There are many benefits to using eggshells in the garden, but there is one way you can make them even more useful. Eggshell tea therapy for plants will help your plants look beautiful and thrive with increased yields!
Eggshell Nutrition
You may think that throwing away your eggshells is a waste, but they’re actually full of calcium and can give you twice the amount needed per day!
According to the document published on Florida University extension website, eggshell also contains other vital nutrients that plants need. More specifically it has 0.3% phosphorus, magnesium and traces of sodium potassium zinc manganese iron copper .
Crushed Eggshells For Plants
One of the best ways to get calcium and trace elements into your soil is with eggshells. There are two types: whole, which you can put directly on top; or finely crushed for a more decomposable effect.
Why Use Eggshell Water?
As a much better alternative to traditional fertilizers, you could make your own eggshell water or tea and apply it after planting. This organic approach is quick with many benefits for both plants and animals alike!
The Jeff Gillman Experiment
Jeff Gillman, the master gardener and author of The Truth About Garden Remedies tells how he boiled an eggshell in a few cups of distilled water to see what would happen.
After boiling, the shell remained in that water for 24 hours. Afterwards he sent the eggshell water to be tested at a lab, and this brought his surprising results–the three elements that increased in low concentrations were Sodium, Phosphorous, and Magnesium. Two other elements also increased with higher readings: 4 mg Calcium and potassium content!
You can say 4 mg is a small quantity, but it comes out of just one eggshell. Boiling 10 eggs will definitely increase your plant’s concentration in these five elements!
How it Works
This eggshell tea can work as a nice Calcium and Potassium amendment, it also helps raise the soil pH slightly. Very useful if you’ve got acidic or neutral soils but will even help plants grow in alkaline conditions since their ability to absorb calcium doesn’t depend on how high (or low) its pH level may be!
Calcium is the most important mineral in root development. It helps strengthen cell walls and prevents disease, heat-stress, or water shortage from affecting your plant’s growth potentials!
A plant’s ability to withstand water, heat and cold is dependent on the mineral potassium. There is evidence that it can help plants grow faster with better yields as well!
The Recipe
10-20 clean and dry eggshells will be needed for this experiment. The quantity of eggs is dependent upon how strong you want the solution to be, so purchase as many as it will work best with your needs!
Eager to get started? Boil a gallon of water and then crush up some eggshells. Let it sit for 24 hours!
The shells give enough time for nutrients to infuse in the water. After that, strain off any extra bits and it’s ready!
How to Use
- The eggshell tea is an excellent way to get rid of pesky insects in your garden or potted plants. I love using it because not only does this method gets rid of them, but also cleanses any unwanted visitors so they don’t come back again!
- Pour this healthy Calcium-Potassium supplement around the base of your plant.
- According to Gillman, 4 to 5 eggshells per garden plant is enough.
- For potted plants, you can reduce this quantity to 2 or 3.
- To get the best results from this tea, apply it in either one or two weeks of interval.
- Hard-boiled eggshell water is a great addition to your garden. Simply two cups per plant will do the trick!
