Don't Throw Out This Kitchen Leftover: Your Aloe Vera Plant Will Thank You

Aloe vera is known for being a gorgeous and low-maintenance plant. Not only does it thrive as a houseplant, but you can even grow aloe vera outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and higher. This easy-going succulent adds a unique shape and color to your home or landscape. Its soothing gel even has the ability to calm burns. With how much aloe does for you, why not do something for your plant? It turns out giving your aloe a little boost might be easier than you think. All you need is rice water.

Rice water, the water used to wash or even cook your rice with, contains not just potentially beneficial starches rinsed from the rice but also vitamins, especially B vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, which can help your plant. Rice water isn't just for aloe, as spider plants may enjoy this unique type of water, as well.

Just don't go overboard with adding rice water to your indoor aloe, as some people have found that it increases the mold and fungal growth in their houseplants. Another potential downside to using rice water as a fertilizer is that you won't know its exact nutrients like you would with a traditional commercial fertilizer.

To create your rice water, rinse your rice before cooking it. This is recommended anyway since it helps to remove some of the arsenic from the grain. Put your rice in a sieve and run water over it. But instead of letting the water run down the drain, collect it by placing a bowl under the rice sieve. You can also cook rice similarly to pasta, using additional cooking water. And then strain it from the excess water when the grain is at your preferred texture. The next step is to simply put this liquid into your watering can. Make sure the water is cool before adding it to your aloe plant. Aloe is drought-tolerant, so don't water your aloe with regular water or rice water until its growing medium is dry.

Don't expect rice water to completely replace your normal fertilizer, as most studies have found that plants grow best when given both rice and a balanced fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Only use the rice water once every other week. You don't need to use a lot of fertilizer for aloes, but they do enjoy a bit in the spring and early fall.  And of course, keep an eye on how your aloe and its growing medium respond, and stop using it if you notice an increase in fungus.