Ah, TikTok—our source of food hacks for everything from making perfectly crispy potatoes to cutting lettuce, our go-to for fun date ideas like the Four-Course Meal Challenge, and of course, the origin of viral recipes like crunchy bread.
The video platform has really taken off during the pandemic, but our favorite section has got to be life tips that we can use around the house every day, like the one where we discovered that we have dishwasher filters and yep, they need to be cleaned. If you’ve become a plant parent during this quarantine period like so many of us, you’re gonna love our latest discovery—a way to make environmentally friendly fertilizer using plain ol’ banana peels!
Banana Peels Aren’t Just for Slipping People Up
TikTok user creative_explained, who brought us this genius dryer sheet hack for cleaning burned pots, has now given us a great reason to eat more bananas (or bake more banana bread). According to his super-fun video, all you need to do is save your banana peels, chop them up into smaller pieces, toss them into a cup or bowl of water and mix. Let them soak for an hour (or longer, if possible), and then pour the water into your plants! This mix apparently helps both indoor and outdoor plants grow, and bonus—it’s cheap and free of any chemicals, unlike store-bought fertilizers!
How Does This Work?
Banana peels contain lots of nutrients, including potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium—all of which are needed for good plant growth. Soaking the banana peels allows the nutrients to leech into the water, and once it hits the soil, the roots grab all those sweet, sweet minerals. You can soak the peel whole, but according to one commenter, chopping it up exposes more surface area, allowing more nutrients to release into the water.
And hey, if you haven’t gotten that green thumb down quite yet, these practically unkillable houseplants are a great way to start!
FAQs
The potassium it contains makes it a natural fertilizer that promotes the growth of green plants and flowers! All you have to do is cut your banana peel into small pieces and place them on the ground. You'll see, in addition to being a good fertilizer, it's also a great natural tool for repelling insects!
Why should you never throw away your banana peels? ›
Banana peels contain tryptophan, an amino acid that gets converted into serotonin, a feel-good hormone that promotes happiness. They are also a rich source of potassium, and contain more soluble and insoluble fiber than the fruit on the inside.
Why should we not throw banana peels on the floor? ›
Banana peels are not made of plastic, but they take weeks or months to break down into soil, and are slippery, smelly bug-attractors between the throwing and then.
Is it bad to throw banana peels on the ground? ›
You may have learned that natural foods decompose in nature; Glacier National Park reminds us why it's a bad idea.
Can I just throw banana peels in my garden? ›
While you're better off using a store-bought fertilizer for your houseplants, you can still put banana peels to use in your garden. Toss the peels into your compost bin like any other fruit or food scraps.
Why shouldn't you eat a banana peel? ›
Risks of Eating Banana Peels
Few pesticides make their way to the fruit itself, but there could be residues on the peels. If this is of concern to you, consider using organic bananas, which are less likely to have traces of commonly used pesticides.
Do banana peels keep bugs away? ›
👉 chop them up and bury about 1 inch deep around plants 👉place a peel in each hole before you plant a seedling 👉 rub the inside of the peel on leaves of the effected plant then bury the peel or toss on the soil.
Is it okay to throw banana peels out the window? ›
Vehicles are a hot spot for littering. You will likely have seen someone flick a lit cigarette out the window, and those are most noticeable when you're driving in the dark. But even throwing things out your car window that are biodegradable – like an apple core or banana peel – could still see you cop a fine.
Where do you throw banana peels? ›
Compost material
If none of the above uses appeal to you, simply toss banana peels into your compost bin. They break down quickly and enrich your compost with valuable nutrients.
What happens when you put banana peels in soil? ›
What's so good about banana peel? Banana peels contain: calcium, which promotes root growth helps add oxygen to your soil. magnesium, which assists with photosynthesis.
On behalf of law enforcement and environmentalists everywhere, the short answer is “no.” While it isn't far-fetched to think some things like banana peels, orange peels, apple cores, nuts, shells and seeds will be okay and disintegrate on their own, law is law and you could still find yourself paying the price.
Do banana peels attract rodents? ›
Adding banana peels directly to the soil (trench composting) will give the same result as using banana water. Nutrients will be unavailable until the peels have completely broken down and unless you bury them deeply, they can attract pests and rodents.
What animals will eat banana peels? ›
Because of this removal of the banana peel, a significant amount of organic waste is generated. Banana peels are sometimes used as feedstock for cattle, goats, pigs, monkeys, poultry, rabbits, fish, zebras and several other species, typically on small farms in regions where bananas are grown.
Is rubbing banana skin on your face good for you? ›
According to Healthline, banana peel, rich in antioxidants, fibre and essential nutrients, helps brighten the skin and reduce wrinkles. It even acts as a moisturiser and helps in hydrating the skin.
Can you throw away banana peels? ›
Banana peels are not recyclable. They are food waste and therefore must be composted instead of recycled. If you are still not comfortable disposing of your banana peels try a few of the following: Shoe polish — bananas contain potassium which is a key ingredient in shoe polish.
Is it bad to throw banana peels out the window? ›
The reality, however, is quite different.
One significant concern is the impact it can have on wildlife behavior. When food waste is left behind, animals may be enticed to search for food in close proximity to roads, increasing the likelihood of collisions with vehicles.
Why do people save banana peels? ›
Soak banana peels in water and use them to water your plants. Add banana peels to your backyard compost bins; banana peels break down quickly and add lots of nutrients. RELIEVE RASHES AND ITCHES. Rub the peel over bug bites, poison ivy, rashes or psoriasis patches to reduce itchiness and promote healing.
Should banana peels be put in the garbage disposal? ›
Banana Peels
Bananas can clog your pipes if they aren't broken down enough while passing through the disposal. If you opt to put banana peels in your disposal, don't put too much in at once, and be sure to remove any stickers the manufacture or grocery store may have applied.
