What to Know About Banana Water for Plants

Making banana water for plants is an intriguing idea since bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the United States. However, there is no supportive science and research to document the benefits of using banana water as a plant fertilizer. In addition, banana water may harm your plants. 

Here's what we've learned about banana water with some tips about composting banana peels.

How Banana Water Is Made

Banana water is similar to compost tea but it comes only from one source, cut-up banana peels. Here is the most common way to make banana water:

1. Cut up banana peels into 1 or 2-inch pieces.
2. Immerse the peels in water.
3. Steep the peels for two to three days.
4. After soaking, strain the liquid into a large container or jar.
5. Add the strained liquid to your plants, pouring it around the outer base of the plant to reach the roots.

Making Banana Powder

Another less common and more labor-intensive way to add banana power to your plants is by making banana powder using peels. Here's how:

1. Cut up banana peels into pieces a couple of inches long.
2. Place them on a single layer, not touching, on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
3. Dehydrate the peels by baking them in an oven at 115 degrees Fahrenheit for up to eight hours or outdoors under direct sunlight. Dry until the peels are black and breakable. Let thoroughly cool.
4. Put dehydrated, dried peels into a blender or food processor and grind until they become powdered.
5. Water one plant with 2 tablespoons of the powder blended in 2 cups water.
6. Store the dry banana peel powder in an airtight jar and place it in the freezer.
   

Is Banana Water Good for Plants?

Bananas are rich in potassium but not as much as other fruits and vegetables, such as kiwis, acorn squash, and avocados. Potassium (K) is one of the nutrients that ensures plant quality, growth, and reproduction. Potassium in plants also improves resistance to drought or excess water, extreme temperature fluctuations, pests, diseases, and nematodes.

The main problem with banana water is that soaking the peels does not extract potassium to make it available to the plants. Plants can only absorb nutrients that microbes and fungi have broken down. Like most raw materials, banana peels should be composted because decomposition is necessary to release beneficial nutrients. Water, by itself, is insufficient for releasing the potassium.

How Banana Water Can Harm Plants 

Adding banana water to your plants may backfire. 

Most plants need a balanced fertilizer that supplies the macronutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. If you fertilize your plants with just banana water, they might get a tiny amount of potassium at best, but none of the other nutrients. 

Also, note that conventional banana farming is pesticide-intensive. One of the insecticides widely used in production is the neurotoxicant chlorpyrifos. The fruit is not listed as a pesticide-contaminated food by consumer watch groups because the peel prevents the chemical from entering the edible part of the banana. Using banana water means you might introduce contaminants into your plants, causing an undesirable result, especially when used with edible plants and herbs.

Alternative Fertilizer Choices

Instead of taking your chances with banana water, use a commercial organic fertilizer that lists the nutrients you will add to your plants. Organic fertilizers are marked with a label from the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), which makes them easy to identify.

Safely Composting Banana Peels

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.

Banana peels should be placed into a compost pile separate from your planting area. However, composting banana peels can take up to a year to break down into usable compost. Most pesticides licensed for use in the United States will also break down and be rendered harmless through composting. However, most commercially grown bananas are not grown in the U.S. so composting organically grown peels is the safest bet.