Correct Use of Eggshells for Flower Cultivation
The editor introduces the correct use of eggshells for flower cultivation. Let's take a look together!
Correct Use of Eggshells for Flower Cultivation
Crush the eggshells, and if you prefer a powdered form, you can also grind them in a grinder. You can soak the eggshells in water, fill a container for fermentation, usually for about 3 months. When the water doesn't smell too bad, it means the fermentation is sufficient. Dilute the water and use it to water the flowers. Fresh eggshells are not recommended for direct use as they contain albumen and bacteria, which can easily attract pests to the pot.
Can Eggshells Be Used for Flower Cultivation?
Just like plants, the growth of flowers and green plants also depends on nutrition. There are many types of fertilizers commonly used for flowers, including granular, powdered, and water-soluble forms; some are fast-acting, while others are slow-release. Besides chemical fertilizers, there are also organic fertilizers.
No matter which type, the ultimate goal is to grow plants well and provide them with essential nutrients for growth.
In fact, we have natural organic fertilizers in our daily life, which is the eggshell laid by hens. I include it in organic fertilizers because it is very useful.
We often eat eggs, but the eggshells are usually thrown away as garbage, and some people use them for composting. However, if used improperly, these eggshells can become a bane for flower cultivation.
I've noticed that some friends directly throw the whole eggshells into the soil or bury them in the soil as compost, but this can easily breed germs and pests. Untreated eggshells can retain albumen, easily become smelly, breed pests, and cause fungi.
Multiple Uses of Eggshells for Flower Cultivation
1. Neutralize soil acidity
In the southern regions, if the soil is too acidic, it is certainly not good for planting plants. At this time, many people will use quicklime, which is commonly used in flower cultivation, vegetable gardening, or crop cultivation.
Its main component is calcium oxide. Eggshells can replace quicklime very well and can reduce soil acidity.
Eggshells are now listed as organic fertilizers with a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio of 1.2:0.4:0.1. Although the content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium provided by eggshells is very low, they are a major source of calcium, which can provide nutrients for plants and neutralize acidic soil.
2. Eggshells as Soil Conditioner
How can we determine that eggshells can increase calcium? This requires us to regularly test the soil to check the calcium content.
If the soil is slightly acidic, to ensure better plant growth, we can add some calcium elements to the soil regularly. People usually use bone meal, but eggshells can also be used as a substitute.
Of course, some plants prefer slightly acidic soil, and in this case, we should avoid adding eggshells, including common flowers like Chinese roses, gardenias, jasmine, camellias, azaleas, blueberries, and other aster plants. Do not add alkaline substances, including eggshells, when growing these flowers.
If you have tomatoes, eggplants, or other solanaceous plants at home, a lack of calcium during the flowering period can easily lead to flower or fruit rot.
If you add some eggshells to the soil in advance, you can avoid this situation. Eggshells are one of the best natural sources of calcium.
This means that eggshells can become an excellent soil conditioner, increasing the calcium content in the soil and preventing flower rot during the flowering period.
Of course, you must ensure the correct usage method, which is to scald the eggshells with boiling water, then dry them in the sun and crush them into powder.
It's best to crush the eggshells into fine powder smaller than sand. After grinding them into powder, the effect is even better than quicklime, providing excellent calcium for the plants.
In summary, if the eggshells are not cleaned, dried, or ground into powder, their decomposition rate is extremely slow and cannot be used as a soil conditioner. Only when crushed into powder and mixed with the soil can they increase the calcium content in the soil, thereby playing a fertilizing role.
Adding calcium to the soil can prevent root rot and plant lodging and can also prevent fungal infections, such as preventing plants from getting leaf spot disease.
3. Eggshell Composting
Eggshells are very suitable for composting. In the common view, composting can produce an unpleasant smell and can make people feel disgusted. Some friends do not do a good job of sealing during composting and easily get pests.
If there are pests in the compost, it means the sealing is not done well, and there are flies or other insects laying eggs in it.
When composting, it's best to prepare a compost bin, which should have a drainage hole at the bottom. The position of the drainage hole should be blocked with gauze to prevent pests from entering while allowing water to drain out. The top must be covered with a sealed lid.
During composting, it should be opened regularly and stirred evenly, and the compost should be kept moderately moist and well-oxygenated, without standing water. This is to ensure a higher temperature in the compost and regular stirring to ensure oxygen, which can accelerate the decomposition and fermentation of the compost.
Before mixing eggshells into the compost, they can be cleaned, dried, and crushed into small pieces or powder, then mixed into the compost to increase the calcium content in the soil.
Here, be careful not to put the whole eggshells into the compost or put eggshells with albumen into it, otherwise, it will produce a disgusting smell and easily attract various pests, even rats.
Precautions for Using Eggshells in Flower Cultivation
① Fresh eggshells are not recommended for direct use as they contain albumen and bacteria, which can easily attract pests and germs to the pot.
I recommend keeping the eggshells left over from hard-boiled eggs, which have been sterilized at high temperatures and can be used directly.
If you really need fresh eggshells, clean and dry them, preferably removing the white film to prevent bacteria growth. Or boil them in water.
② Crushed eggshells can also be ground into powder using a grinder if you prefer a powdered form.
I personally prefer using these fragments as they can better adjust the soil pH, are more breathable, and can especially improve the compaction of garden soil. Flower lovers can try this.
③ Pay attention to the correct usage method
1) Compost
You can put the eggshells in water and ferment them in a container, usually for about 3 months. When the water doesn't smell too bad, it means the fermentation is sufficient.
Dilute the water and use it to water the flowers. This method is more troublesome, and I can't stand the smell, so for picky and lazy people like me, it's not recommended...
2) Bury directly in the potting soil
preferably a little distance from the roots to avoid root damage during fermentation. I don't recommend spreading it on top of the potting soil as it not only has poor efficacy but can also attract pests. It's better to bury it in the soil. Do not expose the eggshells and mix the soil a bit.
The above is a method introduction about the correct use of eggshells for flower cultivation, for your reference.