Eggshell fertilizer provides important nutrients to plants and vegetables. Discover simple DIY tips for making your own eggshell fertilizer.
Eggshell fertilizer , or eggshell fertilizer, is made from crushed eggshells, which are rich in calcium carbonate, a mineral essential for strengthening plant cell walls. The shells also contain other minerals that help plants grow, including potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.
Eggshells therefore constitute an effective and inexpensive fertilizer for outdoor garden soil and indoor plants.
Eggshells – an excellent fertilizer for plants
Eggshells can benefit plants in the following ways:
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Eggshells reduce soil acidity . Many types of plants prefer low soil acidity to absorb nutrients and repel toxic elements such as aluminum. The calcium carbonate in eggshells lowers the pH of the soil, making it more alkaline than acidic.
Eggshells discourage blossom end rot. Some plants, such as tomato plants, develop black spots on the fruit tips due to a calcium deficiency. Adding calcium from eggshell fertilizer can help fruit plants thrive and avoid blossom end rot.
Eggshells control parasites . The lingering odor of eggs inside the shell repels deer, while the sharp edges of dried, crushed shells are dangerous to the soft bodies of snails and slugs.
Eggshells promote root growth . The calcium carbonate in eggshells helps strengthen plant roots, so they grow faster and stronger. Simply crush clean, dry eggshells into powder. Add the powdered eggshells to the boiling water, then cover and keep the mixture for a week, uncovering it only once a day to stir. After seven days, pour the mixture directly into the soil above the plant’s roots.
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Is eggshell fertilizer suitable for all plants?
Eggshell fertilizer is useful for many plants, but not all. Eggshell fertilizer can help fruit species and vegetables, such as apples, strawberries, lettuce, cucumbers and eggplants. It also highlights certain flowers (perennials and annuals), such as roses and chrysanthemums. Eggshell fertilizer is great for succulents, but it lacks nitrogen, which some succulents may need. On the other hand, excess calcium in eggshell fertilizer can harm some outdoor and indoor plants. It can cause disease in geraniums, violets, azaleas and other acid-loving plants. Avoid using eggshell fertilizer on kale, beans and spinach.
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3 Ways to Make Eggshell Fertilizer
Eggshell fertilizer can be prepared by several methods.
Crush the eggshells. Wash and rinse the eggshells and let them dry. Crush the eggshells into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle, rolling pin, or food processor. Be sure to wear a mask when crushing the shells to avoid breathing in eggshell dust. Mix eggshell powder into your flower bed, houseplant potting mix, or garden soil.
Grind the eggshells. If you don’t have a food processor or hand tools, you can use a coffee grinder to process eggshells into powder. Add ground eggshells to your compost bin to make mulch or pour them directly into the planting holes. Many gardeners add coffee grounds, rich in nitrogen and potassium, to eggshell fertilizer for additional nutrients.
Infuse the eggshells. You can use eggshells to make a fertilizer tea that will add liquid calcium to your garden. Boil a liter of water and add ten or twenty clean, dry eggshells. Let the shells sit in the water overnight, then filter them. Pour two cups of liquid over each plant. Repeat the eggshell infusion process every two weeks.