How to add calcium naturally for healthy plants
What's the story
Shells are a natural source of calcium, which is essential for plant growth.
However, they can be used in a number of ways to ensure that your plants receive the necessary nutrients without having to use chemical fertilizers.
Here are a few practical ways to use shells effectively in your garden - an eco-friendly solution for you and your plants.
Soil enrichment
Crushing eggshells for soil enrichment
Crushing shells into small pieces and mixing them into the soil is an easy way to enrich it with calcium.
The shells decompose over time, releasing calcium slowly.
This helps strengthen plant cell walls and improve overall plant health.
Notably, this method is especially beneficial for tomatoes and peppers, which are prone to blossom end rot due to calcium deficiency.
Eggshell tea
Creating eggshell tea for plants
Eggshell tea is another effective way to provide calcium to your plants.
To make this tea, boil crushed shells in water and let it steep overnight.
Strain the liquid, and use it as a watering solution for your plants.
This method allows the nutrients from the shells to be absorbed more quickly by the roots.
Fertilizer alternative
Using eggshell powder as fertilizer
Grinding eggshells into a fine powder makes an excellent fertilizer alternative that you can sprinkle around plants or mix into potting soil.
The powder ensures it decomposes and releases nutrients faster than larger shell pieces.
It also helps neutralize acidic soils, making the environment more balanced for plant growth.
Compost addition
Composting with eggshells
Adding crushed shells to compost piles boosts their nutrient content by enriching calcium levels in the resultant finished compost product.
As a part of organic matter breakdown, these shells add valuable minerals that promote healthy microbial activity within compost heaps.
They also improve its structure when reapplied on garden beds or containers later on.