Forget about the chemical-based products and follow 17 Amazing Banana Peel Uses in the Garden You MUST Try for a thriving garden
Just as bananas provide us with phosphorus and potassium, their peels offer the same benefits to plants. The peels decompose rapidly, making them ideal for enhancing the planting hole when growing tomatoes or peppers. Simply chop the banana peels and add them to the hole. For more 17 Amazing Banana Peel Uses in the Garden You MUST Try! Read the post below.
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What are the Benefits of Banana Peels?
- Banana peels are rich in various nutrients that are beneficial for your indoor plants and garden. These include calcium, which aids in root growth and enhances soil oxygenation.
- Additionally, they contain magnesium, which supports photosynthesis, and sulphur, which contributes to strong root development and acts as a natural pest repellent.
- Banana peels also provide phosphorus, which improves fruiting, flowering, aids in pollination, seed germination, and viability.
- Furthermore, they are a source of potassium, which boosts overall plant vigor, enhances resistance against pests and diseases, and aids in fruit development.
In summary, banana peels offer an abundance of nutrients that your indoor plants will greatly appreciate. Check some of the best banana peel uses in the garden below.
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17 Amazing Banana Peel Uses in the Garden You MUST Try!
1. Fortify Your Soil
Boost the nourishment of your garden soil directly by burying a couple of banana peels. Dig a trench approximately three inches deep and of sufficient length to accommodate the peels. Lay them flat, with the inside facing upwards, and cover them with soil.
For accelerated decomposition, grind the peels and then proceed with the aforementioned steps. As time passes, the peels will gradually release essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
2. Brew a Compost Tea
To enrich your flower and vegetable beds with organic nutrients and stimulate robust growth, you can effortlessly create a mineral-rich “banana tea” by placing banana peels in a water-filled bucket and allowing it to steep for several days.
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3. Add to Compost
Using banana peels in the compost pile is one of the most beneficial ways to incorporate them, thanks to their rapid biodegradability. However, it is essential to add the peels to the compost pile in chopped or soaked form or as a semi-solid slurry.
Note: Avoid including them whole, as this may attract raccoons and skunks.
4. Promote Flowering in Plants
Banana peels contain a generous amount of potassium, which is a vital nutrient for promoting vibrant and abundant blooms in plants. Additionally, potassium aids in the transportation of water and nutrients among plant cells while providing protection against diseases. To harness these benefits, simply cut the peels into small pieces and utilize them as mulch.
5. As a Spray-On Fertilizer
Using banana peels to nourish plants is more than just a traditional belief. You can create a foliar spray that provides a nutrient boost to your plants by combining banana peels, Epsom salt, eggshells, and water. Find the full recipe here.
6. Control Aphid
While there is no solid evidence, it is worth experimenting with this method.
- Cut a ripe banana peel into pieces or utilize dried ones for this hack.
- Proceed by either draping or burying the cut-up peel or dried pieces approximately 2-4 inches deep around the affected plant’s base.
- The presence of ripe bananas emits a scent that aphids find unbearable, which may lead to their departure from the affected plants.
7. Attract Butterflies and Birds
Attract birds and butterflies to your garden by positioning ripe banana peels on an elevated platform. To enhance the appeal and accessibility of the fruit to insects, consider chopping the peels into pieces or puncturing a few holes.
It’s important to note that bees, wasps, and caterpillars are also likely to be drawn to the banana, so ensure that the platform is positioned above your plants to prevent any potential interference.
8. Fertilize Tomato Plants
To ensure abundant growth and a bountiful harvest of tomatoes, it is crucial to incorporate banana peels into your gardening routine. The addition of banana peels in the soil enriches it with essential nutrients like potassium, iron, and calcium.
9. Make a Fruit Fly Trap
- If you are seeking a non-toxic solution to tackle fruit flies as the primary issue, using a banana peel can be an effective remedy.
- Simply chop the banana peel into pieces, put them in a plastic container, and add apple cider vinegar.
- Next, create holes in the lid of the container, allowing sufficient space for fruit flies to enter.
- The enticing scent of the vinegar and banana will attract the fruit flies, drawing them into the container through the holes.
- Eventually, they will drown in the liquid, effectively resolving the problem.
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10. Apply Banana Vinegar on Plants
Acid-loving plants such as gardenias, rhododendrons, blueberries, and azaleas can greatly benefit from the application of banana vinegar. You can create banana vinegar by fermenting leftover banana peels, following the instructions here.
If the resulting concoction possesses a potent vinegar scent, it is advisable to dilute it with an equal amount of water. This dilution will prevent any potential harm to the plants, as concentrated solutions may lead to burning.
11. Use as a Fertilizer for Air Plants
Air plants, such as staghorn ferns and elkhorn ferns, as well as other epiphytic perennials, differ from regular plants as they do not develop roots to grow in soil. Instead, they rely on extracting nutrients from the surrounding air.
A wise method to provide these plants with the essential nutrients they need for growth and survival is by utilizing banana water spray. To create this spray, blend or process banana peels until you achieve a smooth consistency. Dilute the resulting paste in water and use it as a spray for the air plants.
12. Encourage Flowering in Roses
Banana peels provide essential nutrients like calcium, phosphates, magnesium, and sulfur that roses need for optimal growth and brighter flowers. You can incorporate banana peels by burying them in the rose pot or bed, using them as mulch, side-dressing with dried peels, or creating a foliar spray.
13. Toss Banana Peels on the Garden Bed
Banana peels possess excellent fertilizing and nutritional properties, making them an ideal substance for enhancing garden beds as a soil amendment. Simply chop them into smaller pieces and incorporate them into the tilled soil.
By doing so, you will stimulate the growth of beneficial microorganisms and create an environment that encourages worms to aerate the soil, ultimately enhancing its overall quality.
14. Set Up Air Plants with a Banana Peel
When arranging decorative air plants, consider placing a banana peel at the plant’s base. Ensure it is covered with a layer of mulch or moss, and then mount the entire plant on top. As the banana peel decomposes, it will act as compost, gradually releasing a multitude of nutrients that will continue to nourish the plants in the future.
15. Improve Potting Mix with Banana Peel
Incorporate composted banana peels as a soil amendment in the fall when preparing flower and vegetable beds for winter. Chop the peels and mix them into the potting soil. If adding whole peels, bury them deeply under mulch to prevent the attraction of nocturnal animals.
16. Feed Seedlings
When planting seedlings, enhance their nutrient intake by cutting a few banana peels into small pieces and burying them just below the topsoil in garden beds or at the bottom of containers. This will provide a beneficial nutrient boost to the young plants. Additionally, you can spray them with banana peel water for added benefits.
17. Orchid Treat
Blend banana peels with water and use the mixture to water your orchids. The potassium and other nutrients in the peel can help stimulate blooming and enhance the overall health of the plants.
Note: Remember to experiment with these methods and observe how your plants respond. Each garden is unique, and the results may vary.