organic fertilisers Archives

Banana Peels bring on Healthy Plants

by Hannetjie Du Toit | Oct 25, 2020 | Alimandi Tips

The common thing to do with banana peels is to throw them in the trash, however, there are miraculous uses for these yellow fellows. Here are a few tips on how you can use banana peels naturally in an unusual way in and around your garden.

To grow strong and lush plants, you need three things:

The correct amount of sun(light) – that is sun for the sun-loving plants or shade for the shade-loving plants;
Water;
Soil that has sufficient nutrients.

Plants in containers need even more feeding because the nutrients wash out every time you water the plants.

A banana can help you with that!

Banana peels are a natural fertilizer and a natural pest repellent in the garden. If you compost, you already toss your peels into the compost pile, but have you ever made a banana tea? Using banana peel tea, you create an all-natural organic fertilizer filled with potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, all well-needed nutrients for strengthening your plants and helping them resist pests and diseases.

But how do I make banana peel tea?

Take a jar (2 litre size), chop your banana peels into pieces, put them in the jar, and then fill with water. Allow the jar to sit for at least 2 to 3 days and use the water for your container plants.

Do not throw away the soaked peels; simply throw them around your plants in your garden and work it in directly into the soil. If you don’t like it in your garden, just throw it back on the compost pile.

Plant a banana peel

When you plant your newly-bought plants in your garden or plant up a new container, pop a banana peel in along with your plants in your garden. This will ensure a direct boost to your plants by improving the soil’s quality and will also attract beneficial worms and microbes to your soil.

Pest control

Working the peels into your soil will help to deter green aphids naturally. You can also spray the banana peel tea directly onto your plants to help repel aphids, and your plants will also absorb the minerals in the tea through their leaves. Air plants primarily benefit from banana peel spray for nutrients.

Hopefully, with these practical tips for using banana peels, you will change how you feel about banana peels. Next time you eat a banana, remember it is a healthy snack for you and your plants.

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FERTILISER BASICS FOR EVERY GARDENER

by Hannetjie Du Toit | Oct 7, 2019 | Alimandi Tips

Even if you are lucky enough to start with great soil, as your plants grow they absorb nutrients and leave the soil less fertile. By applying fertiliser to your garden or vegetable patch you replenish the lost nutrients and ensure that your plants have the food they need to flourish.

Primary (Macro) Nutrients

There are 3 primary nutrients that plants require in fairly large quantities.

These are Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium:

Nitrogen (N) stimulates new tissues and gives plants the green colour and abundant healthy new growth. Lack of nitrogen shows up as general yellowing (also called chlorosis) of the plant’s older leaves
Phosphorus (P) stimulates root and shoot growth. Symptoms of phosphorus deficiency include stunted growth and inhibition of root system development
Potassium (K) stimulates fruiting and flowering of plants and also improves the overall health of plants. Symptoms of potassium deficiency include brown scorching, curling of leaf tips, and yellowing between leaf veins

Apart from the above, plants also need oxygen from water and air, carbon from carbon dioxide in the air, and hydrogen from water and air.

Organic Fertilisers vs. Synthetic Fertilisers

Organic fertilisers are made of naturally occurring mineral deposits and organic material such as manure. It is not water-soluble and is released over a period of weeks, even months. Organic fertilisers stimulate beneficial soil micro-organisms and improve soil structure. Applying organic fertilisers and compost will, in most cases, provide all the secondary and micro-nutrients for a plant’s need.

Synthetic fertilisers are water-soluble and can be taken up by the plant almost immediately. Synthetic fertilisers may be made from petroleum products, rocks or even organic sources. They give plants a quick boost but do little to improve soil texture or improve the soil’s long-term fertility.

How do I choose a fertiliser?

The three numbers that you see on a fertiliser label, such as 3:1:5(26)SR, tells you what portion of each macro-nutrient the fertiliser contains. The first number refers to nitrogen (N), the second to phosphorus (P) and the third to potassium (K). This NPK ratio reflects the available nutrients by weight contained in that fertiliser. The fourth number is always found in brackets and is the percentage value of the whole product that is pure fertiliser in the said ratio – that is, how concentrated the fertiliser is. In this example, 26% are fertiliser with 74% being the filler. The SR letters stand for Slow Release, meaning this fertiliser is not instantly available to the plant. It is released in even, regular doses to the plant, and lasts longer so that means future applications need be further apart.

Fertilisers are a quick and convenient way to add nutrients to your soil, but always remember to use compost together with fertiliser for best results.