Will a Plant Grow Better When You Add Dish Detergent to It?

Identification

• The best way to incorporate dish detergent into your plant's soil is to use the soapy water you have used to wash your dishes. The soapy water along with the bits of leftover food in the water helps to remove bacteria and pollution from the soil. However, it is best to only use this type of soapy water once every few weeks to help prevent any type of buildup in the soil. The bits of food and dead cells from your hands contain nutrients that will feed the plants similar to a fertilizer.

Absorption

• Adding a few drops of dish detergent to a gallon of water helps soil absorb the water better during hot weather or droughts. When either outdoor soil or potted soil that contains peat moss gets especially dry, it can't absorb the water as easily. Adding dish detergent will help loosen the soil. Using dish detergent that is especially made for breaking down tough stains and oil buildup is best for this type of soil.

Insecticide

• Dish detergent works as a homemade, environmentally safe insecticide against pests, such as aphids, mealybugs and spider mites. Fill a spray bottle with water and soap, with a concentration of 2 percent dish detergent. Spray directly onto the areas of the plant where you see signs of pests in the soil. This should be done approximately every few days until you no longer see signs of pests.

Considerations

• Soapy water should not be used too often in potted plants, because the plants can't easily filter through the unusable nutrients. The limited amounts of soil don't allow for this, and the soapy water could turn toxic in these incidences. Avoid dish detergent that contains chlorine, boron and sodium, as these ingredients could harm your plants, whether indoors or out.