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How To Use Fermented Banana Water As A Natural Fertilizer
Don’t toss your banana peels into your compost pile, make banana peel tea with them instead! Banana skins contain vital nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus that specifically support flowering plants. Follow these easy steps to learn how to make your own fermented banana water for healthy plant growth and ditch the synthetic fertilizer. Once you try this better option, you’ll stop buying fertilizer in the store.
What is fermented banana water?
Fermented banana water is what happens when you set aside banana peels in a sealed container of water (some recipes call for added sugar) for a couple of weeks. When the peels are below the water, there is an absence of oxygen that allows the sugars in the banana peels to ferment and produce enzymes that enrich the soil around the plant. One dissertation even found that fermented banana water makes a powerful insecticide and acts as a natural antibiotic for plants. (Shah, Gaurav & Patel, Hiren & Patel, Anchit & Surati, Tejash. (2012). Potential Use of Banana Peels for the Production of Fermented Products. )
Is fermented banana water different from banana peel tea?
Technically, yes! You can make banana peel tea by soaking banana peels in water for 2-3 days.
The difference is in the fermentation. When you allow the banana peels to soak in water without the presence of oxygen, the fermentation process allow for a chemical breakdown of the banana peels resulting in new enzymes that are beneficial to the soil. Think of it as probiotics for the land.
Simple banana peel tea without fermentation is still a great way to make banana peel fertilizer. The fertilizer tea still has lots of nutrients that are perfect for tomato plants and any other fruiting plants. The key is in the potassium-rich banana peels that release the nutrients into the water while soaking.
Wether you decide to ferment your banana peels is up to you! Fermentation takes a little longer and has a little extra boost to soil health. However, soaked banana peels on their own are just as an effective method boosting low potassium levels in your garden.
How to make your own fermented banana water
Fermented banana water is pretty easy to make, and there are several different ways to make it.
Nothing but banana peels and water method (best if you have bananas with brown spots):
If your bananas already have brown spots on them, you don’t need to add sugar. Your bananas probably already have plenty of natural sugar in them!
- Find a large glass mason jar
- Cut used peels into small pieces
- Add to jar and cover with water
- Keep adding banana peels and water until the jar is full
- Make sure all peels are under the water, use a fermentation weight if needed
- Cover in a cool dark place for up to 2 weeks or until you see little bubbles at the top
- Strain and use water on plants
- Bury banana peels near banana trees, add to compost pile, or dry out the peels to make banana skin powder
Banana and sugar banana tea fertilizer (for underripe or mostly yellow bananas)
The sugar in this method will help jumpstart fermentation if you don’t have overly ripe bananas.
- Find a large glass mason jar
- Cut banana peels into small pieces
- Add to jar and cover with water
- Keep adding banana peels and water until the jar is full
- Add a tablespoon of brown sugar
- Make sure all peels are under the water, use a fermentation weight if needed
- Cover in a cool dark place for up to 2 weeks or until you see little bubbles at the top
- Strain and use water on plants
- Bury banana peels near banana trees, add to compost pile, or dry out the peels to make banana skin powder
Benefits of using banana peel compost tea fertilizer
Bananas and their peels have so many amazing nutrients – far greater than any synthetic fertilizer. We all know that bananas are an incredible source of potassium, which is great not just for people, but also plants! Did you know that bananas are also a great source of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, manganese, sodium, sulfur, and a handful of other micronutrient? The organic matter in the banana peels will helps every flowering plant from roses to all edible plants to produce bigger, beautiful blooms and more nutrient rich produce.
But there are more benefits of using banana peel water! The fermentation process allows for living microorganisms to enhance the soil heath. You will end up with healthier soil and much healthier plants in the long run.
How to use fermented banana water
There are several different ways to use your fermented banana peel tea.
- Dilute your fermented banana water with a 50/50 ratio of regular water and then put it to use. Water the soil with it once a week.
- Put the water in a spray bottle to use as a foliar spray, which will be absorbed through the leaves, which is faster and gives an immediate boost to your plants.
- Use a concentrated solution of the banana peel tea once a month for a special boost of nutrients.
Unlike commercial fertilizer, fermented banana water isn’t loaded with excess nitrogen, so you aren’t going to overwhelm your plants. Don’t worry, you most likely won’t use too much fermented banana water. A good guideline is to use the fertilizer once a week.
For best results, use your natural fertilizer on outdoor plants. The fermented banana water does have a certain aroma to it that can attract fruit flies and little gnats. For this reason, I only use my fermented banana tea on outdoor plants. It is my suggestion to dilute the banana water with a 1:4 ratio if you want to use this liquid fertilizer on indoor plants.
How long does banana tea fertilizer last?
Fermented banana water is chock full of live microorganisms that are fantastic for your plants, but it doesn’t last very long. To get the most out of your banana water, you want it to use it at its max potency, which means freshly made. Unless you are aerating your banana water, it needs to be used ASAP, but don’t worry, you can easily make more!
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