Matchsticks in Plant Pots?

MaryRowe

This is a new one to me, but apparently it's been around for a while. I was wondering if anyone has tried it. The article says you can put matchsticks in your potted plants, where they provide fertilizer and pest control,

https://www.askaprepper.com/why-you-should-place-matches-in-your-plant-pots/

ltwickey

I have never heard of this! But once you break down the science, as they did in the article, it makes perfect sense! I will give this a try!

Thank you for sharing.

Monek Marie

I have not used this on house plants bu I use it for pepper plants in the garden

kbmbillups1

I never heard of that. But it's something to remember!!

water2world

@MaryRowe I had never heard of this, but will be definitely trying it. Thanks for posting!

Tave

Thanks for this information. I have a gas stove with no pilot light. I always have a pile of used matches hanging around.

Lisa K

I have heard about putting matchsticks around sprouts to protect from cutworms but not as fertilizer

jowitt.europe

@MaryRowe How interesting! All of a sudden I remembered that in my early childhood I was licking match heads. Most probably my body lacked some of the minerals.

another story is that here in Tirol herbalists leave copper coins in the Earth when they dig out roots - to return minerals to the Earth. It must be true, as from time to time I find a coin from different periods in my garden.

MaryRowe

@jowitt.europe Now that you mention it, that folk custom of leaving copper coins must be widespread. My father taught me as a child to always leave a bright copper penny "for the fairies" when we harvested wild plants or roots or cut a tree. Later on I decided that, and other such things he taught me must have come from his Swabische grandmother. But I when I moved to Missouri, I found the same custom of the copper penny among some older folks here, where I think it probably had British, most likely Scots-Irish roots.

JennyT Upstate South Carolina

@MaryRowe I find this fascinating! Definitely new to me as well. I will have to give this a try. I have certain plants that I can't keep happy inside no matter what I do. Maybe this will help. Thanks for sharing.

@jowitt.europe That is so cool that you find coins every so often. What was the oldest date on a coin you've found while digging? I try to keep older coins and not spend them here in the states 1980's and older.

jowitt.europe

@MaryRowe interesting. So it is really widely spread and comes from Europe. It is lovely that your father taught you to leave a copper penny for fairies.

@JennyT my garden is relatively not old. The house was built in 1987. Before it was built there was a wild meadow. The oldest coin was from 1936. The last one from 1959. Definitely from the times before the house was built.

By the way, when I eat fish, I dig bones under tomato plants, because they need phosphor. Somebody told me, I follow and tomatoes feel happy.

annbeck62

I've never heard of this but definitely worth trying.

karenjanicki

I would never have though of that, but it's a fascinating concept. I saved this post for later. Thank you for sharing it!

frogvalley

It's quite interesting learning some of the old folks tales. Keep 'em coming.

Brindy

I'll give it a go! Thank you for posting.

JodieDownUnder

@jowitt.europe I have read where fish bones, heads and guts, along with eggshells are dug in deeply where your going to plant tomatoes and you won’t be sorry. Thought I might give it a try next summer.

@MaryRowe I’ve not heard of the matchstick trick either, I’ll keep it in mind. And the “pennies for the fairies” makes me smile!

shllnzl

I am trying the matchsticks in some plants that are weak. It is a good way to use up some excess matches and worth the experiment.