How to Fertilize Plants with Rice: 2 Methods for Using It as a Fertilizer

 

During the warmer periods of the year, plants need a boost of energy and nourishment.

Each plant has its own specific needs, and we can meet them using ingredients we surely already have at home.

Here’s how to make natural fertilizers using rice.

Soaking

Required materials

• 5 tablespoons of rice
• Distilled water

Procedure 

1. Pour the 5 tablespoons of rice into a saucepan and cover with distilled water.
2. Mix well and let it rest for 2 or 3 hours to release all the starch.
3. At this point, drain the rice; we will only need the liquid part.
4. Place the rice water in a watering can and pour it over the soil of your plants every 2 weeks.
   

Cooking water

If you’ve prepared rice for a tasty first course, save the cooking water! Since it’s rich in starch, it can also serve as an additional natural fertilizer. Let it cool thoroughly, then dilute about 10 ml in a liter of water and spray your plants with a spray bottle. You can save the excess and repeat the treatment regularly.

Which plants can it be used for?

As is often the case, one fertilizer isn’t suitable for all types of plants. In fact, while an organic and natural fertilizer is always the best choice, it’s important to understand and respect the specific needs of the plants we grow.

In the case of rice-based fertilizers, in fact, they are considered particularly suitable for acidophilic plants: such as azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, bougainvillea and even geraniums.

Finally, rice is an excellent ally of plants with aerial roots: the most common example is the orchid.