Do you know what happens if you melt matches in water? Here’s the trick every plant lover should know.
At first glance, if you think of plants and matches, the idea that jumps to your head is certainly not safe, but in this case we will not need flames but water. Dissolving matches in water is a very useful technique to promote a process that can be excellent for plant care. Let’s see together why and how the procedure takes place.
The characteristics of matches
Known to be a commonly used object used to start fire, matches are nothing more than a wooden or cardboard stick on which a flammable head composed of antimony sulfide and potassium chlorate is applied.
To use a match, you need to rub the flammable head against a rough surface, such as a matchbox or a matchbox, togenerate a spark that triggers the flammable head to burn. The latter, in turn, generates a flame that can be used to light the desired fire.
There are different types of matches, such as regular matches, waterproof matches, child safety matches, and cigar matches. In addition, there are also ecological matches on the market, made with biodegradable and non-toxic materials.
Matches were invented in 1826 by the French pharmacist Jean-François Derosne and the English chemist John Walker. Initially, they consisted of wooden sticks on which a flammable head composed of sulfur and potassium nitrate was applied. Subsequently, the composition of the flammable head was improved and made safer.
Despite the invention of other sources of fire starting, such as the gas lighter or the electric lighter, matches still remain widely used all over the world to start fire quickly and easily, especially for lighting candles, gas stoves, barbecues and fireplaces. However, it is important to use matches with caution and care to avoid any accidents and dangerous fires. Today we will see why it can be useful to use them with the element opposite to fire and why we should put matches in water.
Putting matches in water, here’s why to do it
Needless to say, once used in the water, matches will no longer be usable. So why should we waste it in this way? The reason is very simple, and it proves to be really useful for growing plants.
Fill a container with 250 ml of water, inside which 10 matches will be placed. Make sure they are firm and let them soak for 60 minutes. As you can see, the match’s head will begin to dissolve releasing its color into the water.
Along with the color, however, the match will also lose the substances that cover it, namely phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur. To speed up the process you can move the matches back and forth in the water, you will notice that they will leave a trail of color.
After an hour you can remove the matches to dispose of them and you will have obtained a water rich in minerals useful for house plants. In fact, this water will be excellent for watering plants, especially those that need greater robustness in the roots and for green and lush leaves. A natural fertilizer suitable for any type of plant and simple to make.
