Avatar for piksihk
Sep 3, 2023 4:28 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Betsy
Texas (Zone 9a)
In the beginning GOD created ...
Amaryllis Region: Florida Hummingbirder Irises Lilies Master Gardener: Texas
Native Plants and Wildflowers Region: Texas Plant and/or Seed Trader Daylilies Cottage Gardener Container Gardener
Our county is now under water restrictions…two days a week and during certain hours. I don't believe my potted plants will survive. I've pulled them under the patio so they can have some relief ftom the sun.

How many of you have used "grey" water to water your garden? We hand wash dishes so I collected the rinse water for the plants. The internet says that soapy water can be used but be careful of the chemicals in it.

Any other suggestions yon can provide is greatly appreciated.
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Sep 3, 2023 6:20 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
If you use a watering can, not a running hose or sprinkler, are potted plants included in the ban?

I would use drip trays so that not a drop is wasted. I don't know about soapy water but water drained from pasta, boiling eggs, or cooking veggies would be like compost tea I think. Are you able to collect any water dripping off of your A/C? Dehumidifier? Be ready to collect (& store) as much water as possible when it rains.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
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The only way to succeed is to try!
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The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
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Avatar for porkpal
Sep 3, 2023 6:24 PM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
We have successfully used grey water from the laundry and from showers.
Avatar for hawkeye_daddy
Sep 3, 2023 6:41 PM CST
SE Iowa
I agree with Tiffany about putting saucers under the pots when it's hot and dry. Putting them in the shade will help a lot. I've been putting the stopper in the bathtub and catching the water from our showers for most of the summer. Don't have any way of capturing the water from the dishwasher or washing machine, or I'd be doing that too. Would advise getting a pump to help you transfer it from the tub to your watering can. It's still no substitute for rain, because it is city water, but things are surviving if not thriving.
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Sep 3, 2023 6:47 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
That's a great idea! The kind of pump one uses to fill a kerosene heater would be perfect for that. The ones I've had have a ribbed plastic part that you squeeze and it pulls the kerosene up so it flows out of the other side into the heater tank.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
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Sep 3, 2023 6:59 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
Yes, bathtub water and dish water are both great ways to reuse water. There is a way to drain your wash machine to outside if you have the right access from your laundry room.

Another idea we used is changing out the toilet tank cover for a washlet. The water flows through the sink on the way to filling the toilet tank, like this. You are then flushing your toilet with grey water.
https://m.eco-buildingproducts...
Avatar for MsDoe
Sep 3, 2023 8:13 PM CST
Southwest U.S. (Zone 7a)
Be careful of excess salt in grey water.
Most soaps are made with sodium salts. The sodium can build up in soil, and is toxic to plants.
If salt is added to cooking water, it will be too salty for plants.
Occasionally flush the pots with clean tap water or rain water to avoid salt buildup in the soil.
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Sep 3, 2023 8:49 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I'm very thankful to not have water restrictions where I am (yet), but Lucy, that washlet thing is brilliant! Thumbs up Thumbs up
“The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light –
if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~Amanda Gorman~

C/F temp conversion
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Sep 4, 2023 4:46 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Procrastinator Charter ATP Member Hummingbirder Frogs and Toads Houseplants
Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener
I like the Washlet, too. I've thought it would be great to have the real sink refill the toilet tank.

Years ago ( drought) we started catching the cold shower water in a bucket, (before it warms up enough to step into?)

Hoping you get rain before the grey water causes problems. Crossing Fingers! Crossing Fingers! Crossing Fingers! Crossing Fingers! Crossing Fingers! Crossing Fingers! Crossing Fingers!
Plant it and they will come.
Avatar for piksihk
Sep 4, 2023 10:34 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Betsy
Texas (Zone 9a)
In the beginning GOD created ...
Amaryllis Region: Florida Hummingbirder Irises Lilies Master Gardener: Texas
Native Plants and Wildflowers Region: Texas Plant and/or Seed Trader Daylilies Cottage Gardener Container Gardener
Thanks, all for all the suggestions.

