Gardening enthusiasts have been warned to "never" throw away washing up sponges as they can be useful for keeping plants alive in summer - and a gardening pro has shared a clever hack. Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time.
More info Gardening can be a bit of a challenge, particularly when it comes to keeping plants healthy. With summer in full swing, our green friends need extra care. Surprisingly, an everyday dishwashing sponge could be the key to success.
A gardening buff on the YouTube channel Simple and Fast has uploaded a video advising gardeners to "never" discard washing up sponges as they are "worth pure gold for your plants". The green-fingered expert commented on the common mistake of binning these sponges: "We don't know that what we are doing is wasting a powerful ally for our plants, our garden and our pots." It's recommended to perform this gardening hack before July ends to ensure plants flourish in August and throughout the remainder of the summer season, reports the Express .
Begin by soaking the sponge in water with a "little bit of soap" for an hour, says the gardening enthusiast. "These sponges are incredibly useful for all kinds of plants." Then, snip the sponge into tiny fragments using scissors.
The gardening aficionado continued: "Once we have all our sponge cut, we are going to start using it to benefit the soil of our pots and plants." Incorporate these sponge pieces into the plant pot's soil. The gardening guru explained: "What happens is that they have already begun to absorb the nutrients from the soil itself and the moisture from the soil that I have added to the bucket.
" The gardening expert suggested that sponges can aid in keeping plants moist and extending the lifespan of watering. They clarified that this method is ideal for plants that dry up quickly or for those instances when you're away and need to ensure your greenery is adequately hydrated. The gardening whizz also argued that fertiliser will last much longer because the sponge will distribute it slowly.
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" Don't miss the Amazon deal on the Silentnight Luxury Ultrabounce Pillows by shopping it here . They continued: "We will not have to worry because the earth will always have the right amount of moisture and adequate water and that's thanks to the sponge." The sponges serve as water retainers, supplying your plant until they decompose over time, eventually becoming plant nourishment.
Simple and Fast boasts over 526,000 subscribers, with thousands regularly tuning into their life hack videos. This particular video has scored over 21,000 likes and more than three million views. Over a thousand avid watchers flocked to the comment section to express their opinions.
One enthused, "I love tips like this, have always been a recycle nut." Another chimed in, "Genius idea! Why on earth didn't I know this before?" However, some viewers raised concerns about the advice, particularly concerning edible plants. One cautioned, "I would be very careful not to use this in anything you plan to eat, like herbs and things because of the plastic from the sponges getting into the food.
" "That's usually why people grow their veg/fruit/herbs is to avoid the nasties like microplastics and pesticides. But it looks like a good idea for normal plants. I think it works well for drainage, as well as stopping the soil coming out the holes in the bottom of the pot.
" Others shared their gardening tips too. One advised: "A trick I use when potting a plant is to use the original pot to make a space in the new pot. Put a layer of soil in the new pot.
Take the plant and root ball out of the original pot." "Place the old pot inside the new pot and fill it with soil. Take out the old pot and you now have a perfect space to replant the root ball, after a bit of teasing.
Firm in the plant and water." Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages..
