Non-traditional products are often used to feed plants on the windowsill. Applying a banana peel for indoor flowers, you can improve their appearance and health, accelerate growth, and promote root development. In addition, some substances contained in banana skins have an insecticidal effect and help get rid of pests. Recipes of folk remedies are simple, safe, do not require even minimal costs.
What are the benefits of banana peel for plants?
Many already know that the surface shell of vegetables and fruits contains no less, and sometimes more, nutrients than the fruit itself. That is why the use of banana peels as fertilizer is justified.
Banana peel contains a significant amount of useful elements:
- potassium;
- manganese;
- sodium;
- calcium
- phosphorus;
- magnesium
- gland;
- sulfur.
The basis of the skins fabric is organic matter, consisting of fiber, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The banana peel is saturated with acids, tannins, pectins, saponins.
Of course, macro- and microelements bring the greatest benefit to plants. Thanks to potassium, nutrients are evenly distributed in the cells, the mineral strengthens the stems of plants and provides protection against certain diseases. Phosphorus is important for flowering and fruiting, increases resistance to adverse environmental factors. Sulfur and magnesium are involved in the formation of chlorophyll, which is necessary for plant photosynthesis.
Independently prepared fertilizer, flower growers are recommended to use for feeding Saintpaulias, cyclamens, roses, calamondine, kumquat, lemon, begonia, and coffee tree.
The flowering species of banana peel will provide active budding and long flowering, fruiting plants will help replenish the forces spent on the formation of fruits. For decorative leaves, this top dressing can also be used and be useful.
How to use banana peel as a fertilizer?
The banana peel belongs to the group of organic fertilizers and can be used for the preparation of infusions, decoctions, compost. Apply it fresh. Such top dressing is perfectly absorbed by plants, helps them make up for the deficiency of important substances.
Fresh application
Fresh banana peel is recommended to be used during planting and transplantation of plants. A layer of earth must necessarily separate it from the roots, otherwise the root system can get burns in the process of decomposition of organics.
You need to act like this:
- the peel is cut into cubes and put on the bottom of the pot over the drainage layer;
- pour pre-prepared soil;
- the plant is installed in the center, after straightening the roots;
- fill the remaining voids in the pot with soil, tapping on the walls.
After planting, the flower is moderately watered. In 1.5–2 weeks, the peel completely decomposes, giving the plant useful substances.
It is important to consider that before selling bananas are treated with chemical compounds so that they do not spoil during long-term transportation. Therefore, if you plan to use the fruit shell as a fertilizer, you must wash the bananas thoroughly before they are peeled.
Leaving the peel on the surface of the soil in a pot is impractical. In this form, the fertilizer will not be useful and in addition it will begin to exude an unpleasant odor, cause mold, attract fruit flies.
The inside of a banana peel can be used to wipe leaves of indoor flowers.This will help to clean the leaves of dust, give it shine and at the same time nourish with useful substances. In order not to provoke an excess of trace elements, the procedure is carried out no more than 1 time per month. The rest of the time, the leaves of the plant are wiped with clean water.
Composting
Compost is a natural organic fertilizer suitable for most indoor plants. It is especially useful for bulb crops.
The process of making compost for flowers from a banana peel:
- half of the garden soil or any other soil is poured into the bucket;
- they put the skins chopped with a knife from several bananas there;
- the components are mixed for their uniform distribution;
- the mixture is watered with Baikal biological fertilizer and mixed again;
- cover the bucket;
- after 30 days, banana skins and the Baikal preparation are again added.
After 1-2 months, the compost will be ready. The finished fertilizer is distributed over the flower pots, after which they are embedded in the topsoil. For the spring-summer season, you can make fertilizing 2-3 times.
Powder grinding
First, the fruit shell must be thoroughly dried. In summer, it is convenient to dry in the open sun; in winter, the process can take place near a radiator. The skin is periodically turned over. Product readiness is determined by appearance and touch - the peel should acquire a dark brown color and harden.
After drying, the workpieces are ground in a blender (you can use a coffee grinder). The finished powder is stored in a closed glass jar. Use top dressing every 4 weeks, sprinkling the topsoil, and then watering the flower. Such fertilizer will be especially useful for weakened and recovering plants.
Decoctions, infusions, cocktails
Feeding can be done in the form of a decoction, infusion or a cocktail. Sometimes a banana in a home-made fertilizer is combined with other components, such as orange peels.
It is not difficult to make a decoction:
- the washed skin from one banana should be put in a large cup or glass jar and pour 300 ml of freshly boiled water;
- the jar is covered with a lid and wrapped in a towel folded in several layers;
- after 3 hours, the broth is filtered and used for its intended purpose.
It is impossible to store such dressing for a long time, it is used immediately after preparation. This amount is enough for several indoor plants. In each pot of 3 l add 2 tbsp. l banana decoction. Feeding is carried out with a frequency of once every 2 weeks.
To prepare the infusion, you also need the skin of one banana. The process takes a little longer, since room temperature water is used:
- the banana peel is crushed and transferred to a liter jar;
- fill the container to the top with cool water;
- the neck of the can is covered with gauze;
- the composition is insisted at room temperature for a day.
The infusion has a specific smell, it must be used immediately after readiness. Top dressing is applied under the root of the plant in an amount of 50 ml.
A mixture based on banana peel, orange zest and a small amount of sugar will benefit plants. Cooking method:
- in a three-liter jar put banana skins and orange zest, filling the volume by 1/3;
- then 1 tbsp is added to the container Sahara;
- the mixture is poured with water at room temperature, not reaching the top of a 5 cm can.
Fruit cocktail is insisted for a month, and then filtered. The resulting concentrate before use is diluted with warm water in a ratio of 1:20. You can make such dressing once every 4 weeks. The concentrated infusion is stored in the refrigerator for six months.
Banana peel as a remedy for aphids
A banana peel can be used to prevent aphid infection and be used with a small amount of pests as a natural insecticide:
- A small amount of skin is buried in the upper layer of the earth - this will scare off insects.
- You can use the infusion made from the peel of one banana and 1 liter of cold water. The mixture is infused for a day, and then filtered, diluted with the same amount of water and used to spray infected flowers. At the same time, the infusion will serve as foliar top dressing.
You can spray only those flowers that do not have pubescence on the leaves. In particular, for violets and gloxinia this method is not suitable.
When feeding with a banana peel, the reviews are positive when the fertilizer is used correctly. It should not be made more often than 1-2 times a month. Fresh skin should be embedded in the soil, do not leave it on the surface of the soil. When used wisely, dressing from a banana peel invariably benefits plants.