Many gardens look great right now with hydrangeas in full bloom, but you can get bigger and more lush flowers by feeding them with the right fertilizer.
At the beginning of the summer, I had trouble getting the Hortensia in my garden to bloom as much as last year, and while browsing the Internet I found that the main reason might be a lack of nutrients.
I decided to try feeding my hydrangea with a homemade banana peel fertilizer that only took five minutes to make, but I’ve been incredibly impressed with the results.
Banana peels are high in potassium, a nutrient that helps plants take up water and is essential for gardens to absorb water properly during the hot summer months.
However, banana peels also contain phosphorus, another important nutrient that promotes flower production and also contains trace elements that help make flowers more vibrant.
Hydrangeas also like slightly acidic oil and the organic acids in the banana peel make it a healthier environment for the flowers.
I started feeding my hydrangea with banana peel fertilizer once a month starting in June and the plant has grown much stronger in just a short time.
My hydrangea plants also typically stop blooming in early August, but are still going strong now and don’t seem to be fading, so I’ve had longer lasting and healthier flowers.
How to make homemade banana peel fertilizer for hydrangeas
You will need:
- One banana peel per plant
- Water to fill the jar
- Glass mason jar with lid
- Scissors
- Screen
You only need one banana peel per hydrangea. If you have more than one plant in your garden, store the husks in a covered container until you are ready to make this feed.
Method:
Save the peel of the banana and chop it with scissors.
Place the cut pieces of banana peel in the jar, then fill it with water until the peels are completely submerged.
Screw the lid on and leave the jar on the kitchen counter or somewhere else.
Let the banana peel water soak for at least 24 hours. You can leave it longer if you want, but don’t leave the banana peel water sitting for more than three days.
When the banana peel water is ready, Strain the pieces of banana peel from the water. Rotting fruit can attract pests to your garden, so it’s best to get rid of the pieces.
Pour banana peel fertilizer into the soil around the hydrangea root so the plant can absorb nutrients.
Water the Hydrangea after fertilizing, as wet soil can absorb nutrients much more efficiently.
Use this banana peel fertilizer once a month during the hydrangea growing season to help give the flowers a boost, so you’ll have a beautiful plant for much longer.