I've already have a large container to catch the cold water from shower before it warms up. Didn't realize how much water goes down the drain.
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Sep 4, 2023 3:32 PM CST
Name: Rick R.
Minneapolis,MN, USA z4b,Dfb/a
Garden Photography The WITWIT Badge Seed Starter Wild Plant Hunter Region: Minnesota Hybridizer
Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Also, most people use way more soap than they need too (toothpaste, too). nodding

Back in the 1970s, some hig school friends and I took a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. One of my friends brought along some Basis® soap. It is glycerin based soap, and he said it was better for the environment. Don't know if that's true, but for me it is the best soap ever! Honest, squeaky clean (without drying) like when you take a sauna. Absolutely no residue. Back then, I had acne pretty bad. Worked better than any soap the doctor recommended.
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the losers. - Socrates
Avatar for hawkeye_daddy
Sep 4, 2023 9:49 PM CST
SE Iowa
Weedwhacker said: I'm very thankful to not have water restrictions where I am (yet), but Lucy, that washlet thing is brilliant! Thumbs up Thumbs up


I agree I sent a picture of it to my daughter, who didn't quite know what to think about it. Besides saving water, it would save so much space in the lake cabin!
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Sep 5, 2023 6:20 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Procrastinator Charter ATP Member Hummingbirder Frogs and Toads Houseplants
Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener
I'd love to try it, who can gift me a lake cabin nodding
Plant it and they will come.
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Sep 5, 2023 7:11 AM CST
Central Florida (Zone 9a)
I recycle, reuse, repurpose!
Composter Region: Florida Enjoys or suffers hot summers Birds Annuals Cactus and Succulents
Zinnias Organic Gardener Cottage Gardener Frugal Gardener Dragonflies Butterflies
You can remove the joint underneath the kitchen sink and put a 5 gallon bucket under it.

Grey water is okay for your garden plants. I can testify that a tomato sprouted from an area where I used grey water. Lovey dubby
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Sep 5, 2023 7:28 AM CST
Taos, New Mexico (Zone 5b)
Crescit Eundo
Greenhouse Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Region: New Mexico
Great advice above. You can also look at your pots. Terracotta pots dry out quicker than glazed or painted pots (or plastic or metal). Also a bigger pot will hold moisture longer than a smaller pot.

There are additives you can add to the soil that help it retain water.

A quick and easy improvement is to put mulch on top of the soil in each pot. Gravel and pea stone also works well.

Finally, any new plants you collect should be drought tolerant.

Good luck!
Image
Sep 5, 2023 9:42 AM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
Everyone assumes this water is for potted plants. We watered entire yards this way during the major part of the drought.
Avatar for porkpal
Sep 5, 2023 10:56 AM CST
Name: Porkpal
Richmond, TX (Zone 9a)
Cat Lover Charter ATP Member Keeper of Poultry I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Keeps Horses
Roses Plant Identifier Farmer Raises cows Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Garden Ideas: Level 2
The original question was about potted plants.
Image
Sep 5, 2023 8:01 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
Actually the only question was How many of you have used "grey" water to water your garden? Whistling
Image
Sep 5, 2023 8:20 PM CST
Name: Tiffany purpleinopp
Opp, AL @--`--,----- (Zone 8b)
Region: United States of America Houseplants Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Sages Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Level 2
Organic Gardener Composter Miniature Gardening Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Tender Perennials Butterflies
That question was right under, " I don't believe my potted plants will survive. I've pulled them under the patio so they can have some relief from the sun.
The golden rule: Do to others only that which you would have done to you.
👀😁😂 - SMILE! -☺😎☻☮👌✌∞☯
The only way to succeed is to try!
🐣🐦🐔🍯🐾🌺🌻🌸🌼🌹
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The 2nd best time is now. (-Unknown)
👒🎄👣🏡🍃🍂🌾🌿🍁❦❧🍁🍂🌽❀☀ ☕👓🐝
Try to be more valuable than a bad example.
Image
Sep 5, 2023 9:41 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
Yep! Silly me for thinking the garden might be in the yard, not just in a pot. Rolling on the floor laughing

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