Are you into farming or gardening?
NEVER THROW YOUR EGG SHELLS AWAY!
Ever again.
Egg shells are rich in calcium which is an important nutrient for your plants. The outer covering of an egg, that is the egg shell, is composed of about 95% Calcium Carbonate. In addition to the calcium, it contains about 1% nitrogen, about a ½% phosphoric acid, and other trace elements that make them a practical fertilizer.
You can use your egg shells to make egg shell fertilizer and this will benefit your plants in many ways.
1. Eggshells lower soil acidity.
Many types of plants prefer low acidity in the soil to absorb nutrients and ward off toxic elements like aluminum.
2. Eggshells discourage blossom-end rot.
Certain plants, like tomato plants, will develop black spots on the ends of their fruit due to calcium deficiency. Adding calcium from eggshell fertilizer can help fruiting plants thrive and avoid blossom-end rot.
3. Eggshells control pests.
The lingering smell of eggs inside the shell wards off deer, while the sharp edges of dry, crushed shells are hazardous for the soft bodies of snails and slugs.
4. Eggshells encourage root growth.
The calcium carbonate in eggshells helps to strengthen a plant’s roots so it can grow faster and stronger.
3 Ways to Make Eggshell Fertilizer
You can make eggshell fertilizer using a few different methods.
1. Crush the eggshells. Wash and rinse eggshells and let them dry. Crush the eggshells into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle, rolling pin, or food processor. Be sure to wear a mask while crushing the shells to avoid breathing in any eggshell dust. Stir the eggshell powder into your flower bed, indoor plant’s potting mix, or vegetable garden’s soil.
2. Grind the eggshells. In the absence of a food processor or manual tools, you can use a blender to turn eggshells into powder. Add the ground eggshells to your compost bin to make mulch or pour them directly into your planting holes. Many master gardeners add coffee grounds, which are rich in nitrogen and potassium, to eggshell fertilizer for even more of a nutrient boost.
3. Steep the eggshells.
You can use eggshells to make a fertilizer tea that will add liquid calcium to your garden. Boil a gallon of water and add ten to twenty clean, dry eggshells. Let the shells sit in the water overnight, then strain them out. Pour two cups of liquid onto each plant. Repeat the eggshell tea process every two weeks.
Now you know. Never throw your egg shells away again
Even the water used to boil your eggs should be reserved for your plants.
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