probability are , you ’ve see a picture of someone soaking honest-to-goodness banana skin in a Mason jolt of water and pouring it over top of their houseplant . They claim it ’s the best fertilizer , and their plants have never been happier . But … how true can that statement be ? Here ’s what you could really expect when using banana peels as fertilizer .
You ca n’t believe everything you see on TikTok . Or Instagram . Or the internet , for that matter .
Every twenty-four hour period , I see industrial plant hacks publicize as miracle curative or with mysterious power you could habituate on your houseplants and garden . Even better , they come from kitchen scrap or material you already have in your buttery !
Try thishouseplant fertilizerinstead!
I hate to break the bubble , but many of these are n’t as awesome as they come along — one of those being banana peels .
So before you go bananas for banana peel plant food , let ’s lecture about the proposed benefits and the realistic value of using banana tree Robert Peel in the garden .
This post will speak about …
The Importance of Potassium
atomic number 19 is one of the three key macronutrients that plants ask alongside nitrogen and phosphorus . This means plants take potassium in large amounts compare to other micronutrients and mineral .
Potassium serve to advance all - around works health , boosting its resistant system and disease resistance . A flora that gets enough K has tidy sum of vigour .
But just because it ’s one of the more all-important nutrients , it does n’t necessarily think your stain lacks K . The best manner to know what your soil needs or may be lacking is toperform a dirt mental test . It ’s easy to do one at home with asoil tryout outfit .
Banana Peels as Fertilizer. Do They Really Work?
We all live that bananas are an fantabulous source of K . Our parents tell us to eat our bananas to advance a healthy heart and to give up those darn peg spasm .
So , in theory , bananas should also be an excellent beginning of atomic number 19 for the garden , right ?
Well , not quite . The common practice I ’ve ensure is making banana Camellia sinensis by soaking the Peel in water system and then using the banana tree water as fertilizer for houseplants and the garden . This pattern is similar tocompost tea , which is a hot garden debate itself .
The realness is thatvery little of the banana decomposes , meaning there is piffling nutritional value in the banana water system for your plants .
Another way people use banana tree peels is to just put them right in the soil . Really , it takes a long prison term for the banana tree peels to break down . It can also ensue in air pocket and a smelly garden .
Bananas are n’t some instant alimentary hike . They’re just like any other kitchen scrap you thresh in the compost pile .
Even if your garden does miss potassium , according to a soil test , there are better mode to get it . Compost and othergarden amendmentslike alfalfa repast and woodwind instrument ash can be great potassium additions .
Want a better fertilizer recipe ? assay myindoor plant fertilizer recipe .
How to Use Banana Peels in the Garden
If you want to practice banana tree peels in the garden , treat them like any other kitchen scraps . Because yes , it ’s always respectable to compost your kitchen scraps rather than put them in the landfill .
Banana Sir Robert Peel areconsidered greensin a compost pile , alongside other fruit and vegetable scraps . Greens bind destiny of wet and typically have mellow nitrogen substance .
Greens need to be combine with Robert Brown , such as leaves or cardboard , which are high in carbon subject and allow the air to flux so the compost does n’t get pie-eyed and stinky .
So ! Just put your banana peels in the compost bin andensure you ’re following the correct compost recipe(try this formula ) so everything breaks down quickly and without any vainglorious stink .
Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Peels in the Garden
Bananas are n’t bad for the garden , but they ’re by no mean some miracle fertilizer . The honest way of life to use them is to add them to your compost bin alongside your other kitchen scraps .
A well - equilibrize compost should n’t be overly icky ( follow thiscompost recipe ) . Stick banana peels in your compost bin rather than directly in the garden , which will help them break down faster . you could also practice acompost tumbler , which is a totally covered and enclose compost system . I used this method when rats visit my compost , and it worked like a charm .
Traditional banana tea is made using the leftover peels . Even then , very little of the banana decomposes in the water for it to be of much time value as a fertilizer . So , your dependable stake is to wipe out that banana and toss the peel in your compost , where it can break down and allow some tangible economic value to your garden .
