We’ve all been eating a lot of eggs lately, if sales data are to be believed. You love what’s inside of them. But did you know your plants love what’s outside?
So don’t toss those shells. Whether you’re growing a victory garden or tending an indoor houseplant menagerie, there are ways to use your eggshells to give your plants a nutritional boost. Eggshells are made almost entirely of calcium carbonate, which our bodies need for healthy bones and muscles. Our plants need it too. And you can deliver it to them through compost, soil or by making “eggshell tea.”
Clean, dry eggshells can go directly into your compost, says Yvonne Savio, who worked as a master gardener coordinator for L.A. County and runs the website GardeningInLA.net. You also can put crumbled shells in the soil before you place plants or seeds. The minerals — mostly calcium carbonate, though also small amounts of potassium and phosphorus — will slowly break down to the point where they can be absorbed by the plant’s roots. But it takes a long time for the shells to decompose, so think of doing this as fertilizing next year’s plants.
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Plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in particular will benefit from shell fertilizer, Savio said. The extra calcium will help prevent blossom-end rot. Broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, spinach and amaranth are also calcium-packed and could use extra from eggshells.
Shards of eggshell also can be used to keep certain pests out. If your plants suffer from snails or slugs, spread the crumbled shells on top of the soil around the base of the plants, making the barrier about two inches wide all around. Slimy creatures won’t be able to get past the pointy bits.
If you only have indoor garden space, eggshells can still give your plant babies a boost in the form of “eggshell tea.”
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Leigh Adams, an interpretive horticulturist and educator at the Los Angeles Arboretum, said you don’t have to be too specific with this recipe. Rinse out your eggshells so there’s no sticky whites left, and let them dry out. (She keeps them in the corner of her microwave while she heats up other things. I leave mine in a container in the back of the fridge.) Crumble your eggshells by hand, put them in a temperature-safe container, and then pour boiling water over them. Let the mixture “steep,” just like tea, for as long as it takes for the water to cool to room temperature.
If you don’t want little shards of eggshell in your indoor plants, you can strain the shells out and only use the water if you want, or leave them in for the long-term fertilizing boost. Pour the liquid over your plants the same way you’d use regular water on them.
Decorative plants (i.e., your collection of succulents) don’t need as much calcium as food-growing plants, but all plants will benefit from the minerals in eggshell tea.
“It’s kind of like an all-purpose fertilizer, and the plant will pull up what it can use, what it’s in need of,” Savio said.
In this time of potential shortages and limited grocery store runs, we’re all trying to make the most of what we have. Make your eggshells work for you.
FAQs
In a large pot, boil a gallon of water and add 10 to 20 clean eggshells to it. Turn off heat. Allow the brew to sit overnight, then strain. Pour the tea on plant's soil.
How to make egg shell tea for plants? ›
Eggshell crumb is useful in keeping snails & slugs away when sprinkled generously around the plant. Place the eggshells in jar & cover with boiling water. Leave overnight. Remove shells & mix 1 cup of eggshell tea with 4 litres of water to feed plants.
How long do you boil eggshells for plants? ›
Boil a gallon of water. Add 10–20 rinsed eggshells to the water. Allow the shells to sit in the water, soaking and cooling overnight. Strain the shells out of the water, and then water the garden.
Which plants benefit from crushed egg shells? ›
It is beneficial to use egg shells when growing your own vegetables like tomato, pepper and aubergine or plants such as roses, hydrangeas, spider plants, ferns and ivy. Another way to add this homemade fertiliser to your plants is through a calcium solution.
Is eggshell tea good for plants? ›
But I especially like this method of making an eggshell tea (yum!) to use as an all-natural and inexpensive fertilizer that can be used for houseplants or in the garden. Not only does it give our green friends a good boost of calcium, but it gives eggs one last hurrah before heading to the compost.
Is boiled egg shell water good for plants? ›
You can also use water from boiling eggs, which is full of calcium your plant needs to grow. This method of watering your plants works because it acts like a fertilizer to give your plants the nutrition they need to survive. This is a great alternative if you do not have the space or time to develop a compost pile.
Which plants don't like eggshells? ›
Wondering what plants don't like eggshells? It's best to avoid using them on varieties that naturally prefer more acidic soil, such as azaleas and geraniums.
Can you put too many eggshells in soil? ›
Eggshells take a lot longer to break down compared to many other compostable goods, and too many of them can increase the acidity of your compost. This shouldn't be a problem, unless you plan on using it to grow plants that prefer low soil pH.
How often should I add eggshells to my plants? ›
But don't go overboard. Since it takes a while for the shells to decompose, Uyterhoeven recommends applying eggshell fertilizer to your garden or indoor plants just twice a year—in the fall and spring.
Should you wash egg shells before putting them in plants? ›
Clean Eggshells are Safe Eggshells
Eggs are known carriers of salmonella, which should not be present on uncracked eggs that have been well washed, but you never know. Unless the only place the eggshells are going is into the compost bucket, I rinse them well and let them dry in a sunny windowsill.
Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass. Conversely, grounds (used as mulch and compost) improve yields of soybeans and cabbage.
Can I mix coffee grounds with eggshells for plants? ›
Mix half potting soil and half ground eggshells and coffee. Use it like potting soil. It works great for fast growing greens such as arugula. Keep a stash of ground up eggshells and coffee in the freezer.
Are coffee grounds good for plants? ›
Coffee grounds contain several key nutrients needed by plants, including nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and other trace minerals. These are all nutrients that plants need to grow. The grounds are particularly rich in nitrogen, making them a great addition to compost.
Are banana peels good for plants? ›
Banana peels can be placed directly onto pot plant soil, or around the base of your garden as mulch. As they decompose, they will release nutrients into the soil to feed plants. If using banana peels in your garden, place a single layer straight on top of the soil, being sure not to let them touch the plant stem.
How to make egg shell water for plants? ›
You can use eggshells to make a fertilizer tea that will add liquid calcium to your garden. Boil a gallon of water and add ten to twenty clean, dry eggshells. Let the shells sit in the water overnight, then strain them out. Pour two cups of liquid onto each plant.
What plants don't like eggshells? ›
Most flowers will also benefit, as will many succulents (just don't overwater them). Wondering what plants don't like eggshells? It's best to avoid using them on varieties that naturally prefer more acidic soil, such as azaleas and geraniums.
Do eggshells and coffee grounds help plants? ›
Coffee grounds contain compounds that feed healthy soil but they don't lower pH. Eggshells do not prevent blossom end rot. They add organic material for soil organisms, but you may as well just put them in the compost. Epsom salts can be harmful to soil, plants and water.
Do boiling eggshells destroy calcium? ›
You cannot deplete calcium when boiling eggshells. You can release small quantities, perhaps 5 mg into the boiling water. An eggshell has approximately 2000mg of calcium, so, the level of release is . 25%.
