Leftover Water from Steaming Vegetables

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)

12 years ago

Is there anything detrimental (or beneficial) from watering plants with water that was used to steam vegetables? Once it has cooled to room temperature, I have been using it to water some plants. I don't use it to water house plants but have watered quite a few in-ground plants in the outside front planters. So far, it doesn't seem to hurt (or particularly help).

These days, with the unbelievable drought , I try not to throw any water away. (Click here to see the horrible reality US Drought Monitor.) I keep a bucket in my shower to collect the first 2-3 minutes of water while it runs hot. I use that for plants. I save the water used to draw hot for washing the dishes. I save the water after washing the dishes. I try not to waste even a drop. It has become so precious.

Thanks,

Carol

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Comments (6)

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
Original Author
12 years ago
Ack - bad link. Here is the corrected link (below).

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: US Drought Monitor
natives_and_veggies
12 years ago
Good for you! I can't imagine any problem with doing that with the steamed vegetable water. It might even have a tiny bit of benefit, though it would be tiny. And you've given me some ideas. Though I think my husband would balk at a bucket in the shower, it's a cool idea. I don't irrigate the yard at all beyond what I can get out of a rain barrel. But I do use tap water to water the pot ghetto. Your efforts give me some ideas to save water there too.
And for those who aren't on board with this idea - my water bill is less than $200/year. You're not charged as much as your water costs - it's subsidized. But you do pay for it and in most jurisdictions in Florida, if you can get down to really low usage, your rate goes down.
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Hi, I read/heard the same thing a few years back. I use broccali/cauliflower, asparagus and artichoke water to water my asparagus fern. I diluted the water first. It seems to really like it. As a matter of fact, I stopped for a few months and it acts as tho it misses the veggie water. I have never seen knats on it but that doesn't mean it can't happen, and it does make sence. It does smell a bit afterwards, but the smell doesn't last long. few months agao my sister tried the technique with corn water on her Christmas Cactus (very old plant) and it didn't not repond well at all. As a matter of fact she has been trying to recover the plant ever since. So, it may not be a good thing or maybe only certain veg water should be used. . . . HTH. . . Maid~
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natives_and_veggies
12 years ago
Have you tried diverting a bathroom sink to fill up the toilet for flushing? I only ask because you seem like someone who might do that. I haven't yet. I only have one bathroom where it would work pretty easily (because the sink and toilet are on the same wall.)
And we almost never use that toilet, so it would be kind of pointless.
I've also wondered about using the washing machine outflow for irrigation, but to do that you not only have to replumb, you have to use detergent that doesn't have phosphates in it. Someday, I might get around to that one.
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
Original Author
12 years ago
I haven't done the sink diversion and I haven't collected washing machine water either. But those are both good ideas. Something to think about.

Jacksonville has become the center of the rain donut. It's crazy-ridiculous how dry we are. Even the weather people on the local news stations refer to the "dome" over Jacksonville. We are getting in a seriously bad situation. The Drought Monitor website shows that we are not "Extreme". Oh, no, even worse: we are "Exceptional". I guess we would be lucky to be "Extreme". See link below that shows just the state of Florida.

Jacksonville is already 13 inches below average rainfall, year-to-date for 2012. To quote from one of the local weather blogs, "Dating back to the great fires of 1998, we have been 48.3 inches below average on rainfall. To put it in perspective it is like we [Jacksonville] did not have an entire year of rain since we average about 53 inches of rain per year."

Holy cow.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Florida Drought Monitor
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
12 years ago
I am in Jax really closer to Dinsmore but have a Jax postal address. We are zoned rural residential and have our own well. We were using our washing machine water for watering plants. Apparently that is not allowed in Jax because last year the health inspector came around looking at septic systems (ours was fine) but during this they made us hook up our washing machine line directly to our septic system instead of being diverted. I really don't see what is wrong with watering plants with washing machine water especially since we have our own well and it is at least an acre back from the washing water line. Guess its time to move further out in the country where we can actually be allowed to be sulf sufficient without being dictated to.
keiki
12 years ago
I know how you feel. I water houseplants with water from boiling eggs. I just can't throw away all that water.

Leftover Water from Steaming Vegetables

Comments (6)

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
Original Author

natives_and_veggies

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Leftover Water from Steaming Vegetables

Comments (6)

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)Original Author

natives_and_veggies

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natives_and_veggies

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)Original Author

sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)

keiki

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Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
Original Author

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
Original Author