Natural Plant Fertilizer | 3 Ingredients | 7 Ways To Use

Today we are going to share a homemade, natural recipe for fertilizing plants. With 3 ingredients only, which can be used individually or together, this is a very complete recipe to provide optimal growing conditions in a balanced, nutrient-rich soil. 

These tips and recipes are also in our book: The 5 C's of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants - Cultivate, Care, Collect, Conserve and Consume - 30 Plants and Their Properties. At the end of this post, you can also watch our educational video where we show, in detail, all the ways to use them.

This homemade fertilizer is very simple and inexpensive, consisting of ingredients as simple as eggshells, banana peels, and coffee grounds. These ingredients that you already have in your kitchen will do wonders for your plants! Let's see why we should use them.

Why These Ingredients?

Plants mainly need nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) for a balanced and healthy development. Eggs, bananas, and coffee provide each of these nutrients.

• Eggshells are rich in calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K), which enrich the soil and contribute to optimal plant growth. Eggshells are also used to correct the most acidic soils.

• Banana peels are an excellent source of potassium (K) and phosphorus (P), also providing calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) to plants.

• Coffee grounds have all 3 main ingredients, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Because of their acidity, they can also be used to correct more alkaline soils.

Ways to Use

There are many simple ways to use these ingredients, which makes them excellent allies in plant care, especially when you are have little time. Let's look at the various ways to use these ingredients, individually or together.

Using the Ingredients Individually

#1 Using the Whole Eggshells

Ideally, you should break the shells into small pieces with your hands and mix them with the soil. When left on the surface, they are also an excellent trap for slugs and snails.

#2 Using Powdered Eggshells

When crushed and reduced to powder, they are more easily absorbed by the soil. Grind with a coffee grinder and sieve. For this task we recommend wearing a mask so as not to inhale the powder

#3 Banana Peels Cut Into Pieces

Instead of discarding banana peels or putting them in the compost pile, they can be cut into small pieces and mixed with the soil near the base of the plants.

#4 Banana Peel Decoction

An decoction of banana peel is used to spray or water plants.

1. Separate peels of 2 large bananas into 1L of water.
2. Boil for 5 minutes.
3. Allow to cool and strain.

As it is a concentrated liquid it must be diluted in water.

• To spray: 1 cup of decoction to 4 cups of water.
• For watering: 1 cup of decoction to 2 cups of water.

Apply this fertilizer every two weeks.

#5 Coffee Grounds at the Base of the Plants

Apply some coffee grounds around the base of the plant and mix with the soil for a better result.

Using the Ingredients Together

#6 Eggshells + Coffee grounds

The mixture of eggshells and coffee grounds contributes to a balanced soil.

#7 Eggshells + Banana peels + Coffee grounds

The mixture of the 3 ingredients: eggshells, banana peels, and coffee grounds constitutes a very complete and effective natural fertilizer for plant growth.

1. Select 3 equal parts of each ingredient (one cup of each, for example). 
2. Place in the food processor and grind. 
3. Add water as needed to obtain a creamy texture.
4. Apply around the base of the plants once every two weeks.

These natural fertilizers can be used on both small plants and trees. Because they are so simple and do not have unpleasant smells, you can make them even if you live in an apartment and have the plants in the kitchen.

We hope you have enjoyed all the tips. Take a look now at our educational video. If you haven't subscribed to our YouTube channel yet, take the opportunity to do so if you don't want to miss a thing!

Xo Xo

VIDEO - Natural Plant Fertilizer | 3 Ingredients | 7 Ways To Use