Neither Coffee Grounds Nor Eggshells: Add This And Your Pothos Could Thrive

Pothos are known for being easy to care for, beginner-friendly plants. Their lush foliage can quickly transform any room into a calming oasis. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum) plants usually just need to be watered when their growing medium is dry and fertilized every other month during their growing seasons to do well. You may want to try providing them something a little different sometimes to see how they respond, though. One popular kitchen leftover that many people have had good luck giving to their pothos and other houseplants is rice water.

Rice water is the water you use to rinse your rice before cooking it. Some people also opt to rinse their cooked rice. While it's often recommended to wash rice to remove some of the arsenic and debris from it, this process can also remove nutrients. So why not give those nutrients, which include potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus (all of which are beneficial to plants), to your pothos plant if it needs to be watered anyway? 

This unique type of water is sometimes recommended for spider plants and other house plants, too. However, the USDA's Extension Foundation notes that there is limited research on using rice water for houseplants, and suggests that "it may be simpler to use a fertilizer product (organic or otherwise) with a known nutrient content and dosage instructions". If you do opt to try recycling your rice water as a nutritious drink for your pothos, be sure to keep a close eye on how your plant reacts so you can either stop using it or supplement it with additional fertilizer if necessary. You should also watch for mold forming in your soil as a result of the starchy water.

If you do decide to use rice water to water and fertilize your pothos, make sure to use it soon after you make your rice so it doesn't go rancid. Let it cool before using a watering can or spray bottle to pour it into your plant's soil. And remember not to overwater your pothos. Wait until the growing medium is dry to try your new concoction when you water your pothos. Watch for any mold growth and stop using rice water if mold or fungus gnats become visible. You may also want to sprinkle cinnamon around the plant to keep it healthy, as it is thought to inhibit fungal growth.

Because it's hard to know the nutrient level of your rice water, you'll have to watch your plant carefully to see how it responds and if it needs additional fertilizer. Soil tests, unfortunately, aren't recommended for potted plants, so you'll need to go off of your observations to decide if the rice water is beneficial for your pothos. It's a great idea to try it out on just one plant first if you have multiple pothos plants.