The shells also contain other minerals that help plants grow, including potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Eggshells are, therefore, an effective and inexpensive fertilizer for outdoor garden soil and houseplants.
Eggplant, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower and leafy greens, to name a few. But don't go overboard. Since it takes a while for the shells to decompose, Uyterhoeven recommends applying eggshell fertilizer to your garden or indoor plants just twice a year—in the fall and spring.
One final note: Make sure your soils aren't already alkaline before you add anything to up the pH; and never ever use eggshells or other pH-raisers around acid-loving plants like azaleas and rhododendrons.
Finely crushed eggshells actually provide an organic source of nutrition for your plants, which is why they're such a good compost ingredient. The primary reason for this is that eggshells are rich in calcium.
Eggshells are rich in calcium, and this makes them a common ingredient of commercial organic fertilizers. But there's no need to pay for the nutrients these products could bring to your soil. Simply crumble the empty eggshells roughly, then scatter them over your flower and vegetable beds.
Crushed eggshells work much like Diatomaceous earth to repel insects.
Crush the clean eggshells, and pour boiling water over them. Let this soak overnight, and strain the shells out the next day. Pour the eggshell water right onto the soil. Your homemade all-natural plant fertilizer does not need to be kept in the refrigerator.
Epsom Salt for Plants
Aside from the anecdotal evidence about human benefits, Epsom salt does seem to help plants. Generations of gardeners have said it helps their plants grow bushier, produce more flowers and have better color. It's also said to help seeds germinate and repel slugs and other garden pests.
Because it takes several months for eggshells to break down and be absorbed by a plant's roots, it is recommended that they be tilled into the soil in fall. More shells can be mixed into your soil in the spring.
Do eggshells in compost attract rats? Any food scraps can attract local pests, including eggshells. But shells do not give off a strong scent, so there's little risk of these bringing in rodents on their own.
In most cases, the grounds are too acidic to be used directly on soil, even for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and hollies. Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.
Banana peels can be placed directly onto pot plant soil, or around the base of your garden as mulch. As they decompose, they will release nutrients into the soil to feed plants. If using banana peels in your garden, place a single layer straight on top of the soil, being sure not to let them touch the plant stem.
Start saving your egg shells from breakfast. Halve them and make sure you rinse them out thoroughly. Using a small needle, make a small hole in the base of each egg shell for drainage. Using a teaspoon, add seed compost to the egg shell.
Combine the two together, crush the eggshells by hand even more (which should be easier now that they're fully dry), and sprinkle the mixture across the soil bed. Repeat the process every several months or at the start of a fresh growing season. The important thing is to not overdo it.
Is Banana Peel Water Good for Plants? Using banana water for plants doesn't have many cons if you do it correctly. Banana peels contain essential nutrients for plant growth, like magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. The amount of nutrients infused into water is very unlikely to cause fertilizer overdose.
Verdict: Unless you have a magnesium deficiency in your garden, there is no need to add Epsom salts. Doing so could even be harmful to soil, plants and water.
Prevent Fungal Disease
MAKE IT: Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 2-3 drops of liquid soap in 1 liter of water. Spray the solution on the infected plants. Baking soda helps the plants become less acidic and prevents fungal growth.
It is perfectly safe for plants when properly diluted and used in moderation. Adding hydrogen peroxide to water promotes better growth in plants and boosts roots ability to absorb nutrients from the soil. Diluted 3% peroxide adds needed aeration to the soil of plants and helps control fungus in the soil.
It's not required to wash eggshells before tossing them into your compost, but some gardeners do for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it removes any of the excess egg off them, which could attract pests or rodents (If you're using a Subpod, this becomes less of a worry).
Crush the eggshells into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle, rolling pin, or food processor. Be sure to wear a mask while crushing the shells to avoid breathing in any eggshell dust. Stir the eggshell powder into your flower bed, indoor plant's potting mix, or vegetable garden's soil.
The advantage to eggshells is you don't have to buy containers, and you don't wind up with plastic pots you have to throw away or wash for next year. The disadvantages are their small size and lack of drainage holes.
Treat leaves with neem oil to destroy any eggs left on them.
Not only can they help to power your plants, egg shells can also aid in protecting them from pests and soil deficiencies too. All while helping to build better soil quality by adding key nutrients as they break down over time. Egg shells truly are one of the most useful and powerful organic materials around.