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I think I read somewhere that you could use nettles steeped in water as food for houseplants.

I've got plenty of nettles and some water but don't know 'the recipe'. Is it as simple as 'put nettles in water; leave' or is there more to it? Does anyone use this - is it effective?

Yep - it is as easy as that! But: make sure you cover the container with the nettles and water - once the nettles start rotting down, they get rather smelly. Just use as a liquid fertiliser - possibly watered down, if it's too strong.

I still have some leftover from last year - my goodness, the pong...

I used an old plastic milk carton to do mine in, just squeeze in as many nettles as you can, top up with water and stick it in the corner of the shed for a few weeks.
I also tried extra pungent variety include some pee in the mixture - the smell alone could kill a grown man, I am sure.

When useing the 'tea' make sure to water it down till it looks like weak tea.

You could add comfrey to the mix too, if you have any.

OK, I went for the slightly larger version - an old rubbish bin - one of those round ones with a lid... Lift that lid on a warm day (mine was in the tunnel) - and you really need a gas mask!

we cut our nettles back and put them straight in the water butt.

I use an old bath. They don't smell at all - until you disturb the surface then the smell travels miles. Great for tomatoes but not on peas or beans.

I've never understood this one. Why nettles? Is it because they break down in the water easily, or do they contain something special (apart from formic acid)?

So, with a modicum of research, up pops the answer - boron. Now I never knew that!

So far as I'm aware its the nitrogen content and of course you never run short of nettles. w.

I thought it had something to do with the roots being deep, they pull up goodness from deep down... as does comfrey... and dock leaves

I think it's a bit of all those things...