This easy-to-make homemade fertilizer will give your hydrangea a boost in flowering.
With its large, colorful and abundant flowers, the hydrangea is very popular with gardeners. Although it is rather easy to maintain, the hydrangea still needs care. The key to healthier, more beautiful flowers is giving it the right fertilizer and providing it with the necessary nutrients. Now, the best time to feed hydrangeas is generally in the spring before they begin to produce flowers for the summer.
Rather than opting for expensive and sometimes chemical-laden commercial fertilizers, why not make your own homemade fertilizer from something as simple as banana peels? Banana peels can be a real ally in the garden, and more particularly for obtaining beautiful hydrangeas. They are rich in essential nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus.
These elements are beneficial for plant growth and soil health. Potassium, in particular, is known to promote flowering and build plant resistance to diseases and pests. It also helps regulate water absorption, promoting strong root development and improving flower and fruit production. Additionally, banana peels decompose relatively slowly, making them an excellent long-term source of plant nutrition throughout the growing season. Here’s a simple recipe to make your own homemade fertilizer using banana peels:
Collect banana peels. You can use them fresh or dried, but make sure they are free of pesticide residues or other chemicals. To speed up the decomposition process, cut the banana peels into small pieces. The smaller the pieces, the faster they will break down and release their nutrients.
Place the banana peel pieces in a container with a lid and fill it with water. Let them soak for a few days (three to seven days). This will allow the nutrients from the skins to dissolve in the water, creating a concentrated liquid fertilizer. Once the water has taken on a brownish tint and the nutrients have dissolved well, you can use this solution as fertilizer for your hydrangeas.
Dilute one part banana peel fertilizer with five parts water in a watering can, and water your hydrangea, at the base of the plant, once a week during the growing season. Also bury any pieces of banana peel around the base of the flower where they will slowly decompose to provide a constant source of potassium for your hydrangeas.