Club Benefits
Every time you rinse rice before cooking, you're pouring valuable plant fertilizer down the drain. That cloudy, starchy water contains nutrients and beneficial microbes that help plants grow bigger and healthier. Rice water is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — the three essential nutrients all plants need.
The starches also promote helpful bacteria in soil that support root development and overall plant health. Best of all, it's completely free and environmentally friendly. Understanding how to prepare and apply rice water properly makes the difference between thriving plants and damaged ones.
Why rice water helps plants grow
Rice water contains starch, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that plants use for energy storage, growth, and reproduction. The starches promote beneficial bacteria in the soil, which support root health and nutrient absorption.
This combination of nutrients and helpful microbes makes rice water an effective natural fertilizer that costs nothing and uses kitchen waste you'd otherwise throw away. Fermented rice water is particularly effective because the fermentation process multiplies beneficial bacteria, though even simple rinsing water provides benefits.
The nutrients in rice water help plants develop stronger root systems, produce fuller foliage, and in some cases increase crop yields for vegetables.
Three ways you can make rice water
1. Fermented
Fermented rice water is the most beneficial preparation because fermentation promotes helpful bacteria growth, though it requires the most time.
Place a few scoops of cooked rice in a glass jar and fill it with distilled water. Then cover the jar with cheesecloth and store it in a dark place for one to two weeks to ferment. Check every few days — white mold is normal, but if you see black, brown, or orange growth, discard it and start over.
Once fermentation completes, filter the rice water into a clean container. Always dilute fermented rice water with plain water in a one-to-two ratio before using it on plants. The fermentation process is complete when the water smells sour and has a slightly cloudy appearance.
2. Boiled
Boiling rice releases starches and nutrients into the water quickly without requiring fermentation time. Bring two cups of unsalted water to a boil in a pot. Next, add half a cup of uncooked rice and boil until the water becomes cloudy and murky.
Then simply let it cool completely and strain the rice water from the grains using a fine-mesh strainer, saving the starchy liquid in a jar. Allow the rice water to cool to room temperature before using it on plants.
Boiled rice water is more concentrated than rinsing water but less potent than fermented water. Use any type of plain rice without added seasonings or salt, which can harm plants.
3. Rinsed
Rinsing is the fastest method and produces less concentrated rice water that's still beneficial. Fill a pot with rice and water using a three-to-one water-to-rice ratio.
Soak for 20-30 minutes, or use your hand to agitate the grains to speed up starch extraction. Then strain the rice water into a clean container using a fine-mesh strainer. Before apply to your plants, make sure to shake well.
This method is ideal if you're already rinsing rice before cooking and don't want extra preparation steps. While the least concentrated option, rinsed rice water still provides nutrients and causes fewer problems if accidentally over-applied compared to fermented versions.
Use sparingly to avoid problems
The biggest mistake people make with rice water is applying it too frequently. Overuse leads to mold growth, attracts pests, hardens soil, and can cause insect infestations. Apply rice water no more than once per month, even though it's natural and free.
Between rice water applications, use regular water for your normal watering schedule. Rice water works best for soil-grown plants — avoid using it on hydroponic systems, as the starch causes bacterial and fungal overgrowth in water-based growing setups.
Most houseplants like succulents, spider plants, orchids, and ferns benefit from rice water. Plus, outdoor veggies like peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, and eggplant often show bigger yields when given rice water monthly.
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