Last updated on September 26th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Eggshells are often used as fertilizers for plants. Some gardeners have attested that throwing the eggshells in the compost pile makes the manure so much better. And with indoor plants or houseplants, natural fertilizers are all the better.
So let’s dive in, as I’m also going to let you know whether it is a good idea to use eggshells as fertilizers for houseplants. Additionally, I’ll discuss whether eggshells are good or bad for houseplants.
Eggshells are very effective in providing houseplants with calcium which is a very vital nutrient for plants’ growth. They are also a very viable organic fertilizer and a source of nutrients for houseplants. Eggshells mostly consist of calcium. They contain about 90% of calcium carbonate, and they provide calcium for houseplants. Eggshells are very good for houseplants.
Should I Use Eggshells for my Houseplants?
Plants require nutrients to grow well, and one of such critical nutrients is calcium. Plants need calcium for their cell walls to grow, and calcium is an indispensable element in new plant cells.
Furthermore, the more calcium available in the soil, the stronger the cell walls and, by extension, the plant.
As a result, plants absorb calcium from the soil as it travels up to the stems from the roots and is used by the plant. If there isn’t enough calcium in the soil, the plants will be deficient.
Therefore, instead of throwing away the eggshells from the eggs you use to bake or cook breakfast, you can wash and preserve them for later use in the garden or even in your indoor plants.
That said, ensure to wash your eggshells properly and keep them in a large bowl or container. And no, the eggshells do not smell.
The eggshells should be tilled into the soil after they’re adequately prepared. It is better to till the eggshells into the soil earlier on in the fall because it takes at least a few months for them to be absorbed by the plants’ roots.
You can add some more eggshells later on in the spring. In addition to providing calcium, you can use crushed eggshells as a means of pest control. It is effective against mostly snails, slugs, and cutworms alongside other crawling insects and pests.
When this category of insects cross over a portion of the garden where crushed eggshells have been spread, the eggshells make little cuts on the insect’s body, and the cuts lead to dehydration and subsequent death.
How Do I Add Eggshells to my Houseplants?
Eggshells decompose in the soil and leave it’s calcium components there. So, you can incorporate eggshells into the soil and let your houseplants benefit from the extra supply of calcium.
I’ve listed some tips to know before you put eggshells in your houseplants below.
1. Apply as Fertilizer
Eggshells can be used in the soil or on the soil as a natural fertilizer, although, you can still use regular fertilizer from the store. However, if you’re looking to grow houseplants organically, eggshells are the go-to for you.
2. Ensure They are Clean
Before you do anything, however, you should be sure that the eggshells are very clean with no residue or wetness.
To achieve this, you can rinse them with hot water and wait for them to dry. Spread them out for at least two days. You can fast-track that by putting them in an oven.
3. Use Before Transplanting
When preparing your soil for transplanting new houseplants or seed planting, spread some grounded eggshells or crumbled eggshells into the soil you’ve made for the new plants.
In that case, the houseplants will have a boost of nutrients right from the onset, and when they take root, the root system will be firm.
Not just that, but eggshells also assist in making the soil more perforated so that air, water, and nutrients will be able to enter deeply and penetrate the root of the plants.
4. Crush to Smaller Pieces
It’s better to crush the eggshells into smaller pieces. You’ll get a better outcome that way. However, always resist the temptation to bury eggs that are past their prime whole in the ground.
It will not do any good for the soil. Instead, it will introduce pathogens into the soil. All you need to do is wash dry cracked eggshells and crush them in a bag, and you’re all set.
You can also add broken or crushed eggshells to the compost pile. Compost is great for houseplants. It improves the texture and makes the soil more fertile.
After you have planted your houseplants, you can also use the compost as mulch or manure for better results.
5. Spread Around Plants
Looking for a more hands-on approach? You can spread the crushed eggshells around the planted houseplants.
You should make sure to use only the dry eggshells and wash them thoroughly to avoid leaving any egg-white or yolk on the shell.
Try as much as you can to grind the eggshell well. The more finely ground it is, the quicker the calcium in the eggshells can saturate the soil and provide nutrients for your plants.
7. Homemade Organic Eggshell Water
You can also use the eggshells to prepare homemade organic eggshell eater for your Plants. But for that, you’d need to grind your eggshells into a very fine powder, which is even better.
You’ll simply mix the ground eggshell with the water you use for watering your roses, and you’re good to go. You should use an old coffee grinder for the grinding as that will give you a better and finer result.
8. Potted Houseplants
If your houseplants are potted, you can place the eggshells at the bottom of the plant’s pot. Pour the soil and continue to water.
Of course, the nutrients in the eggshells at the bottom will work their way into the soil, and the soil will be well fertilized.
It’s important to note that having sufficient calcium for your houseplants is not optional for the following reasons.
- Lack of or insufficient calcium can cause the houseplants to become short and stunted. Also, the leaves will not form fully. Stems and leaves formation will be irregular and distorted.
- The emergent leaves and distorted older leaves lose their vibrant natural color. Green plants will become dull and brown. The older foliage may become sparse, and it will start to fall off. The plant will soon wither, and the dull green foliage may curl down at the margins.
- Soon, the plant itself will become stunted, which will eventually lead to the death of its root tips. And the plant itself will quickly die as well.
- The new growth and rapidly growing tissues of the plant are usually the first to be affected.
However, although you’re encouraged to use eggshells to keep your houseplants healthy and strong, you also need to keep in mind that it takes some months, not several months, but still some months before the eggshell fertilizer breaks down and the plant’s roots absorb the nutrients.
So, you don’t need to keep using the eggshells every so often. It is okay if you use it twice or at most three times a year. Fertilizing the roses with eggshells several times is overdoing it a bit, since, it is unnecessary.
If you have some leftover eggshells that you have already washed and ground, you can decide to keep them for later use.
Simply keep it in a sealed container, and you can preserve whatever is left of the ground eggshell for as long as you’re not using it.
As soon as the need arises, you can use it and it will be as good as new. I mean, it’s ground eggshell, after all.
Conclusion
Eggshells are cost-effective and easy fertilizers for houseplants. And that’s not all. They are a great source of calcium for plants and deter soft-bodied pests and insects from causing harm to plants.
So, on the whole, eggshells are good for houseplants, and you should try using them in your outdoor garden or for your potted plants. Next time you cook breakfast, keep the eggshells and get cracked in your garden.
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