- You generally can recycle your dishwashing water on your plants if you use dish detergent that does not have harsh detergents, perfumes or dyes. Do not use laundry wash water, as laundry detergents are toxic to plants. There are several environmentally friendly dish soaps on the market. Do not allow the soapy water to touch the edible parts of your plants, advises specialists with the University of California Vegetable Research and Information Center.
- Water softeners add sodium to the water. A higher level of sodium may cause the soil to compact, which causes water to run off rather than soak down to the roots. Water with softeners in it shouldn't be used on plants for this reason. If your home has a water softener, or you add liquid softener to the laundry rinse water, then check regularly for evidence of soil compaction so you can treat it.
- Chlorine can cause new foliage to appear bleached. If you use chlorine to bleach clothes in the sink before washing them, then let the bleach water sit overnight for the chlorine to dissipate. Mix the bleach water with the rinse water to lower the concentration of any remaining chlorine before using it on your plants.
- Boron poisons plants, and some detergents and laundry water softeners contain a significant amount of the chemical. Avoid watering plants with soapy water that contains boron.
- Soapy water kills aphids, Japanese beetles and spider mites that feast on the leaves of garden plants. Choose mild and pure soaps, as household products are not designed for garden use. Clean one leaf of the plant and then wait two days. Examine the leaf for damage to determine whether it will benefit from an overall soapy water treatment. Some plants are poisoned by soapy water, including strawberries, plums, cherries, sweet pea and azaleas.
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