Banana water fertiliser hack sparks debate as some plants are 'negatively affected'
A new gardening trend has erupted across the internet, as numerous videos tout the wonders of "banana peel water" for plant growth. But while some experts got behind this viral hack, some do not recommend it.
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A new banana water fertiliser has been making the rounds online, with many gardeners praising it for its natural qualities.
TikTokers claim it's a natural fertiliser concocted from the discarded banana peels you might typically toss in the trash without a second thought.
Typically, these peels are soaked in boiling water for 24 hours, resulting in a "banana tea" packed with nutrients that purportedly benefit your plants.
"Banana peels are really high in potassium, magnesium [and] calcium," influencer Teresa Moon (@teresa_ann_moon) said in a recent video.
"Anytime you are chopping up some bananas, I'm going to be freezing these for smoothies, don't throw away your peels. I usually chop them up... I water all my houseplants with it. My plants go crazy whenever I water with banana water."
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Calum Maddock, a plant expert at HomeHow.co.uk, stands firmly in the pro-banana peel camp, echoing Teresa's beliefs that this concoction can indeed enhance plant growth.
He told The Mirror: "Potassium is a crucial macronutrient that helps plants with various things like disease resistance.
"When you water your plants with banana peel water, the potassium-infused water seeps into the soil. Over time, the plant roots can absorb the dissolved potassium from the surrounding soil.
“By using banana peel water, you're reducing your reliance on chemical fertilisers and helping the environment. It's a sustainable way to give your plants a bit of TLC."
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However, Kendall Marie Platt, an expert at Adventures with Flowers, advises against using the concoction, as water alone will not extract enough potassium from the skins.
She told the news outlet: "Simply soaking the banana peels in water is not going to extract the potassium from them.
"In order to get the potassium out of the peel, they need to be broken down by microbes and bacteria...
“You are much better off using a balanced fertiliser from the shop or creating homemade compost using a mix of green waste (fruit vegetable peelings and green plant material) and brown waste (cardboard, dry autumnal leaves, small sticks) and letting Mother Nature do her thing."
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