PSA: The plant swap at the old library last month changed my whole watering routine

I picked up a little spider plant from a lady named Carol who told me she only waters hers with leftover tea. I tried it on my own sad one, just cold black tea from my morning cup. After about three weeks, the thing put out six new shoots. I always thought tea would hurt it, but I guess the tannins are good? Has anyone else tried something weird like that with their houseplants?

3 comments

3 Comments

mark4367d ago

Carol's onto something with the tea. The tannic acid can lower the soil pH a bit, which some plants really like. Just make sure it's plain tea without any sugar or milk added. I've used leftover coffee the same way for my ferns. It works, but you have to be careful not to overdo it. Once a week is plenty, otherwise you might get fungus gnats.

morgan.rose6d ago

Doubt it's the tea doing all that work. Maybe mark436 is right about the science, but I just water mine when I remember and they're fine. Feels like making a whole thing out of something simple.

jennifer8336d ago

Yeah, watering when you remember is basically my method too. Mark436's science checks out, but my plants just get whatever's left in my mug, and they're somehow still alive?