Caring for Your Begonias with Dishwater

Photo courtesy of ewan traveler at Flickr.com.

The next time you come up dry due to watering restrictions, consider using dishwater to keep your flowers and veggies from dying of thirst. The detergent residue in the water won’t hurt them; as you might recall, dish soap is often used as a base for natural pesticides, because it helps the mixture stick to the plants, isn’t toxic, and can be easily washed off later.

Now, one caveat here: dishwater is classified as a type of “graywater,” because it tends to be cloudy rather than clear. While it’s not considered sewage as such, in some areas, you’re required by law to dispose of graywater through a proper sewer system. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check your local regulations before dousing the daisies with dishwater.

Also, keep in mind that while dishwater is fine to use on your plants, not all graywater is created equal. If you’ve used water to wash poultry parts, for example, don’t use it to water anything you’ll later be eating, because of the risk of bacterial contamination.