Keeping plants alive can be difficult, and never more so than in the winter months. As the days get shorter, our plants get less light and temperatures plummet, and we have to adjust our routines to make sure they’re not under or over-watered.
But one kitchen ingredient can be turned into a powerful homemade liquid fertiliser, delivering many of the nutrients your plants need straight to the soil they live in. What’s more, this item is usually thrown away while we’re cooking, so using this trick can reduce your food waste, too.
Potato peels pack a real nutritional punch. They are rich in vitamins such as phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, the latter of which is particularly important for plant health.
If you have outdoor space, you may choose to throw your potato peels into your compost bin along with other waste products from your kitchen. However, this isn’t practical for everyone, and there are ways of reaping the benefits of potato peels without taking up nearly as much space.
Taking to TikTok, user @theearthycook revealed how they turned their leftover potato skins into a potent liquid fertiliser. “You will never throw away your potato peels again once you discover what you can actually do with them,” they said.
“Find an empty jar, clean it of course, fill it with water and potato peels, close it, put it away in the sunlight for about a day or two.” Other green-thumbed internet users recommend leaving the potato water for longer – three to five days – for maximum benefits.
The user warned that when opened again, the concoction would have a “strong stench” as the potato peels will have begun to ferment, releasing the nutrients your plants need. They then recommended diluting the potato water for use both on potted plants and in the garden. “It’s great to help [them] grow so well,” she concluded.
The video, which has been viewed more than 502k times and garndered thousands of likes, prompted plenty of thankful responses. One person wrote: “wow thank you,” while another added: “excellent…thnx for sharing.”
Meanwhile a third suggested an alternative, writing: “I use banana peels.”
Banana peels similarly contain plenty of nutrients which can help plants to grow, including potassium, magnesium and phosphorous. Like potato peels, they can be added to your compost bin if you have one and added directly to your soil.
Some internet users have suggested combining potato peels with banana skins in water to reap the benefits of both plants at once.
