Plain old water does the trick, but adding additives can boost plant growth and reduce mold and pests! Here are some things you can "water" your plants with!
And remember, you can flush your plants of accumulated salts and leftover fertilizer residue by watering them with distilled water, which can be found for free from your air conditioner or dehumidifier.
1. Rice Water 🍙
It is packed with complex starches, trace amounts of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and beneficial vitamins. The starches feed the beneficial microbes and mycorrhizal fungi in the soil, which in turn help the plant absorb nutrients more efficiently. If you let the rice water sit out for a day or two to ferment slightly, it creates lactobacilli that act as a natural soil probiotic.
How to use: Pour it directly onto the soil at the base of the plant.
CAUTION: Ensure the water is completely unseasoned (no salt, no butter) and cooled to room temperature before applying.