How to Make and Use Banana Peel Tea Fertilizer
This easy banana peel tea is the best homemade organic fertilizer for plant growth. When it comes to gardening, there’s no shortage of fertilizers promising to make your plants grow faster, bigger, and healthier. But what if the secret is sitting in your kitchen right now? Enter banana skins.
You’ll soon be on your way to making a simple, nutrient-rich homemade fertilizer that’s eco-friendly and incredibly effective. Banana peel tea has become a favorite garden hack of mine because it’s packed with essential nutrients and so stinking easy to make. It’s also a sustainable way to repurpose food waste and nourish your plants; I call that a win-win!
I’ve been using this amazing garden hack for a few years, and I’m excited to share how you can turn those banana peels from your smoothie into liquid gold for your plants! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, this incredibly simple banana tea fertilizer recipe will up your gardening game. Let’s dive into this eco-friendly solution to get your plants enough potassium!
I’ll show you how easy it is to use leftover banana peels to make nutrient-rich banana water for your outdoor plants in the garden.
Looking for more garden inspiration? Take a look at our Top Flowers to Grow, Cool Weather Veggies, or Best Herbs to Grow! Or you can even try growing your own loofah!
What Is Banana Peel Tea Fertilizer?
Banana peel tea is a liquid fertilizer made by soaking banana peels in water to extract their nutrients. The result is a potassium-rich solution that nourishes plants naturally without the need for chemical additives. Banana peels are loaded with nutrients vital to plant health. They can help improve overall plant strength, build stronger stems and roots, and promote more robust fruits. Banana peels are not a big source of nitrogen, so just keep that in mind when using it.
- Potassium (K) – Promotes flower and fruit development
- Phosphorus (P) – Encourages root growth and blooming
- Calcium – Strengthens plant cell walls
- Magnesium – For chlorophyll production
- Trace elements – like sulfur and manganese, which support overall plant function
How It Works and Benefits of Banana Tea
You could always just throw your peels in the compost as organic material, but if you soak your banana peels, the nutrients leach into the water and can be administered in a more efficient way. When poured into the soil or used as a foliar spray, this liquid feeds your plants directly and encourages healthy growth. Additionally, it supports microbial activity in the soil, enhancing nutrient uptake.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate or other affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We try to recommend products we personally use or have used and trust. If you choose to purchase through our links in this post, we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.
How to Make Banana Peel Tea Fertilizer
Materials Needed
- 2–4 Organic Banana Peels
- Water
- Large Jar with Lid
- Strainer or Sieve (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
During the spring and summer I like to just keep a pitcher of water in the fridge, and as we eat bananas, we put our peels in the jar until it’s full. After 5-7 days, we will strain out the liquid and use the tea. Here is the general methods, though:
Cold Soak Method (No Boil):
- Place whole or cut banana peels in a jar or airtight container and fill with water.
- Let it sit for 3–5 days at room temperature or in the fridge
- Stir (or shake) once a day to promote nutrient extraction
- After soaking, strain out the peels and use the liquid fertilizer
Boiled Method (Faster):
- Add banana peels to a saucepan with water and simmer for 15–20 minute
- Let it cool, then strain and use the liquid as fertilizer
How to Make Banana Tea
Fill Jar: Place banana peels in a jar or airtight container and fill with water.
Steep: Let it sit for 3–5 days at room temperature or up to a week in the fridge
Stir (or shake): Once a day swirl the jar around to promote nutrient extraction
Strain: Remove peels and use the liquid fertilizer
Using Banana Compost Tea in Your Garden
Application Methods
- Soil Watering: Pour banana tea directly onto the soil around the base of your plants, don’t just pour it on top of the leaves.
- Foliar Spray: Dilute the tea (1 part tea to 5 parts water) and spray onto leaves for quick nutrient absorption.
Plants That Love Banana Tea Fertilizer
Because of their high potassium content (source) and amount of nutrients, banana peels are beneficial for several kinds of plants and better than most store-bought fertilizer for an organic garden. This includes:
- Flowering plants: Rose, Hibiscus, Petunias
- Fruiting Plants: Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers
- Root Vegetables: Potatoes, Beets, Carrots
Dos and Don’ts
- DON’T use undiluted tea as a foliar spray — it may be too strong
- DON’T let the banana peel compost tea fertilizer ferment for more than 5 days
- DON’T overuse! Like any fertilizer, moderation is key. Too much potassium can upset nutrient balance
- DO use once every 1–2 weeks for best results
- DO place spent banana peels in your compost bin or compost pile as extra organic matter
- DO use banana peel tea when plants are flowering or fruiting for the best impact
- DO use alongside other natural fertilizers like compost or other nitrogen-containing mixes
Preventing Pests
To avoid getting fungus gnats or fruit flies, never leave used peels lying around; bury them or compost them after use. I have also read that banana tea is actually good at repelling aphids, because they don’t like the smell of bananas (not sure how true it is but I’m going with it)!
Banana Peel Water vs. Other Homemade Fertilizers
Banana tea is especially valued for its high potassium content compared to other homemade fertilizers. Other common homemade fertilizer tea options are:
- Compost Tea: May give you a bigger nutrient profile but takes longer to make and isn’t as simple as just putting it in a jar in the kitchen
- Molasses Tea: Contains lots of good microbes, but doesn’t have a lot of potassium
- Weed Tea: Rich in nutrients, but can be pretty smelly and risky if any weeds contain seeds that might sprout
- Manure Tea: Great for nitrogen-loving plants, but may be a little stinky to work with
Banana peel tea is a simple way to boost your garden’s growth. Rich in nutrients and easy to make at home, it’s a great solution for gardeners who want healthier plants without harsh chemicals. Start saving your banana peels — your plants will thank you.
FAQS
Ideally, soak for around 5 days. Longer than that can lead to fermentation and odor.
Yes. Keep it in the fridge for up to 1 week to slow bacterial growth.
Most plants benefit from it, but avoid overuse on plants that prefer low potassium.
Absolutely. It works great with compost tea, fish emulsion, worm castings, or Epsom salt.
Once every 1–2 weeks is enough for most flowering or fruiting plants.
We were just talking about doing this! great guide we will totally be referencing!😁
My children eat tons of bananas, so we really need to do this! Thanks for the reminder to slow down, be intentional, and utilize what’s available😊
I had heard of this and wasn’t sure what to do or how it worked! This is great info! Going to try this in my garden!
I’ve read about this before but never tried. I will definitely give this go this year. thanks for sharing!
This is really great information! Thank you for sharing 🙂