Attract More Butterflies To Your Garden With Two Common Kitchen Ingredients

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Have you ever met someone who didn't want to attract more butterflies to their garden? Us either. These magnificent insects are not only beautiful to watch, but also help spread pollen throughout your garden as they move from plant to plant, helping your yard grow and thrive. They're also crucial to supporting your local ecosystem. And did we mention just how much fun it is to simply sit and watch the butterflies flit through your flowers? The best part is that all you need are two common kitchen ingredients to attract even more to your garden: water and sugar.

A spoonful of sugar is key to luring pollinators, like butterflies, into your yard because, simply put, they have a sweet tooth. They usually satisfy their sugar craving by snacking on flowers, herbs, and rotting fruit. But by mixing up a DIY nectar of sugar and water, you can give local butterflies an easily digestible boost and draw more of these stunning — and beneficial — insects into your garden.

To draw butterflies into your garden with DIY sugar water, mix white sugar and water together at a 1:10 ratio. White sugar is the best option versus honey or other sweeteners since it doesn't crystallize and cause potential harm after the butterfly consumes it. Stir over heat until the sugar dissolves away, then let cool completely. This mix has a long shelf life, so if you have the storage space, make a large batch and store it in a cool, dry space for an easy refill.

Next, set up your feeder. The best type of butterfly feeder you can easily make at home requires two things you probably have on hand: an unused, primary-colored sponge, like METUUTER Kitchen Sponges, and a plate. Set the plate three or so feet off the ground to discourage ants (although you might want to set the plate in a bowl of water if they become a problem), and position it near fragrant blooms to help catch butterflies' attention as they go by. You could also hang your DIY sponge feeder from a rope or, if ants come to investigate, fishing wire. If DIY feeders aren't your style, you can always pick up a butterfly feeder, like the Songbird Essentials Butterfly Feeder, and hang it near butterflies' favorite flowers. Don't forget to clean the feeder — whether plate or store-bought feeder — a few times a week with hot water and a bit of bleach to prevent bacteria and mold from moving in. Rinse thoroughly, then refill to keep bringing butterflies to your yard.