Ah, the things we learn from The Spruce. This week’s episode of “We Asked an Expert So You Don’t Have To” brings us a groundbreaking revelation: you can pour your leftover pasta water on your plants. Mind. Blown. Somewhere, an Italian grandmother just clutched her pearls, not because of the water, but because you dared to call that sad, overcooked spaghetti “pasta” in the first place.
The article by Gemma Johnstone breaks down this eco-friendly “hack” with the fervor of someone who has just discovered that you can, in fact, recycle. And while it’s a nice thought, let’s be real—pouring cooking water on your plants is not exactly going to turn your backyard into the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Still, The Spruce went ahead and asked John Murgel, a horticulture extension specialist, for the inside scoop. And bless his soul, he actually answered.
The Revelation Nobody Asked For
Apparently, when you pour starchy pasta or potato water into your garden, you’re giving your soil microbes a little snack. It’s like probiotics, but for dirt. According to Murgel, it’s not about vitamins or fancy nutrients; it’s just carbon and organic matter giving the soil a slight energy drink. Cue the slow clap for science.
So yes, those microbes are living their best lives while you stand there feeling like Captain Planet for not dumping your cloudy noodle water down the drain. But before you go turning your kitchen into a plant spa, there are a few caveats—and they’re the kind that make you rethink your whole “I’m saving the planet one pot at a time” vibe.
The Salty Truth
Here’s the kicker: you cannot—repeat, cannot—use salted cooking water. Why? Because salt kills plants faster than you can say “unsalted butter is an abomination.” Excess salt in soil blocks roots from absorbing water and nutrients, and in high concentrations, it straight-up murders your greenery.
So if your pasta water tastes like the ocean because you “seasoned it properly,” congratulations—you just brewed planticide. Pouring that over your petunias is like handing them a margarita laced with bleach. It’s a no from nature.
Grease Is Not the Word
Next up: meat water. First of all, if you’ve been boiling meat, we need to talk. Second, grease and plants go together about as well as oil and water—literally. Greasy cooking water attracts vermin (yum, rats!) and can suffocate your soil. The last thing you want is to explain to your neighbors why your garden smells like a crime scene and has become the neighborhood raccoon buffet.
Mold: The Side Effect Nobody Mentions
Yes, starchy water can feed microbes, but it can also lead to a charming growth of mold and mushrooms. Now, some people might say, “But mushrooms mean healthy soil!” Sure, Jan. They also mean your garden looks like it’s auditioning for a fungal horror film. Unless you’re cultivating an aesthetic of “haunted forest,” maybe use that pasta water sparingly.
How to Use Cooking Water Without Creating a Backyard Biohazard
The Spruce, to their credit, does give you a step-by-step like this is some secret recipe for success:
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Let it cool. Because dumping boiling water on your plants is a level of stupidity even TikTok hasn’t monetized yet.
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Use it quickly. Starchy water sitting around for days becomes a bacterial rave you don’t want.
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Dilute if needed. If you see mold, congratulations—you’ve been overdoing it. Mix with regular water or just, you know, stop.
And if you accidentally used salted water and your plants are now staging a slow-motion death scene? Flush the soil with lots of clean water. Basically, your plants need a detox like they just returned from Coachella.
The FAQ Nobody Read But We’re Summarizing Anyway
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How often can I use it?
Every time your plants need watering… unless you start a mushroom farm by accident. Then maybe chill. -
Should I dilute it?
Yes, if it looks like your soil is turning into a sourdough starter.
Why This Is Both Genius and Stupid
On paper, this sounds like a zero-waste dream. You use less water, your plants get a microbial treat, and you feel like an eco-warrior. In reality, most people will get this wrong. They’ll forget the no-salt rule, they’ll pour meat grease all over their begonias, and then they’ll write angry posts on gardening forums about how this “tip ruined their plants.”
This is why we can’t have nice things.
The Real Takeaway
Look, if you’re already dumping plain pasta water on your houseplants, good for you. Just don’t expect them to sprout into magic beanstalks overnight. This is a small boost, not a miracle cure. You still need to fertilize, water properly, and—wild thought—maybe use actual gardening products once in a while.
And if you’re the type to reuse meat water because you think plants “like protein,” please stop. That’s not how botany works, Karen.
Final Thoughts: Should You Do It?
Sure, go ahead. Just don’t be dumb about it. Use unsalted, ungreased, plain cooking water occasionally and your soil microbes will throw a tiny party. Use salty or greasy water, and your garden will die a slow, tragic death while attracting every raccoon in the neighborhood.
At the end of the day, this tip is like adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to your coffee—it’s nice, but it’s not changing your life. So the next time you’re draining your spaghetti, ask yourself: “Do I want to feed my plants, or do I want to murder them with sodium?” The choice is yours.
Because clearly, we all needed an expert to tell us that plants don’t like salt. Groundbreaking journalism, folks.