
'My opinion? Pasta water is fine for watering, but not for feeding.'ĭrew was a journalist before studying for a horticulture qualification. Plants can look scorched if they are overfed and there can be a white crust visible on the surface of the soil. Care has to be taken not to overfeed your plants as that can be as, or even more, damaging to the plant than not feeding it. 'Typically, feed for houseplants either comes in water-soluble forms or as granules that will slowly release nutrients over an extended period. 'A deficiency of any of the big three nutrients can cause any plant to show signs of unhealthiness, including yellowing of leaves. Plants that are grown for fruits or flowers need a lot of phosphorus to encourage that flowering and they can often require more feed throughout their lifespan. 'If your house plant is being grown for foliage, it wants more nitrogen to promote lush, green growth. 'House plants, the same as all plants, need the main three macronutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with other nutrients such as magnesium, calcium and iron to grow healthy and strong,' continues Drew. 'Pasta water is fine for watering, but not for feeding' She has a particular interest in houseplants (of which she has an ever-growing collection), garden design, and the benefits of gardening for mental health. Having worked for for two years, Holly now writes about plants and outdoor living for Homes & Gardens.
USED FOR WATERING SEEDLINGS PROFESSIONAL
Over the years, Holly has been an allotment keeper, a professional gardener, and a botanical illustrator. My advice would be that if you are curious, to start by watering just one plant with it first to check for any adverse effects – but you will still need to fertilize your plants as usual during the growing season.' 'As long as the water is at room temperature, isn’t seasoned with salt, and hasn’t been sat out for too long, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be worth a try. As well as this, pasta water is claimed to contain valuable nutrients such as iron and calcium. 'According to many gardeners, this is great for giving houseplants a boost in energy and feeding beneficial microbes in the soil.
USED FOR WATERING SEEDLINGS FULL
'The leftover water from cooking pasta is full of starch,' she says.

Holly Crossley, our Senior Content Editor for Gardens, says there's little harm to the hack, but that it won't actually 'feed' house plants as some social media posts suggest: 'Pasta water won't hurt plants but you'll still need to feed them' She's a keen kitchen gardener and loves adding to her rose and hosta garden at home. At the start of 2023, she moved to Homes & Gardens as the Head of Gardens, bringing her passion and knowledge with her.

In 2020, she launched, a website dedicated to gardening and outdoor living. Beth has been an interiors and gardening journalist for over 20 years ago.
