In our article, 11 Banana Facts that will make you go Bananas, we talked about all the wonders that this common fruit brings us and the value it has added to our lives. This article will now delve into how this wonder fruit can also provide nutrition to other plants! Instead of buying expensive plant food from the store, why not utilise the skins of consumed bananas that would otherwise have been binned? The wallet wins, and you bring down food waste. Win – Win!
Banana peel water is a nutritional kitchen byproduct that can be used to fertilise plants because the minerals it contains are essential for plant growth and development. Banana peel water supplies plants with a substantial amount of potassium (K), a macronutrient that is used to develop immunity to environmental stress and pests while at the same time, promoting healthy plant growth.
What ia banana peel water?
Banana peel water is nutrient-rich water obtained from boiling banana peels. It provides the plant with an organic source of nutrients that promotes plant growth while preventing deficiencies associated with low potassium which includes brown scorching and curling of leaf tips.
The mineral nutrients within the banana peels are leached into the water during the boiling process. The high temperature of the boiling water breaks down the fibres of the peel which, in turn, allows the potassium and manganese to easily move into the water.
As an added bonus, the boiled peels can still be dried off and reused on plants as an additional source of slow-release minerals. The leftover peels are dried (outside of the sun) to ensure all the moisture is removed and then pulverised into a powder or as fine as possible. This makes it easier for it to break down and release its minerals when added to the soil.
Pulverising increases the surface area of the peels which increases the rate at which it releases nutrients into the soil.
Adding the peels to the soil without breaking it up will allow for a much slower release of minerals into the soil as bacteria will take more time to break it down.
How to make banana peel water?
- Place the peels in a cooking pot
- Pour water and cover 1 inch above the peels
- Stir properly
- Place on medium heat
- Allow to boil for 45-60 minutes
- Strain the peels and save the water residue
If the resulting residue is too thick you can also add water to thin it down for addition to your plants. Once cooled, put it in a watering can and water your plants lovingly!
What to watch for?
When using Banana Peel water in the soil you should always ensure that the water is at ambient or room temperature so that it does not kill the bacteria in the soil and harm the plant.
This precaution is applicable if you are using the water from boiled banana peel.
Additionally, banana peel water is a good additive to the soil but care must be taken when watering as it can be easy to overwater the soil which can lead to root rot and yellowing of the plant leaves.
