Not Egg Shells Or Coffee Grounds: The Overlooked Scrap To Feed Your Peace Lily

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Peace lilies are popular houseplants because they're beautiful, low-maintenance, and tolerate low light. The problem, however, is that they are also a bit sensitive, reacting quickly to poor water quality, big temperature fluctuations, and improper fertilization. Feeding your peace lily with too much commercial fertilizer is particularly harmful — in most cases, organic and homemade fertilizers like eggshells and coffee grounds are a better option. There is another, often overlooked kitchen scrap you can use to fertilize your peace lilies: banana peels.

Banana peels contain potassium, which is an essential nutrient for all plants, including peace lilies. Potassium aids flower development and improves overall vitality. However, potassium isn't the only beneficial plant nutrient in banana peels. They also contain calcium and magnesium; plants need these nutrients for cell growth and chlorophyll production. For example, peace lilies may develop abnormal leaves when they lack calcium, and their leaves may develop yellow spots when they don't have enough potassium.

Nutrient deficiencies can ruin the look of your peace lilies at best — something you obviously don't want for houseplants — or kill them at worst. Next time you have some leftover banana peels, don't waste them. Instead, use them to create free fertilizer for your peace lilies. As helpful as banana peels are, you still can't just toss whole peels onto the soil around your potted peace lily. Whole peels will take weeks to break down. Plus, they may start to smell bad, grow mold, and attract insects you don't want to see on your plants or in your home. With just a little preparation, you can transform banana peels into an effective fertilizer to help your peace lilies flourish as indoor houseplants.

To make this peace lily fertilizer, chop the banana peels into small pieces and add them to a large jar along with about 44 ounces of fresh water. Filtered water may be better than tap water for peace lilies. Screw on the lid or cover the jar with a Byttme Reusable Beeswax Wrap and set it aside in a cool, dark place. You can even keep the jar in the fridge. Stir the mix occasionally, and after about a week, strain off the liquid. Dilute one part banana peel liquid to five parts water before feeding it to your peace lilies. You can also simply cut the peels into small pieces and bury the in the potting soil before transplanting a peace lily. Just make sure to keep the peels away from the plant's stem.

Keep in mind that banana peels don't contain all the nutrients peace lilies need to thrive. For instance, they have very little nitrogen and phosphorus. It's best to combine banana peels with other common household items you can use to fertilize your peace lilies, like Epsom salt and coffee grounds.

Before using any kind of soil amendment on your peace lilies, including banana peels, check the soil quality. Sometimes poor plant growth isn't caused by a lack of nutrients but by other issues. Incorrect pH levels can, for example, prevent nutrient absorption. Indoor potting mixes are becoming more specialized, with mixes featuring specific nutrients and other qualities increasingly available. Check the packaging information on your mix to see what it contains before adding fertilizer. If you're reusing houseplant soil, sterilize it first, then use a MySoil Soil Test Kit. Most home-based soil testing kits aren't really accurate, but they can give you a rough idea.