Is Banana Water Good for Plants? What It Really Does - Full Guide
Banana water is mildly good for plants, but it is not a fertilizer. Water soaked with banana peels picks up only small amounts of potassium, magnesium, and calcium, and a University of Maryland Extension expert notes there is no research showing it works as a feed. Use diluted banana peel water as an occasional supplement, and compost the peels themselves for a bigger nutrient boost.
Below, you’ll learn how to make banana water for plants four ways, how much to dilute it, which plants like it best, and the myths to ignore. If you like kitchen-scrap remedies, compare it with rice water for plants, which has more research behind it.
What Is Banana Water?
Banana or banana peel water is liquid compost or 'compost tea' made from cut peels. It contains many components plants need to stay healthy and continue growing. Feeding banana water to your green pets is a great way to use up any excess fruit before they go rotten.
Quick banana water recipe: Chop the peels of 2–3 bananas, cover them with 1 quart (1 liter) of water, and soak for 2–3 days at room temperature. Strain, dilute 1 part banana water with 5 parts plain water, and use it once every 1–2 weeks instead of regular watering.
Banana Peel Water Benefits for Plants
You can use banana water for your indoor and outdoor plants, so long as your green pets benefit from the nutrients in banana peels. A word of caution on using it for indoor plants – the sugar from the banana (especially if using fermented banana water) may attract insects or flies to your plant.
The list of benefits of using this fertilizer is much longer:
- Adds a small number of vital nutrients, such as magnesium and calcium, that are important in plant growth;
- Can be used more regularly than store-bought fertilizer since it is a lower dose of nutrients;
- The concentrate can be diluted with fresh water for more uses out of one batch.
Downsides of Banana Water
- Pests: sugars in banana water, especially the fermented kind, attract fruit flies and fungus gnats indoors.
- Mold and smell: banana water left too long or used undiluted can grow mold and smell sour.
- Small, unproven benefit: there’s no research showing banana water works as a fertilizer, so plants still need regular feeding.
How to Make DIY Banana Water Fertilizer for Plants
Organic bananas are a good choice if you want to avoid pesticide residues. Here are four ways to make your own banana peel water:
From Boiling Banana Peels
- Cut your leftover banana peels into small pieces, about a half inch to one inch (1.25-2.5 cm) in length.
- Place the banana peel in water for 2-3 days. It should be enough time for bananas to soften and extract nutrients.
- Once banana pieces are soft enough, boil them for 30-45 minutes to break down the stronger fibers.
- Strain the liquid and allow it to cool before using.
- Dilute the liquid with five parts of fresh water. Now you have ready-to-use banana peel water!
From Dried Banana Powder
You can grind dried banana peels into a powder and mix it with water. To make the powder, you can use banana peels, a dehydrator, an oven, or even a sunny spot in the yard, and a bit of time!
- Cut up your banana peels into small, half an inch to inch (1.25-2.5 cm) large chunks.
- Place the peels onto a sheet pan with parchment paper or on a dehydrator tray. Ensure none of the pieces are touching each other!
- Dehydrate the peels at 115˚F (46˚C) for up to 8 hours or until they are fully dry. You can also dry them in an oven at 200˚F (93˚C) or outside in a bright, sunny spot. You'll know they're ready when the peels have turned black and break when bent.
- Allow the pieces to cool before grinding them into a powder. For this step, you can use a high-power blender or food processor. The texture should be similar to ground coffee.
- Mix two tablespoons of dried banana powder with 16 ounces (470 ml) of water. This concentration should be enough for one medium-sized potted plant. Preserve the excess in an airtight container in the freezer.
From Soaked Banana Peels
- Use the peels of 2–3 bananas per 1 quart (about 1 liter) of water.
- Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 2-3 days.
- Strain the soaked banana peels from the water. Discard the used peels or use them in compost.
- Pour the water into a jar for convenience. You now have ready-to-use compost tea!
Fermented Banana Water
The fermented banana water recipe is very similar to regular banana water. The main difference is sugar, which starts the fermentation.
- Prepare equal parts of a cut, ripe banana, and dark brown sugar.
- Mix the ingredients and place them in a container that can be easily sealed.
- Leave the bananas for about two weeks. During this time, the fermentation process will take place, and bananas will get to a liquid or juice-like state.
- After two weeks, you will have concentrated fermented banana liquid. You can dilute the mixture with fresh water. For this, add about half an ounce (14 ml) of concentrate for every 33 ounces (1 liter) of liquid.
This type of fertilizer is at its best quality when it's fresh. We recommend this option if you have a lot of green pets to water at once.
How to Use Banana Water for Plants
Now that you’ve made your banana water, it’s time to use it. Banana water suits most leafy houseplants and vegetables, but not succulents or cacti. Not sure what plant you have? Identify it with PlantIn to check its feeding needs before you start.
