Adding one ingredient to water could transform your plants (Image: Getty)
Brits are enjoying the first heatwave of the year this week, with temperatures soaring above 30C in various parts of the country. However, with the Met Office predicting temperatures up to 34C comes the threat of a hosepipe ban, prompting gardeners to think strategically about watering their plants, especially those in pots or containers.
According to Waine Delaney from mushroom specialists Monotub, mushroom water could be the key to helping plants survive the scorching temperatures.
To make mushroom water, simply chop up a handful of fresh or dried mushrooms, soak them in your watering can for 24 hours, and then pour the infused water into the base of your plants or containers after sunset.
Water that’s had mushrooms soaking in it for 24 hours can deliver more nutrients into your plants (stock) (Image: bungoume via Getty Images)
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Waine explained: “Whether they are dry or fresh, mushrooms are natural sponges and are made up of 85-90% water.
“When placed in the water of a watering can, mushrooms act as a ‘hydration pod’. This means that mushroom-infused water slowly releases into the soil, reducing evaporation during peak heat hours,” reports Nottinghamshire Live.
Mushrooms are also rich in nutrients, including potassium, selenium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are released when soaked in water. This makes mushroom water a gentle, mineral-rich tonic for plants, replenishing what they lose during heat stress without the harshness of typical fertilisers.
A hosepipe ban can only be weeks away if this heatwave continues (stock) (Image: Kinga Krzeminska via Getty Images)
Adding mushroom-infused water to the soil releases mycelium, a network of fungal threads that resemble roots.
When mushrooms are steeped in water, the mycelial material is dispersed throughout the liquid. Upon pouring this liquid onto the soil, it stimulates fungal activity, allowing the soil to retain water and facilitate its uptake by plants.
The natural presence of mushrooms in your garden typically signifies healthy soil and decomposing organic matter. They usually pose no harm to plants, and certain species, such as wine caps, actively contribute to breaking down nutrients in the soil and inhibiting weed growth.
Mushroom-treated water will go further, Waine says (stock) (Image: ©Daniela White Images via Getty Images)
Even if the heatwave is followed by a sudden, heavy downpour, don’t assume your potted plants are receiving ample water. Plants in containers might not get enough water due to the “canopy” effect, where leaves direct rainwater away from the soil and onto your patio.
Simon, a horticulture expert from the popular gardening channel Walking Talking Gardeners, has shared a “genius” tip to ensure your precious potted plants don’t dry out.
However, it’s not just about watering constantly. Overwatering can be detrimental, potentially causing root rot, leaf discolouration, and stunted growth.
Excessively wet soil can also foster an environment conducive to unhealthy root mould and fungus growth, further harming the plant.
Simon’s “genius” trick, he claims, is to adopt the methods of traditional gardeners from the 19th and 20th centuries, when stone and terracotta pots were widely used.
He explains: “You would be familiar with terracotta pots and the sound it makes If it is dry. If you tap it with an appropriate stick, the pot will make a ringing sound. “If it is fully-watered, it would have a dull kind of thud to it.
“So just by tapping a pot you’ll be able to tell if that pot requires watering or does not require watering.”