I'm a frequent blunt smoker and often end up with leftover tobacco from the wrappers. I'm curious if there's a productive way to utilize this tobacco instead of tossing it in the trash. Can I compost it, use it in my garden, or maybe find another purpose? Any insights would be appreciated!
3 Answers
You can definitely use that tobacco in a few ways! It actually contains nicotine, which works great as a natural insect repellent. If you soak the tobacco in water and then filter it, you can spray it on plants to deter pests. Plus, it counts as a brown material in composting, so it's good for your compost pile too! But hey, I was wondering, can’t you buy just the tobacco leaves instead of using the wrappers?
I used to compost my tobacco scraps too, but I got worried about the tobacco mosaic virus. I prefer not to risk it around my vegetable plants. Might be safer to skip composting altogether if you're growing sensitive plants. Better to look into resistant varieties if you're concerned!
Making a nicotine tea is another option! It can be a pretty effective pesticide for your garden. Alternatively, you can compost it since it does have some nutrients that can benefit the soil. Just be cautious if you have plants like tomatoes or peppers; they can be susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus.
I've looked into that, and buying the leaves tends to be pricier and gives me a much stronger nicotine kick than I want.