For Tomato Plants:
- Make your batch of banana water using any preferred method listed above;
- Allow the water to cool sufficiently before diluting;
- Use diluted banana water once every 1–2 weeks as part of a steady watering routine. Steady watering is the main way to prevent blossom-end rot in tomatoes, but banana water adds very little calcium, so keep using a fertilizer made for tomatoes.
For Succulents:
Succulents and cacti rarely need banana water, because they prefer lean, dry soil. If you use it, dilute it well, apply it no more than once a month in spring or summer, and let the soil dry out completely afterward.
How Much Banana Peel Water to Add to Plants?
Dilute your DIY banana peel water with five parts of regular water. This concentration should be safe for green pets. Water your plants with this mixture just like you usually would.
The best option for storing banana water concentrate is to keep it in the fridge in a clean, closed container. We recommend using the concentrate in two to four weeks. However, if you notice any weird smell, get rid of the 'compost tea' and make a new batch.
How Often Can We Use Banana Water for Plants?
Use banana water once every 1–2 weeks, in place of a regular watering. Using it more often adds sugars to the soil, which can attract gnats and cause mold, especially indoors. To keep track, set a care schedule for each plant in the PlantIn app, so banana water days don’t overlap with regular fertilizing.
What Plants like Banana Water?
Most plants will benefit from the nutrients in banana water fertilizer. This compost tea can be especially useful for heavy feeders. Here are some plants that appreciate the addition of banana water to their regular watering schedule:
- Tropical houseplants such as pothos, snake plants, monsteras, and philodendrons;
- Anthuriums;
- Orchids;
- Tomatoes;
- Bell Peppers;
- Roses;
- Air plants;
- Ferns;
- Okra.
Banana Water for Plant Myths
As any other new trend, banana peel water already has some myths surrounding its efficiency. Here are the most common misconceptions and the truth behind them:
- Banana Water is a good source of potassium for plants
While banana peels do contain loads of potassium, they would only get to your green pets if you use bananas in traditional compost. The potassium extracted into the water won't transfer to plants. For green pets to utilize the potassium, it first has to get broken down either by fungi or soil microbes, and none of these are present when you soak banana peels in water.
- Using Banana Water can eliminate the need for store-bought fertilizer
Technically, you can get away with using just banana water to fertilize your plants with low-fertilizer needs. However, potassium is a vital nutrient for your plant's overall growth and function, and banana water doesn't provide enough. You will still need to use store-bought fertilizer occasionally. If you have plants with specific nutritional needs, like vegetables, fruits, or ornamental flowering plants, banana water also won't be enough to get them thriving as they should. It is a great way to supply some nutrients between other fertilizer doses.
- Banana water promotes a healthy bacterial population within the soil
Banana water can aid in establishing a bacterial population in your plant's soil, though it may not be the bacteria you want. Overwatering or not diluting the fertilizer enough can have the opposite effect. The sugar in the water can potentially attract pests to your plants, which can quickly become an issue for indoor green pets. We recommend first testing banana peel water on outdoor plants to check whether it will attract many insects.
FAQ
How do you make banana water for plants?
To make banana water for plants, chop the peels of 2–3 bananas, cover them with 1 quart of water, and soak for 2–3 days at room temperature. Strain the liquid and dilute 1 part banana water with 5 parts plain water before use.
What does banana water do for plants?
Banana water gives plants small amounts of potassium, magnesium, and calcium. It works as a mild supplement between feedings, but there’s no research showing banana water works as a fertilizer on its own.
What plants like banana water?
Plants that like banana water include tropical houseplants such as pothos, monstera, philodendron, and anthurium, plus ferns, roses, tomatoes, bell peppers, and okra. Leafy plants and heavy feeders benefit most from the small extra dose of minerals.
Is banana water good for all plants?
Banana water is not good for all plants. Succulents, cacti, and plants growing in low light don’t use the extra water and sugar well and are more likely to rot. Give these plants banana water rarely, if at all.
Is banana water good for orchids?
Banana water is safe for orchids only when well diluted and used once a month during active growth. Pour it through the bark mix and let it drain fully, because sugar left in the pot can cause mold.
How long should you soak banana peels in water?
Soak banana peels in water for 2–3 days at room temperature. Soaking longer can cause mold, a sour smell, and fruit flies. Store strained banana water in the fridge and throw it out if it smells bad.
How often should you use banana water on plants?
Use banana water on plants once every 1–2 weeks, in place of a regular watering. Using banana water more often adds sugars to the soil, which can attract gnats and cause mold, especially indoors.
Does banana water attract bugs?
Yes, banana water can attract fruit flies and fungus gnats, especially indoors and when fermented. Always dilute banana water, and let the topsoil dry between waterings to keep pests away.
Is banana water better than fertilizer?
Banana water is not better than fertilizer. It adds only small amounts of nutrients, so use it alongside a balanced fertilizer, not instead of one.
Can you put banana peels directly in soil?
Yes, you can put banana peels directly in garden soil. Chop them and bury them 2–4 inches deep, away from plant stems. In indoor pots, fresh peels can mold and attract gnats, so use composted peels instead.
