Using washing-up water on plants

[Annpan]

From a recent Ecover newsletter

Going back to the 3rd point on watering, with Ecover products after you’ve finished cleaning the left over water (grey water) can be used directly on your plants, as they biodegrade 100% and are petrochemical free. Just leave the water for a few hours before use for the biodegradation to be complete.

Just thought it was interesting as I wouldn't have thought it was suitable in the past, I might give it a go, but it never stops raining here long enough to water anything.

[thesunflowergal]

Thanks hun. I am still water grobags, and some pots.

[contadina]

You can reuse all your grey water in the garden, just don't use it on anything you don't want to taste soapy.

[lsm1066]

My mum used to use washing up water on her house plants all the time as the soap kept the aphids down. Of course, in the garden you have so many other happy creatures doing it for you (anyone else noticed a massive increase in Ladybirds this year?). Still, I figure if it's safe enough to wash the things you eat with, it should be safe enough to put on the things you eat.

Lynne

[Millymollymandy]

(anyone else noticed a massive increase in Ladybirds this year?)

No - there was a thread a little while ago where everyone was wondering where they'd gone! I've noticed more recently since the aphid problem on broad beans and currants stopped being a problem - how typical is that?!

[Muscroj]

isn't it the ladybird lava that kill the most aphids? Perhaps they sudden appearance of ladybirds is the REASON you no longer have an aphid problem?

[Millymollymandy]

I think they both eat aphids but the aphids on the broad beans just died suddenly, they weren't eaten as they were still there but all dessicated.

[ina]

None so far. Not too many aphids, either.