5 DIY plant nutrients you can make from kitchen leftovers
What's the story
Making plant nutrients from kitchen leftovers is a great way to recycle waste and feed your garden.
Most of our common kitchen scraps are rich in nutrients that can benefit plants, ensuring a healthier growth without commercial fertilizers.
Not only does this cut down on waste, but it also saves you money, making it a sustainable option for gardeners.
Here's how you can use them.
Potassium source
Banana peels for potassium boost
Banana peels are loaded with potassium, an important nutrient for plant health.
To use them as a source of nutrients, just chop the peels into tiny pieces and bury them in the soil near the base of your plants.
As they decompose, they enrich the soil with potassium, promoting root growth and overall vigor of the plant.
This works especially well for flowering plants and vegetables that need high potassium levels.
Soil enhancer
Coffee grounds as soil conditioner
Used coffee grounds make an excellent addition to garden soil due to their nitrogen content.
They improve soil structure by enhancing drainage and aeration, while providing a slow-release nitrogen source.
Sprinkle coffee grounds around acid-loving plants like roses or azaleas or mix them into compost piles to enrich the organic matter content of your garden beds.
Calcium provider
Eggshells for calcium supply
Since shells are primarily made of calcium carbonate, they make an excellent calcium supplement for plants.
Crush clean shells into small pieces or grind it into powder and add it directly to your garden soil or compost pile.
The calcium helps strengthen cell walls in plants, preventing problems such as blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers.
Compost creation
Vegetable scrap composting
Vegetable scraps like carrot tops, potato peels, and onion skins can be composted to form nutrient-rich humus over time.
Simply collect these scraps in a compost bin along with other organic matter such as leaves or grass clippings.
Turn regularly until fully decomposed before applying it back onto your garden beds as mulch or fertilizer amendment.
Acidic mulch
Tea leaves as acidic mulch
Used tea leaves offer mild acidity when added directly onto acidic-loving plant soils, like blueberries or rhododendrons' root zones.
This helps maintain optimal pH levels required by these species. It also contributes trace minerals found within brewed teas themselves.
Just spread dampened loose-leaf teas evenly across desired areas once brewing sessions have concluded. Ensure no sugar additives remain present beforehand.