How to Put Banana Peels on a Budding Plant

The humble banana peel is a powerful plant food.

As they decompose, banana peels release potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen -- the perfect formula for natural plant food. By adding the peels to the soil, innovative gardeners can create a non-toxic, slow-release fertilizer. It is a fertilizer particularly suitable for young plants that need nitrogen for rapid growth and phosphorous for enhanced ability to set buds. A phosphorous deficiency in the soil can have a negative impact on but set.

Things You'll Need

• Banana peel
• Small knife
• Blender
• Baking sheet

Instructions

1. Wipe the inside of a banana peel gently over the plant's foliage. This will remove dust and dirt from the surface of the leaves.

2. Spread the peel flat and chop it into 1/4 inch pieces with a small, sharp knife.

3. Put the pieces of peel into a blender or food processor. Add 1 cup of water and

   blend until the mixture is smooth.

4. Pour 2 tbsp. of the banana mixture around the base of budding plants. Feed budding plants once a week. When the plants reach 6 inches in height, reduce the amount of fertilizer, adding banana plant food once every two weeks. Store any unused solution in the refrigerator for up to six weeks.

5. Press any extra pieces of banana peel into the soil surrounding the plant. Bury each piece approximately 1 inch deep. Place the peels approximately 3 to 4 inches away from the base of the plant to avoid unintentionally disturbing fragile roots of the growing plants.

6. Spread large quantities of chopped banana peel evenly over a baking sheet, arranging them in a single layer. Bake the peels for 15 to 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. This will dry the peels, enabling you to store them for later use. Dehydrated pieces of peel can be crushed and added to water or sprinkled directly over the surface of the soil.

References

• Reader's Digest Version: 9 Extraordinary Uses for Bananas
• Worm's Way: Are Banana Peels Effective Fertilizers For Plants?
• "Real Simple"; Banana Peel as Rose Fertilizer; Melinda Page, et al.
• Chiquita: Do It Yourself Banana Peel Fertilizer
• North Carolina State University: Essential Plant Nutrients; M. Ray Tucker; October 1999