The first step is not to water or fertilize; it’s identifying whether your plant thrives in sunlight or shade, dry or moist conditions, and acidic or alkaline soil. Each plant has unique characteristics and nutritional needs.
Here are some of the most effective and common ways to provide extra nutrients to your plants:
Method 1: Use Yeast (Dry Yeast)
The same yeast used for making steamed buns and bread can be directly buried in the soil or mixed with water for watering plants. Yeast is rich in amino acids, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which help plants absorb nutrients, improve soil structure, promote root growth, and overall plant health.
Dosage: Use about 2g at a time, not more. Water your plants with this mixture once a week.

Method 2: Use Ash (Wood Ash)
This method is ideal for plants with yellowing or dry leaves or those that are reluctant to flower. Wood ash can be obtained from burning dry weeds, leaves, or disposable wooden chopsticks in urban areas. Mixing wood ash into the soil helps improve its structure, providing potassium, killing bacteria, repelling insects, and reducing odors and mosquitoes in the summer.
You can mix it with soil, bury it around the rim of the pot, or mix it with water for watering. Frequency of application: Once every two weeks.
Method 3: Use Peanut Shells (Peanut Husks)
It’s best to use unsalted, unbuttered peanuts. Crush the peanut shells, put them in a mineral water bottle, fill the bottle two-thirds full with clean water, and soak for 3-5 days (remember to release the gas daily).
This natural nitrogen-rich fertilizer promotes leaf growth and the development of new shoots. It is particularly beneficial for plants like the Chinese money plant, the African violet, the bird of paradise plant, and the Monstera deliciosa.
Water your plants with this mixture once a week. If the smell is unpleasant, add a few slices of orange peel to neutralize it.

Method 4: Use Eggshells
After consuming eggs, rinse the shells, remove the inner membrane (“phoenix cloth”), which can be used to treat minor wounds or mouth ulcers. Crush and bury the dried eggshells in the soil to provide calcium, strengthening the plant and reducing leaf yellowing.
Each pot only needs half an eggshell, buried four times a year. Note: Bury the shells deep enough to avoid flies, and don’t overuse them, as they can harden the soil and affect root growth.
Method 5: Proper Watering Techniques
In plant care, 30% is fertilizer, and 70% is water—a vital element for plant health! Let tap water sit in the sun for two days to evaporate chlorine before using it to water your plants.
Additionally, water from fish tanks, rich in fish waste, is excellent for plants and promotes sustainability. Condensate water from air conditioners is also ideal: it is neutral, neither acidic nor alkaline, promoting plant growth without compacting the soil.
Directly using milk, beer, or rice water can cause root rot. If you wish to use these, they must first be fermented (a complex process not recommended here).
Other Plant Care Tips:
When a plant grows too tall, its leaves become sparse, and nutrients are not distributed evenly. In this case, pinching the top promotes bushiness and redirects nutrients to the leaves and stems, enhancing the plant’s overall health and encouraging branching.
Adequate ventilation is crucial for plants. Ensure air circulation around the leaves and soil in the pot. If your pot lacks drainage holes, the roots will rot, and your plant will die prematurely.
Use clay pots with drainage holes for better airflow. As your plant grows and produces more leaves, transfer it to a larger pot to accommodate its expanding root system.
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