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6 Ways to Give Your Plants More Life with Organic Waste
Sustainable Living

6 Ways to Give Your Plants More Life with Organic Waste

By Eloísa Carmona - 2020-07-03T13:19:45Z
We have heard many recommendations for using organic waste in our plants, but sometimes, these tips can be counterproductive.

For example, did you know that it’s best to crush eggshells before adding them to your plants instead of just placing them on top whole?

The benefits of these types of natural fertilizers are incredible, they cost nothing, and with them, you reuse food scraps to nourish the soil in pots or in the garden, so if used correctly, you will see the growth of your plants improve.

Eggshells

Eggshells are full of calcium, which is useful for plants to develop a strong cellular structure. They also contain small amounts of iron, phosphorus, and magnesium, which are essential for their growth.

However, eggshells can take years to decompose and release nutrients to plants unless you grind them very well. The best way to take advantage of their nutrients in our indoor plants is to soak the shells in boiling water for at least 24 hours. Then you just have to use this water to water your indoor plants.

If you want to use the shells directly, make sure to wash them well with warm water so that they don’t have any raw egg or membrane that could smell bad or attract mold, crush them, and place them on the soil in pots to help retain some moisture.

Coffee and Tea Grounds

Coffee grounds, used tea leaves, and tea bags made of natural material and without staples are excellent additions to compost, but since decomposition has to occur to release nutrients that plants can use, it’s better to compost these items first rather than adding them directly to the plants. Otherwise, they can encourage mold growth and if a layer is too thick, they can hinder water absorption.



Banana Peels

Many people recommend from personal experience using banana peels as nature's miracle solution for any plant problem, such as repelling aphids or eliminating dust from indoor plants.

Although some scientific studies have found that peels can be an effective natural fertilizer, if you decide to use the peels, keep in mind that while they are unlikely to harm your indoor plants, pests like fruit flies will thrive.

Orange Peels

You can use orange peels and other citrus fruit peels to keep pets away from your plants, as many cats and dogs avoid the smell. To use them properly, cut the peel into pieces about two or three square centimeters and leave them on the surface of the pot. If they are fresh, they tend to work better, so you can replace them when they dry out.

Cooking Water

When cooking vegetables or eggs in water, some nutrients are boiled and remain in that water. Once this water cools, you can use it to water your plants. If you want to make this a regular practice, wait to salt the food until after cooking, because salty water could burn your plants.

Nut Shells

Pistachio shells and even peanut shells can be used to help with soil drainage in a plant. After rinsing them to remove added salt, cover the bottom of the pot with empty shells to help excess water drain from the roots. Or if you want to keep a plant moist, use the shells as a mulch layer on the soil to prevent it from drying out quickly.

Reusing these organic kitchen scraps will not only help you save on fertilizers, but it will also be a more natural and eco-friendly way to care for your indoor plants while reducing waste.