new pot. Fill the new pot with a single layer of soil. Remove the plant and root mass from the old pot. Place the old pot inside the new pot and fill with soil. Removing the old pot creates the perfect space to replant the root mass after loosening it a bit. Secure the plant in place and water it.”
