How to use banana peels as fertilizer for indoor plants?

The banana is an exotic fruit that has gained widespread popularity worldwide due to its delicious flavor and rich nutritional content. This edible fruit is used in cooking, medicine, cosmetics, as livestock feed, and even in soap.

But few people know that the peel of this yellow fruit is also very beneficial. Just like the fruits of plants, it contains many substances that can be used in everyday life. It is precisely because of its composition that banana peels have become widely used as a fertilizer for both greenhouse and indoor plants.

The chemical composition of banana peels and their benefits for flowers

The chemical composition of banana peel is quite similar to that of its pulp, but there are some differences. It consists of 91% water and organic nutrients, including lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and fiber. The peel also contains minerals, namely potassium, manganese, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. It also contains:

• pectin;
• oxalates;
• saponins;
• hydrogen cyanide;
• tannins.

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Fruit peel is used as a fertilizer in agricultural practices precisely because of the minerals it contains. The complex of potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium is involved in the growth, development, and flowering of all plants. Their effects are as follows:

1. Magnesium is a substance essential for ornamental plants, especially during the cold season, as it participates in the formation of chlorophyll and thus promotes photosynthesis.
2. Potassium, in turn, improves nutrient exchange between plant cells, thereby strengthening the stems and making them more resistant to certain diseases. Banana peels act as a natural potassium fertilizer for many plants, acting gently and without burning.

   

3. Phosphorus is also essential for flowers, as it plays a vital role in their flowering and fruiting. Furthermore, this micronutrient helps improve the cold tolerance of all ornamental plants.

What indoor plants are suitable for this fertilizer?

Banana peels are widely used to feed all types of houseplants. Florists and those who simply love indoor and ornamental plants most often use the following:

• Saintpaulias;
• violets;
• roses;
• cyclamen;
• citrus trees;
• avocado;
• begonias;
• coffee tree.

Florists typically recommend using roasted fruit peels or an infusion made from them for indoor plants. This precaution is due to the pesticides and growth stimulants found in the peels, which are applied to the fruit when it's cut.

It's best to use roasted peel or infusion during the budding period, as it will ensure a long and lush bloom. This is why it's most often used to feed frequently blooming plants, such as roses and violets.

Dangers and risks to plants

Despite all their benefits, banana peels can be harmful to the plant, as they accumulate all the "bad" substances that the fruit was treated with during transportation and delivery to the point of sale.

Therefore, it's recommended to use fertilizer only on young seedlings. Pesticides and growth stimulants aren't completely removed from the peels by regular washing. All harmful substances can be removed by roasting the peels, grinding them into a powder, and soaking them in boiling water.

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You can also protect your flowers from unwanted substances by purchasing only from trusted suppliers. Large supermarkets, which typically have a certificate of product compliance, are an excellent option.

Fresh peels should also not be placed on top of the soil, as the high amount of nutrients they contain will simply cause the soil to mold and kill the plant's root system. Therefore, the peels should be placed at the bottom of the pot intended for the seedling—by the time the flower's rhizomes have time to grow, the peels will have time to rot.

Fruit debris attracts small pests such as ants and fruit flies, which can attack flowers fed with natural fertilizer.

Banana peels can become moldy; this is usually due to a nutrient deficiency in the soil where the plant grows. To prevent mold, apply nitrogen and humic fertilizers to the soil along with the peel.

No houseplant can be nourished solely by the skin of a fruit. Don't neglect complex fertilizers, otherwise, you're unlikely to achieve a strong and healthy plant.

Recipes and uses of banana peels as fertilizer

The peel of this exotic fruit is a universal fertilizer; it is used fresh, as well as in infusions and complex compositions, and is also dried, frozen, and even baked.

From fresh peel

The easiest and fastest way to add peels to the soil is to simply cut them into small strips and place them as close as possible to the bottom of the container where the plant will be planted. However, before doing this, it's recommended to thoroughly wash the peels in warm, soapy water with a brush; this significantly reduces the amount of harmful substances on the peel's surface.

When adding fresh produce to the soil, it's important to remember that this method of fertilization is the most dangerous for the plant. It's quite difficult to calculate the optimal amount of fertilizer for a specific type of indoor plant. Furthermore, harmful microorganisms can enter the pot.

Infusions

A peel infusion is the most convenient and easy method of fertilization, and is the most commonly used. To prepare the infusion, take 1-2 washed peels, stems removed, and place them in a sterilized 1.5-liter jar.

Next, fill the jar with boiled water at room temperature, filling it to the top, seal tightly, and let it steep for several days in a dark place. Before using, strain the infusion and dilute it with water in a 1:1 ratio. When choosing this type of fertilizer, keep in mind that it spoils fairly quickly and emits an unpleasant odor.

You can use either whole or chopped peels to prepare the infusion. Chopped peels infuse faster and release more nutrients into the water than whole peels.

Water the flowers with this infusion at the roots once every four weeks. Use 1-2 tablespoons of the diluted infusion per 2-3 liter pot.

Dried peel

You can use the peel as fertilizer even after it's dried. This way, you can prepare the required amount for future use.

To dry the raw material, simply spread it out on a warm radiator or bake it in the oven. Once the peel is dry, it should be crushed and placed in an airtight container or paper bag until ready to use.

The dried product is typically used for young seedlings, adding 1 tablespoon of this fertilizer to the bottom layer of soil during planting.

Complex compositions

There are also many fertilizers using fruit peels, which are made from several components at once.

One such complex composition is a mixture of peel and eggshell powder. To prepare this complex fertilizer, you need:

1. Dried banana peels – 4 pcs.
2. Eggshell powder – 2 tsp.
3. Magnesia – 20 g.
4. Water (boiled or distilled) – 1 l.

The dried plant skins should be ground into a powder and mixed with eggshell powder and magnesium sulfate. The resulting mixture is then added to water and left to steep for several hours. The resulting mixture can be sprayed on the leaves or applied to the roots; once every four weeks is sufficient.

You can also make a complex fertilizer from banana and orange peels. To do this, take the shredded peels in a 1:1 ratio and fill a 3-liter jar exactly one-third full. Then, add 1 tablespoon of sugar to the mixture and fill the jar to the top with warm water. Let this fertilizer sit for 3 weeks, shaking it occasionally. This infusion can be used no more than once a month, pouring it under the root of the plant.

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Reviews of the application

Experienced gardeners generally speak positively about banana peel fertilizer:

Tatiana: "I've been watering my violets and Saintpaulias with banana peel infusion for quite some time now, and I'm very happy with the results. This miracle infusion makes choosing fertilizers for these capricious and finicky flowers much easier. I water the plants with the solution every seven days during the budding period, and I've seen them not only strengthen but also bloom profusely and for a long time."

Ivan: "I've been feeding ornamental plants exclusively with natural products for a long time, and banana peels are perfect for this. I also love bananas, so I always have plenty of fertilizer. Thanks to the potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the peels, the plants not only bloom beautifully but also survive the winter well, even on a windowsill."

Natalia: "I have numerous ornamental roses growing in my apartment, which I periodically feed with an infusion made from banana peels. Thanks to this infusion, my roses' lush, long blooms are the envy of all my friends and acquaintances. I recommend using banana peels as a fertilizer to all gardeners, especially for flowering plants."

Frequently Asked Questions

Despite the fact that banana peels are a natural fertilizer, inexperienced gardeners often have questions about how to properly use the raw material for feeding and whether such fertilizer can harm the flower:

Banana peels are an excellent potassium fertilizer for all ornamental plants, ensuring lush flowering and helping plants survive the lack of heat and light during the winter.