Keeping plants alive can be such a challenge – it seems like no matter what you do, plants don’t cooperate. Whether you overwater them or don’t give them enough sun, keeping them alive is a delicate process not many can master easily. That’s where fertilizers come in. To give your precious plants an extra boost, you don’t have to go out and buy expensive fertilizer. You have many ingredients in the comfort of your own home that cost nothing and work fantastically. Check out this list to find out what you can use to help your indoor plants thrive.
Eggshells
Eggshells contain lots of calcium that help your plants. Additionally, they help lower the acidity of the soil your plants are in, and it’s known that plants don’t like acid. All you need to do is wash out some eggshells, allow them to dry, and crush them up to use in your plants. As a matter of fact, eggshells are roughly 93% calcium carbonate, which is perfect for plants. Another way of using them is by crushing the shells, soaking them in water overnight, and using that liquid to water the plants.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can be used in many different ways, one of which is fertilizer. A lot of plants like blueberries, roses, and tomatoes, thrive in acidic soil. Recycle coffee grounds to help acidify the soil your plants are in. There are a couple of ways to do this. Either you can sprinkle the used grounds over the surface of the soil, or you can make reused coffee to pour over the plants. Soak up to six cups of used coffee grounds for as long as a week to make garden coffee. Then, use this to water your plants.
Kitchen Scraps
Use your kitchen waste to make your own compost. The best part about compost is that it releases nutrients slowly, meaning a well-composted garden can go even a year or two without reapplying fertilizer. Additionally, compost helps the soil retain moisture which is essential for vegetable gardens in the hot summer months.
Grass Clippings
If you happen to have a lawn with real grass, be sure to collect your grass clippings to use in the garden. Half an inch to an inch of clippings makes a great weed-blocking mulch. On top of that, they’re high in nitrogen which is an essential nutrient for most plants.
Banana Peels
Don’t throw away your banana peels after eating them. Chop up the peels and soak them in hot water. Take them out of the water and allow the liquid to cool before pouring it over your plants. Bananas add potassium to your plants which they need.
Epsom Salts
Good quality Epsom salts are rich in both magnesium and sulfates. Those two minerals together are incredibly beneficial and nourishing for plants. Just one regular dose of Epsom salts can encourage plants to grow fuller and greener while also prolonging their lifespan. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts into 1 gallon of water and water your plants with it.