Sponges are a common household item used for an array of cleaning jobs, but they often get discarded after only a few uses. But instead of chucking them out, there’s plenty of other jobs they are good for, and gardeners are being urged to use them to complete one essential job in July before the weather gets even hotter. 

Often used to get bigger and brighter flowers, adding sponges to soil can also help plants stay hydrated during the warmer months. The YouTube account Simple & Fast shared a video urging gardeners to hang on to old sponges as these are “worth pure gold on your plants”, especially during heat waves when soil can struggle to retain water, leaving plants vulnerable to dehydration. 

Plants usually require more attention over the summer months, particularly when it comes to keeping them hydrated. While longer and hotter days can lead to dehydration, as water from the soil evaporates faster, it’s also important not to overwater plants. 

As sponges absorb water, adding them directly to soil helps retain water and ensures plants stay hydrated, until eventually breaking down and decomposing into the soil. 

In the video shared on YouTube, the gardening pro said throwing sponges out is “wasting a powerful ally for our plants, our garden and our pots.”

However, some viewers expressed concern over adding sponges to soil, especially as they often contain microplastics, and cautioned against using this in vegetable plants or herb gardens. 

Instead, it’s beneficial to add them to plants that might be at greater risk of becoming dehydrated. One viewer said: “When I use decorative pots without drainage holes, I put these sponges at the bottom of them, and place the pot with the plant in, on top. That helps to avoid accidental overwatering.”

Carrying out this job before the end of July can ensure plants keep hydrated over summer, with Simple & Fast also encouraging doing this if you have plans to go away, as it will help keep soil moist and works for both indoor and outdoor plants. 

The first step is to let the sponge rest in water with a “little bit of soap” for one hour. After the hour is up, give it a good rinse. 

Next, use a pair of scissors to cut the sponge into very small pieces. “Once we have all our sponge cut, we are going to start using it to benefit the soil of our pots and plants,” said the gardening expert. 

You can then go ahead and mix the pieces of sponge into the soil. Start by adding some soil to the pot and then a layer of sponger before adding your plant.

The sponge fragment thens mix with the soil in the pots, absorbing moisture and helping keep plants healthy and hydrated for longer periods.