How to Water Plants With Sugar Water
Just as Mary Poppins sang that "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down," a little sugar can help plants recover faster from a lack of water or heat stress. Nutrients in the sugar help plants build back their own energy, and just a spoonful of sugar in the watering can may even help save the life of a dying plant.
Mix 2 teaspoons of white granulated sugar with 2 cups of water. Stir until the sugar has been dissolved.
Place the distressed potted plant in the sink. If the distressed plant happens to be planted in the ground outside, leave it where it is.
Slowly pour the sugar water over the plant, being careful to touch every leaf and flower. Let the sugar water drip down and soak into the ground, saturating the roots, as well. Plants don't just absorb nutrients through their roots--they also absorb them through their leaves, and for a severely distressed plants, you need to cover both bases.
- Just as Mary Poppins sang that "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down," a little sugar can help plants recover faster from a lack of water or heat stress.
- Nutrients in the sugar help plants build back their own energy, and just a spoonful of sugar in the watering can may even help save the life of a dying plant.
Let the plant sit for two days and then repeat the process. Continue watering with sugar water every other day, or three times a week, until the plant recovers. You'll know when the plant is feeling better by its color and when its leaves grow rigid again. After that, continue to water, just without sugar.
Give Sugar Water To Plants?
When you have plants in or around the home, you want to have the best possible blooms and flowers. The cut roots absorb the sugar and typically come alive a bit more. Do not oversaturate the plants with sugar, but instead use about 1 tsp. Avoid using sugar water on plants that are growing properly. Plants use photosynthesis to produce the amount of nutrients they need, and often if you add sugar when the plants area already growing well on their own, the plant roots will not accept the sugar and plants will wilt and die off. Plant food is a safe alternative to sugar water. The plant food is available at gardening centers, home improvement stores and many supermarkets as well.
- When you have plants in or around the home, you want to have the best possible blooms and flowers.
- Plants use photosynthesis to produce the amount of nutrients they need, and often if you add sugar when the plants area already growing well on their own, the plant roots will not accept the sugar and plants will wilt and die off.
Give Sugar Water To Plants?
When you have plants in or around the home, you want to have the best possible blooms and flowers. The cut roots absorb the sugar and typically come alive a bit more. Do not oversaturate the plants with sugar, but instead use about 1 tsp. Avoid using sugar water on plants that are growing properly. Plants use photosynthesis to produce the amount of nutrients they need, and often if you add sugar when the plants area already growing well on their own, the plant roots will not accept the sugar and plants will wilt and die off. Plant food is a safe alternative to sugar water. The plant food is available at gardening centers, home improvement stores and many supermarkets as well.
- When you have plants in or around the home, you want to have the best possible blooms and flowers.
- Plants use photosynthesis to produce the amount of nutrients they need, and often if you add sugar when the plants area already growing well on their own, the plant roots will not accept the sugar and plants will wilt and die off.
Tip
Don't water your plant with sugar water much past the recovery stage. In the long term, watering plants with sugar water may harm the plant because it makes the water in the soil less available to the plant by lowering its osmotic potential.
Warning
You can use powdered sugar in lieu of granulated sugar--just double the quantity used (4 teaspoons for 2 cups of water).
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References
Tips
- Don't water your plant with sugar water much past the recovery stage. In the long term, watering plants with sugar water may harm the plant because it makes the water in the soil less available to the plant by lowering its osmotic potential.
Warnings
- You can use powdered sugar in lieu of granulated sugar--just double the quantity used (4 teaspoons for 2 cups of water).
Writer Bio
Thomas K. Arnold is publisher and editorial director of "Home Media Magazine" and a regular contributor to "Variety." He is a former editorial writer for U-T San Diego. He also has written for "San Diego Magazine," "USA Today" and the Copley News Service. Arnold attended San Diego State University.
