7 easy homemade fertilisers to keep your plants healthy and strong

Keeping plants healthy and flourishing doesn’t always require expensive, store-bought fertilisers. In fact, you can make your own natural fertilisers using common ingredients found in your kitchen. Not only will these fertilisers provide your plants with the necessary nutrients, but they will also help you reduce your kitchen waste and improve the soil quality in your garden.

The concept of natural fertilisers is quite simple. Organic matter takes time to decompose, and during this process, it releases nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients into the soil. These nutrients are essential for plant growth, flowering, and fruiting. Using a few common ingredients from your kitchen, you can make your own natural fertiliser that will help all types of plants thrive, naturally and sustainably.

Banana peels are high in potassium and phosphorus, which are two essential elements that promote healthy root development and flowering or fruiting. To prepare banana peel fertiliser, you can chop the peels or soak them in water for a few days and then use the water to irrigate your plants. The peels will decompose in the soil, releasing their nutrients.

Coffee grounds are a rich source of nitrogen, which is required for the development of lush green foliage. Coffee grounds can be used around the plants or even added to compost. Nitrogen promotes the development of healthy leaves and improves soil structure by increasing aeration and water-holding capacity.

Eggshells contain calcium, which strengthens plant cell walls and can prevent issues like blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers. To use them, dry and crush the shells into a fine powder and sprinkle around the soil surface. As they break down slowly, they release calcium to benefit root development and overall plant health.

Compost tea is a liquid fertiliser that involves steeping compost in water for a day or two. The liquid is then diluted and used to water plants. Compost tea is rich in a wide range of nutrients, microbes and organic matter that promote soil fertility and root development.

Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, provides magnesium and sulfur, two nutrients that support plant growth. Magnesium plays an important role in chlorophyll production and helps plants absorb other nutrients more efficiently. An Epsom salt solution is most useful for plants that show signs of magnesium deficiency, such as yellowing leaves. Mix one tablespoon of Epsom salt with a gallon of water and use it occasionally, rather than regularly, to support healthier and greener growth.

Rice water, water left after rinsing uncooked rice, is another gentle organic fertiliser. It contains trace minerals and starch that can provide a mild nutrient boost to plants. Let the rice water cool completely and then use it to water indoor or outdoor plants every 10–15 days for healthy growth.

The planting of peels and scraps of carrots, potatoes and leafy vegetables can be done in the soil or a compost pile. The wastes will break down and offer a continuous source of nutrients to the earth. To ensure that decomposition is fast, it is necessary to cut them into small pieces.

Home made fertilisers are an excellent option of providing your plants with the nutrients they require without using chemical products. They not only reuse kitchen waste, but also make soil healthy and plants alive naturally. These low-tech recipes are used whenever you are tending to your potted plants inside, or in the backyard garden to ensure that you get healthier, more robust green plants and at a very low price and effort.

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