'Save plants in 24 hours' using kitchen waste item

Gardeners are being encouraged to raid their kitchen cupboards for an unexpected ingredient that could help their plants flourish during the colder months; mushrooms. Specialists from Urban Farm-It have revealed how the fungi lurking in your pantry can lead to thriving and robust plants, whether they're planted in the earth or housed in pots and containers.

Known as 'mushroom water', this peculiar mixture uses the liquid remaining after soaking mushrooms to nourish your plants. This liquid contains a wealth of organic compounds and minerals essential for plant growth without being overly harsh on even your most sensitive bulbs.

The specialists revealed: "Mushroom water is simply the liquid left after soaking mushrooms in water. When mushrooms are soaked, small amounts of their mycelial matter may enter the water.

"Once poured onto the soil, this could encourage fungal activity that improves water retention and helps plants take up moisture more efficiently. It could act as a natural tonic for your soil, carrying organic compounds and minerals from the mushrooms that may help nourish plants.

"Because mushroom water is mild, it is less likely to overwhelm plants. Instead, it could slowly release moisture into the soil, supporting hydration while reducing the risk of nutrient burn."

Creating mushroom water is also remarkably straightforward and affordable, ensuring this trick won't cost you a fortune.

The specialists recommended beginning with merely a handful of chopped mushrooms. Whether they're fresh or fried, simply submerge your mushrooms in water and leave them for 12 to 24 hours to fully release their sponge-like properties.

This infusion can then be poured around the base of your plants, allowing it to soak into the soil. You can still use your tried and tested gardening methods and products on top of this concoction, too.

The experts noted that it might even double down on the green results: "Mulching soil, watering early in the day, and protecting young plants with covers could all work alongside mushroom water to give gardens extra resilience."

Mushroom water also shouldn't interfere with the rest of your gardening routine, like commercial fertiliser, which may increase the amount of water needed to work with the plant. The mushroom water can slowly release water into the soil while also enhancing water absorption.

However, as with any change in your garden, it's best to keep a keen eye on your plants when you've used mushroom water for the first time to ensure they are responding well to the change.

Mushroom water also won't replace the need for fertilisers or watering your plants entirely. Instead, it simply offers an added nutrition boost that could save your plants during trying times such as the approaching winter season.