Banana water for houseplants: a simple spring refresh

Many houseplants look tired after winter: their leaves lack vigour, fresh shoots are scarce and flowers are slow to appear. For years, a plant enthusiast from England has relied on an exceptionally simple two-ingredient homemade solution to revive her indoor jungle every spring – and the same approach can easily be used in UK living rooms.

Spring refresh for tired houseplants

After the darker months, many potted plants are under real strain. They receive less light, central heating dries out the air, and watering may be either too frequent or insufficient. As a result, growth stalls, leaves become limp and the whole plant appears weak.

March, when daylight starts to increase again, is an especially good time for a fresh start. Rather than reaching straight for a strong liquid feed from the garden centre, the journalist mentioned above uses a gentle homemade nutrient solution from the kitchen: water infused with banana skins, often called “banana water”.

The principle is that every watering provides the roots with a small, gentle dose of nutrients, suited to the slow beginning of spring.

She says the effect is particularly noticeable in familiar houseplants such as orchids, spider plants, peace lilies and snake plants. They all receive the same mixture; only how often it is applied changes according to the plant and the season.

Why banana water benefits houseplants

Banana skins have long been a familiar tip among amateur gardeners. They contain chiefly potassium, as well as smaller quantities of magnesium and other trace elements. When the skin is soaked in water for several days, some of these minerals dissolve into it.

Nutrients in banana water

Potassium helps support, among other things:

• sturdy, strong shoots