One hears again and again that banana peels are used as fertilizer. But does it really work? We investigate the myth and clear it up.
Fertilizing is often a double-edged sword for gardeners: On the one hand, nutrients are essential for the optimal supply of our plants and thus also for a good harvest, on the other hand, mineral fertilizers are often not only harmful to the climate, but also expensive . In this context, home remedies such as coffee grounds, egg shell fertilizer, or even banana peels are often mentioned. These household waste products are said to be ideal as fertilizer for plants and are considered a true secret weapon. But are banana peels really suitable as fertilizer? Here you will find all the facts about this curious home remedy.
Many gardeners doubt that banana peels are really suitable as fertilizer. On the other hand, numerous plant lovers also swear by the bowls, after all they promise an almost free replacement for environmentally harmful mineral fertilizers. The numerous minerals present in the banana peel also speak for a positive effect as a plant fertilizer.
Properties and ingredients of banana peels
Most people have known since childhood that bananas are he althy and full of important minerals and nutrients. But what about the banana peel, which is removed before eating? In fact, the shell of the yellow treat is also full of important nutrients and is therefore far too good for the garbage can. Almost 12% of the dried banana peel consists of minerals - potassium is the most extensively represented element. Banana peels also contain plenty of magnesium and phosphorus. Sulphur, sodium, nitrogen and other trace elements are also present in smaller amounts.
Unfortunately, the banana peel does not only contain good things: Pesticides used in the cultivation and transport of the tropical fruit are deposited on them and can penetrate the soil when fertilizing with banana peels. whoIf you want to avoid this, you can buy organically grown bananas in the supermarket. These are not treated with chemicals and can therefore be used in the garden without hesitation.
Use banana peels as fertilizer?
There is a grain of truth in the myth of the banana peel as a fertilizer substitute. In fact, the shells of the plant can be used wonderfully as a nutrient supplier for our garden and house plants. The advantage is obvious: on the one hand, banana peels are often kitchen waste, which can be sensibly reused by being processed into fertilizer. On the other hand, the high levels of potassium and magnesium in the banana peel form an optimal starting point as a nutrient supplier for other plants.
However, you have to dampen the euphoria about the banana peel. While bananas are a great source of potassium and magnesium, they cannot be used as a complete replacement for traditional fertilizers. The reason for this is their low nitrogen content - nitrogen is often the limiting factor in the growth of plants and is therefore one of the most important ingredients in fertilizers. Banana peels are therefore only suitable as additional potassium and magnesium fertilization if you are already working with a complete fertilizer. If you want to switch to an environmentally friendly alternative here, you should better rely on a primarily organic fertilizer such as our Plantura organic universal fertilizer. In addition, only the skins of organically grown bananas are suitable for fertilizing plants because, as already indicated, conventional bananas are often contaminated with pesticides.
Which plants should be fertilized with banana peels?
Unfortunately, banana peels cannot be used as a complete fertilizer - but there are numerous plant species that benefit from fertilization with banana peels. Especially for plants with a high potassium requirement - for example tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) - additional fertilization with banana peels can be useful. But flowering plants such as roses (Rosa), geraniums (Pelargonium) and fuchsias (Fuchsia) also benefit from this the extra portion of nutrients, because they are considered to be susceptible to a potassium deficiency. By using banana peels as fertilizer, improved leaf and flower formation can be achieved. In addition, the potassium contained in the banana peels promotes the winter hardiness of the plants and canincrease the aroma and shelf life of various fruits. The advantage over other potassium fertilizers is obvious: it is almost impossible to over-fertilize plants with banana fertilizer if you only use peels that are available in the household.
Application of banana peels as fertilizer
Using banana peels as a fertilizer is actually very easy - in fact, all you have to do is chop up the peels with a knife or food processor. The following applies: the smaller the individual pieces, the faster the banana peel can decompose in the soil and release its nutrients. The crushed banana peels can now be easily incorporated into the flat soil of the plant's root zone. If you have a particularly large number of banana peels on hand, you can also let the chopped pieces dry in an airy place, for example on a grid, and save them for later use. However, you should not store the banana peel in a closed container or bag, otherwise it will quickly become moldy. Coarse pieces can also be mixed under pieces of bark or grass clippings in spring as a rich mulch material.
Use banana peel for leaf care
But an old banana peel can not only be useful as a fertilizer, the peel is also extremely profitable for house plants with large leaves such as the window leaf. In fact, this is ideal for removing dust and dirt from the large leaves, which, thanks to the dry heating air, particularly likes to settle on the plants. Dirt particles adhere extremely well to the slightly moist and sticky inside of the banana, which is why you can use it to clean the leaves of ornamental plants wonderfully easily. In addition, the soft flesh of the banana is particularly gentle during cleaning and restores the leaves to their former glory.
If you are still interested in home remedies as fertilizer, you can find our article on coffee grounds as fertilizer here.