Using Eggshells to Fertilize Your Houseplants
Did you know that eggshells make an amazing fertilizer for your houseplants? Eggshells are packed with not just calcium, but a variety of other minerals and nutrients that plants love as well. After cooking with eggs, keep your shells around and use them to fertilize your houseplants with eggshells!
Can you fertilize houseplants with eggshells?
Eggshells make a nutrient-packed, effective fertilizer for nourishing your houseplants. Plus, they’re free! Not only are eggshells high in calcium (a necessary nutrient for many plants), but they also contain potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
It’s not difficult to fertilize your houseplants with eggshells, but it’s also not as simple as just dumping pieces of shells on top of your soil. You’ll need to either create an eggshell powder or liquid eggshell tea mixture for fertilizing your plants. Keep reading to find out how!
How to make eggshell fertilizer for your houseplants
The most common ways to make eggshell fertilizer include eggshell powder and eggshell tea. It’s important to use one of these methods, because uncrushed or barely crushed shells won’t break down fast enough for your plants to actually absorb the nutrients. Both of these methods are effective – it just depends on which one you prefer!
How to make eggshell powder
- First, start by washing your eggshells thoroughly to remove egg yolk or egg white from the shells.
- Lay them out to dry thoroughly.
- Next, grind the shells into a powder using a mortar and pestle, coffee grinder, food processor, or blender.
- After they’re ground, just sprinkle a few pinches on top of your soil! It’s best to do this before watering for the best absorption.
- If you have extra eggshell grounds, you can store them in a glass jar or other reusable container.
How to make eggshell tea
- Clean your eggshells thoroughly, removing any leftover yolk or egg white. Then, let them dry.
- Next, boil a gallon of water on the stove.
- Add 10 clean, dry eggshells to the water and let sit overnight.
- The next day, strain the shells and pour the eggshell tea directly on your plants.
- Any remaining tea can be stored in a jar at room temperature.
How often should I fertilize my houseplants with eggshells?
Using eggshells to nourish your houseplants is a great way to give your plants an extra boost, but you don’t want to overdo it, either. You only need to fertilize your plants using eggshells once or twice a year. Too much eggshell fertilizer will throw off the pH level and harm your plants.
Other ways to use eggshells to nourish your houseplants
Eggshell planters
Eggshells make effective little planters for starting your seedlings. You can leave the shells right in the carton and set it on a windowsill to get your seedlings growing. Start with a clean, cracked eggshell that’s still at least halfway intact. Fill it with a couple of scoops of soil, plant your seeds, and set the carton in the sun (don’t forget to water!). When it comes time to transplant, you can put the entire eggshell directly into a larger container.
Add them to the bottom of your plant pot
Another easy way to use eggshells is to crush them gently and add them to the bottom of a pot before adding the soil and your plant. Make sure that they’re large enough to not fall through the drainage holes in the pot. This is an easy way to add some calcium before transplanting your houseplants.