Just like in the garden, finely crushed eggshells provide an organic source of nutrition for houseplants, patio pots and hanging planters. Sprinkle the pulverized shells on the soil surface and they will break down over time whether you are using eggshells for houseplants or outdoor containers.
In a word, yes. Eggshells are a great addition to most gardens and houseplants since they contain calcium carbonate, which strengthens the structure of plants.
Plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in particular will benefit from shell fertilizer, Savio said. The extra calcium will help prevent blossom-end rot. Broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, spinach and amaranth are also calcium-packed and could use extra from eggshells.
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.
Eggshells contain up to 95% Ca carbonate and various macro and micro-nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, iron, and phosphorus. Therefore, eggshells are also good for plant growth, stimulate root development, and can be reused to make fertilizers.
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.
Because eggshells are so versatile, you can use them as pest control as well as nutrition for your plants, be it for growing tomatoes or making compost.
It turns out eggshells impart vital nutrients to soil, particularly calcium and potassium. Shell fertilizer can work for outdoor flowers, vegetables and fruit trees.
Banana peels are good fertilizer because of what they do not contain. They contain absolutely no nitrogen. While plants need nitrogen (remember the NPK on fertilizers), too much nitrogen will create lots of green leaves but few berries or fruits.
Since eggshells offer a source of calcium, plants that love this nutrient will benefit best from this hack, such as roses and African violets. 'Monstera, philodendrons, and other plants in this family are also particularly calcium-loving,' Mo says.
Organic calcium can also be used to help neutralize excessively acidic soils, which is especially important when you're growing green, leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach, or cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale.
Lime: Calcium carbonate, commonly sold as lime, is a good source of calcium you can add to your soil. Keep in mind that It will raise the pH of your soil. A variation on this is dolomitic lime, which also contains magnesium, which can be useful if your soil also has low levels of magnesium.
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.
The calcium from eggshells is also welcome in garden soil, where it moderates soil acidity while providing nutrients for plants. Eggshells contain such an abundance of calcium that they can be used almost like lime, though you would need a lot of eggshells to make a measurable impact.
Plant feed: Used tea bags double as a handy fertilizer because of their tannic acid, which in turn foster increased nitrogen levels. Many plants, including roses and potted plants, will benefit from the elevated levels, so mix or spread those steeped tea leaves right onto the soil.
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.
Compared with synthetic fertilizers, rice water is very safe to use on plants, and it won't cause common issues like leaf burn. But rice water does contain a fair amount of starch, which can build up in your plant pots if you use this DIY fertilizer too often.
If you split your eggshells into small fragments, it can take roughly one year for them to break down into the soil. Thrown in almost whole, and you could be looking at several years before they decompose.
The shells will decompose quickly and naturally, and when they do they'll add lots of calcium to your pile. It's a common misconception that you can't put eggshells in compost piles because the shell is too hard, but this is far from the truth.
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.
Just as when putting egg shells in planting holes, the more finely ground the powder, the faster the nutrients will leach down to the roots. For topical use, a good rule of thumb is to use about a tablespoon or two of pulverized egg shells per plant.
Mix crushed eggshells directly into potting soil.
Before you do this, consider mixing a handful of crushed eggshells into the soil. Overtime, the eggshells will leach their nutrients into the soil, and help the young plants grow into healthy, strong plants.