We all know that gardening can be tough, especially when it comes to keeping your plants healthy during the summer. As the season goes on, plants really need extra care and attention. But you might be surprised to know that an everyday dishwashing sponge could be just what you’re looking for. A gardening expert from the YouTube channel Simple and Fast has shared a great tip with other green thumbs: “Never” throw away those old washing-up sponges because they are “worth pure gold on your plants.”
The horticultural expert expressed regret that many gardeners don’t realize the value of these sponges for their plants, gardens, and pots each time they’re thrown out.
When and How to Use Sponges in Your Garden
For those eager to give their flora a helping hand, the optimal time to try out this trick is before the end of July, setting your plants up for success in August and for the rest of the summer, as noted by the Express, reports Birmingham Live.
- Prepare the Sponge: Begin by immersing the sponge in water with a “little bit of soap” for one hour. The gardening pro emphasized: “These sponges are incredibly useful for all kinds of plants.”
- Cut the Sponge: Next, cut the sponge into small pieces using scissors. The gardening expert recommended: “Once we have all our sponge cut, we are going to start using it to benefit the soil of our pots and plants.”
Benefits of Using Sponges
The gardening enthusiast explained the benefits of this unusual hack: “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.”
A gardening expert has shared a clever tip for keeping plants hydrated by using sponges. They said it’s particularly useful for plants that tend to dry out or when you’re not around to water them.
Fertilizer Efficiency: They also noted that sponges can make fertilizer application more efficient, as the sponge “will be in charge of dosing the fertilizer little by little”.
Moisture Management: Further adding to their advice, the expert highlighted: “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.”
They pointed out that sponges act as a reservoir for water and eventually break down into food for the plants.
Community Feedback and Cautions
The YouTube channel Simple and Fast, which has amassed over 526,000 subscribers, features a variety of life hack videos that attract thousands of viewers. Their video on this particular gardening tip has received over 21,000 likes and more than three million views.
In the comments section, which saw over a thousand people engage, one viewer remarked: “I love tips like this, have always been a recycle nut.”
Another was impressed, saying: “Genius idea! Why on earth didn’t I know this before?”
Some viewers raised concerns about the gardening hack, especially when it comes to edible plants. One wary individual commented: “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.”
They added, “I think it works well for drainage, as well as stopping the soil coming out the holes in the bottom of the pot.”
Additional Gardening Tips
Other garden enthusiasts chimed in with their own advice. A tip from one was: “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.”
By incorporating these simple yet effective tips, you can ensure that your garden remains healthy and vibrant throughout the summer. So, next time you’re about to throw away an old dishwashing sponge, remember that it might just be the secret weapon your garden needs.
