Which plants like banana peel water?
Banana Peel Water = Garden Gold! Don’t toss those peels–soak them! This DIY tonic is perfect for feeding tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, roses, orchids, marigolds, and peace lilies 🍌💧 It’s gentle, free, and gives your plants a real boost in blooms and growth! Banana water is water steeped with banana peels to create a liquid plant fertilizer. It’s similar to compost tea, though without the actual compost process. It involves soaking cut-up banana peels in water for two or three days and then straining the liquid from the peels.Drawbacks of Banana Water There is little scientific evidence that banana water will benefit plants. Plus, banana peels can contain a high level of synthetic pesticides that may contaminate the banana water and your plants.However, the peel will break down so slowly that it likely won’t provide adequate nutrients when your plant needs them. Another downside to banana peels as fertilizer is that rotting organic matter can attract pests such as fruit flies, fungus gnats, and even cockroaches.It will just turn into a murky, slimy water that will indeed attract fruit flies or fungus gnats. If “banana water” seems to work and improve plant health, it’s almost certainly just a coincidence.Making banana water for plants isn’t a great use of your time since the nutrients are negligible compared to other fertilizing options. Here are some better alternatives that’ll help your indoor and outdoor plants thrive.
How long do I soak banana peels in water for plants?
Place the banana peel in water for 2-3 days. It should be enough time for bananas to soften and extract nutrients. Once banana pieces are soft enough, boil them for 30-45 minutes to break down the stronger fibers. Strain the liquid and allow it to cool before using. Cut up banana peels into 1- or 2-inch pieces. Immerse the peels in water. Steep the peels for two to three days. After soaking, strain the liquid into a large container or jar.Bury Peels Directly in the Soil Dig a small hole near the base of your plants and bury banana peels directly into the soil. As they decompose, they release nutrients that feed your plants. Try this trick with roses, tomatoes, and peppers.How should I apply the fertilizer? Banana roots spread outwards, not deep down, so always apply fertilizer in a ring around each plant, about 30 cm from the stem. Do not place fertilizer too close to the stem to avoid burning the plant; keep at least a 20–30 cm distance.Add a teaspoon of dry peels to the bottom of your planting hole. Be sure to cover it with a bit of soil before adding the plant. You can also use banana peel powder when making your own potting mix.Grind the pieces of baked banana skins to a really fine powder. Use a pestle and mortar or do it in a blender. The powder acts as a slow release organic fertiliser and as it helps to encourage blooms, you can mix it into cut flowers when potting them up for your garden.
Can I put banana peels straight on plants?
Tomatoes, peppers, and other flowering plants can benefit greatly from a potassium additive. It’s best to process banana peels before applying them to gardens, either by drying, steeping them in water, or composting. This makes the nutrients in banana peels more accessible to plants. Use the dried banana skins on pot plants or in soil. You can also grind the dried skins to a powder. Epiphytes such as staghorn, orchids, bromeliads, and bird’s nest ferns love this fertiliser.
What plant eats banana peels?
Did you know Staghorn Ferns love banana peels? That’s right! There’s potassium in bananas which is a nutrient needed for healthy plants and is often found in fertilizers. So the next time you eat a banana, consider sharing the peel with your Staghorn! While many plants benefit from the nutrients in banana peels, some plants may not respond well to them. For example, plants that prefer acidic soils, such as blueberries and azaleas, might be negatively affected, as banana peels can add more potassium and potentially disrupt their pH balance.There are some potential risks to eating banana peels. They can be contaminated with dirt, microorganisms (like bacteria) or fertilizer,” Amidor says.Banana peels have high levels of potassium, which strengthens the stems of plants, yields a sturdier crop, and can help fight off disease,” says environmental educator Bea Johnson. Tomatoes, peppers, and other flowering plants can benefit greatly from a potassium additive.How often should I use banana peel fertilizer for plants? You can use banana peel tea or powder every 10–14 days, depending on your plant’s needs. If you’re composting banana peels, you can add them regularly with other compost materials.
What plants don’t like banana peels indoors?
While many plants benefit from the nutrients in banana peels, some plants may not respond well to them. For example, plants that prefer acidic soils, such as blueberries and azaleas, might be negatively affected, as banana peels can add more potassium and potentially disrupt their pH balance. Even though banana peels are generally compostable due to their composition, they should not end up in your home compost. In our latitudes, the decomposition time is longer than in warmer regions. In our climate, it can therefore take up to 5 years for banana peels to completely decompose.
What are the disadvantages of banana peel fertilizer?
However, the peel will break down so slowly that it likely won’t provide adequate nutrients when your plant needs them. Another downside to banana peels as fertilizer is that rotting organic matter can attract pests such as fruit flies, fungus gnats, and even cockroaches. You can water your plants with banana peel water fertilizer once a week. Many plants require watering once a week, so you can use compost tea during each hydration session.