The Indoor Plant That Thrives When You Water It With Leftover Rice Water

If there were a mascot of houseplants, the monstera would be it. The monstera (Monstera deliciosa) is also known as the Swiss cheese plant for its characteristic slits or holes in its large leaves. If you want your home to feel like a rainforest, this is the houseplant for you. Although this plant can be finicky, once you get a care routine down, it can thrive. And if you want to ensure your monstera gets the nutrients it needs to thrive, rice water might do the trick. There are actually many plants that love rice water as a fertilizer, and the monstera happens to be one of them.

If you've ever looked at the water after you've rinsed your rice before cooking (which you should always do), you may have noticed how cloudy it is. This cloudiness is created by the excess starch being washed off of the rice grains. Starch is a form of carbohydrate that plants can use to provide them with energy similar to sugars produced by photosynthesis. The rice water contains the same nutrients that are in fertilizer: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Not only is it good for your plant directly, but it's also beneficial for the soil it sits in. Rice water is a great DIY alternative to more expensive fertilizer options. So, instead of tossing your leftover rice water down the sink, you can use it when your monstera needs watering to help improve its overall health.

The best way to keep your monstera plant healthy, even through a long winter, is by providing the right type and amount of nutrients. Plant parents know the best way to keep houseplants healthy is by understanding the needs of each specific plant, watering properly, using fertilizer, and making sure they have the right amount of light.

To use your leftover rice water as an inexpensive fertilizer replacement, you simply collect the water in a dish or bowl while rinsing your rice. To enhance the nutrients, you can rub the rice grains together as you rinse. If you prefer, you can simply add rice to a bowl of cool water and let it soak for 30 minutes to an hour. Strain out your rice to use for your meal and reserve the water for your monstera.

You may not need to use this as a fertilizer during the fall and winter, which is the monstera's time of dormancy, but in the spring and summer you can use your solution about once or twice a month, depending on the needs of your plant. Whatever your regular fertilizing routine is, you can substitute the rice water for it. Just be sure to watch for issues like hardening of the soil's surface or mold growth; these are signs you're fertilizing too often with the rice water. You'll know it's helping if you notice the leaves of you monstera thriving and find new growth throughout its growing season.