Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Tropical Gardens and Plants 108, 0 by dyzzypyxxy

dyzzypyxxy wrote:
The little bit of soap or shampoo in washing water won't harm your plants. If you consider the gallons of water you use, compared to at most a couple of teaspoons of soap, it's insignificant. In fact, it can help wet the soil if it's really dry as soap is a surfactant (wetting agent). Some places even allow laundry water from washing machines and dishwashers to be used as gray water. Again the small proportion of soap to the large amount of water lets it do no harm.

Here are scoops (bailers) I use to transport water from my rain barrels and various tubs to my plants, made from various plastic bottles - the right hand one is a gallon milk jug. (screw-top lids are best, snap tops need to be glued on). Just cut the bottom out of the jug with a pair of sturdy scissors, screw the lid on tight, and you have a nice gallon-sized scoop with a handle!

We've used these in our boats for years, because they're cheap, flexible and so easy to use. Anywhere water collects, you can easily scoop it out and use it for your plants with these guys.