Have you seen the Banana peel watering hack floating around the internet?

After seeing it a few times and reading mixed reviews, I finally decided to give it a try after one of my friends started raving about the difference it made in her house plants.

I’ve been using this method for the last five months and I’m amazed at the difference I’ve seen in my plants!

In this post, I’ll share how I’ve been making and using banana peel water, along with a few plant care tips that are working great for my plant babies.

How To Make Banana Peel Water – or Natural Miracle Grow as I like to call it!

1. Choose a container with a closable top. I use mason jars so that’s what I’ll reference below. You can get these at Walmart, grocery stores or thrift them.

2. Add one banana peel to the mason jar or container. I add the entire peel.

3. Fill the jar with water, close the lid and let it sit for one to two weeks before the first use. I store mine in a cabinet because my husband can’t stand to look at them, but if you need a reminder to water your plants, set them somewhere you can see them. I did this the first few weeks and it helped me get into the habit.

4. Water your plants. After it has set, it’s ready to use. Water your plants like normal. I’ll share my plant watering tips below.

5. You can reuse the same peel. I use them until it starts to break down or turns black. Simply refill the jar with water after each use and reuse within the next two weeks.

Things you should know when using banana peel water as fertilizer.

1. There is a slime like film that builds up on the top of the water. This is normal! You can keep this off of your plants, by using a screen or strainer of some kind, when you water. If you don’t use a strainer, you may see a brownish yellow build up on the top part of your soil. I typically do not use a strainer and it hasn’t harmed my plants at all. I’ll share what I do in my plant care tips below.

2. Banana Peel Water has an odor! I was nervous about this when I started to notice the odor the water gave off. However, it hasn’t made my plants or house smell! It seems to disappear as it sinks into the soil, so don’t be alarmed.

3. The water thickens and has a tinge of color. After the peel has set for a week or two, the water gets darker and has a thickness to it. Again, this is normal. It also soaks in slower than plain water but it obviously does the job.

Bonus Banana Peel Tip: Banana Peels can be added directly to the soil for both indoor and outdoor plants! All you have to do is chop them into smaller pieces and lay them on the top layer, or mix them a little deeper into the soil.

I’ve been adding chopped peels to an opened bag of potting soil that I have sitting in the garage so it will be mixed well when I’m ready to pot a new plant. I’ve also recently added some peels to the top layer of an outdoor plant. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes.

Plant Care Tips

1. Mix the top part of your soil. In the photo above, I’m using a small wooden dowel to mix the top part of my soil. You can also use the dowel to poke holes into the soil. By doing this, it helps all of the fertilizer get down into the soil and keeps the soil loose so the roots can soak it all in. I started doing this when I seen the brownish yellow coloring on some parts of the soil. So far it’s working great.

2. Have a watering game plan! If you struggle with remembering to water your plants, or you get overwhelmed by all the tips out there…here’s what helped me.

   Pick a day of the week to water your plants! Even though, some plants don’t need to be watered on a set day, I’ve found that having a day of the week to water, has helped me form a habit of checking in on my plants regularly. That’s why I said it’s a game plan! The game plan is to check in on your plants at least once a week. Touch the top of the soil, if the first inch or two is dry, water it. I use about a cup of water on most of my plants but generally cover the top part of the soil. Certain plants, like my snake plant, ZZ plants and succulents don’t need to be watered weekly. My rule of thumb is to wait until the top inch or two of soil is completely dry on those plants before I water them. Other plants, like my pothos plants, seem to take well to weekly or biweekly watering.

3. Use soap and water to clean and shine your larger leaves or give them a shower. A friend shared the soap and water tip with me and after sanding and painting some walls in my house, it was the perfect time to give this a try. I used a small amount of dawn dish detergent with water and it worked beautifully. However, I’ve heard a lot about the benefits of putting your plants in the shower or large sink, and watering them well, allowing them to drain before taking them out. This process keeps your leaves clean and is a very effective way to water as well.

4. Mist your plants. You can buy misting bottles made specifically for plants but I’ve been using an old detangling spray bottle and it works perfectly! Right now I have the label still attached but I plan to make it pretty in a fun diy to come! If you use this method, just be sure you wash the bottle well with warm water first.

5. Humidifier. I have a larger majority of house plants in my home office so I use a humidifier most days.

6. Only use pots with holes. Your plants have to have proper drainage or your roots will rot. If you have a container without holes, you can drill your own. Trust me, this works and is easier than you think, even on terra-cotta pots. If you want extra security, place some painters tape where you will be drilling your holes.

I hope you found these tips and my input on using banana peel water to be helpful. I am by no means a plant expert but taking care of my house plants is truly something I enjoy and always love learning more about!

If you love gardening or having indoor plants and you have some helpful tips, please share them with us! The more we share, the more we learn, so please drop your tips below.

With Love,

Lisa Faye