How to Make Eggshell Water For Houseplants
Did you know that you could make eggshell water for houseplants and have your own organic plant food? You only need 3 things, eggshells, water and a container. I’m certain you have all three of those items available right now.
1. Save your eggshells. I save mine in an empty egg container and keep them in the refrigerator until ready for use.
2. Carefully place the eggshells into your container. I use an empty milk jug. I don’t crush my eggshells first but you could pulverize them in a food chopper if you like.
3. Fill the container with water. Wait one day before using your eggshell water to feed your houseplants. Start with at least 3 to 6 eggs.
Need to know
- You can continue to add fresh eggshells to the same jug of water for several months.
- Refill water after each use.
- Unfortunately, repurposed milk jugs do not hold up like they used to. Over time, the milk jug will spring a leak. I found that out the hard way in recent years.
- Replace the milk jug, if that is your container of choice, every few months and start over with all fresh eggs at that time.
- Calcium is the nutrient benefit to your plants from using eggshell water.
- Spoiler Alert!! It stinks but it sure is good for your plants!
We have a Pothos which is more than 10 years old located in our Den. I have cut and rooted and given away a lot of healthy Pothos which was fed eggshell water. Several months ago my husband and I realized there was an awful odor in the Den and thought some creature may have somehow gotten into the house and died. We were both searching the Den carefully when we realized the odor was coming from the Pothos. It was in that moment I realized I had watered the plant with fresh eggshell water right before he got home. Yes, it really does stink that bad. Don’t let that deter you from using it though, the odor does dissipate quickly.
I have always watered my Christmas Cactus with eggshell water. I started this plant from a couple of the leaves given me by a friend about 12 years ago. This photo is from 2013. You can see how beautiful it is now on my Instagram here. I know it is a Christmas cactus but it always blooms in November.
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Shirley Wood
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Hi Rose, I keep my Eggshell water under the kitchen sink.
quick question. how do you store the water? do you leave it out or do you refrigerate it.
I use egg shells in my soil so I will have to try this 🙂 Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday, I have pinned your post to the Pin Worthy Wednesday Pinterest Board
Amberjane recently posted…Small, Portable crochet projects for holiday time
No, please don’t. You will lose all the good stuff.
Is it okay to rinse the shells before putting them in the water?
Do a search, Christmas cactus/Thanksgiving cactus, there will be 4 or 5 and I think it is the top one. On that site.
Thanks for the info. Your plant is a Thanksgiving Cactus. A Christmas Cactus does not have the thorn looking things on the leaves, they are smooth edge leaves. Hope this helps to identify your plant . I thought mine was a Christmas Cactus too, but http://www.agardenforthehouse.com had an item on this around Christmas which shows the difference.
I have houseplants in most rooms where I can have them near windows for natural light. I like to always have house plants in the bedrooms also for the oxygen they do add to the air.
It really only smells when you add fresh eggs. I keep adding water to the eggs for several months. The smell does dissipate quickly when you are watering the plants. It doesn’t stink up the whole house at all.
I have never seen this! I was wondering about the smell but open the windows and feed your little green friends. Thanks for the organic gardening tip!
Krayl @ An Appealing Plan recently posted…How Does Violette De Ayala #CelebrateEveryday
This is great to know. I’ve been meaning to get a houseplant for years because I’ve heard that they help to purify toxins from the air inside your house. Whenever, I finally get some houseplants I will use your tip to keep them healthy.
Sonya recently posted…Easy Homemade Garlic Powder
Always. I don’t ever use any other water for my house plants. I keep it made.
Oh wow. No I totally did not know. But thank you for sharing this. How often during the month/year do you do this personally though?
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The plant is beautiful. I have never heard of using eggshell water. I have a few plants that could use a good drink of it.
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If I ever get anymore house plants I will use this trick! Thanks for Sharing on the Home Matters Linky Party this week!
Alyssa recently posted…30 Days of Prayer Journaling Prompts: Day 21
Wow I love this idea and have never heard of it but I vaguely remember my Nanna adding crushed eggshells to her plants in the shadehouse. Thank you so much for sharing on #wednesdayswisdom, have a good weekend.
Jennifeer Abel recently posted…Wednesday’s Wisdom Link up #2
Great Idea! I grow tomatoes every year outside and add eggshells to the dirt but this sounds like a great idea. I will definitely keep it somewhere not in the kitchen though!
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LoL, Alli you are so funny! My baby girl hates the smell of eggs too so I understand. They sure are good for the plants though. You can crush them in the food processor and spread them on top of the dirt of your house plants, no strong odor involved.
Shirley Wood recently posted…How to Make Eggshell Water For Houseplants
As I was reading this I was thinking what a great idea this was while wondering if the smell was horrible. Glad to know that it dissipates quickly because I hate the way eggs smell. I won’t place anything in my dishwasher that had eggs on it because (to me) it stinks up every dish in the dishwasher. My family thinks I’m crazy. 🙂
This is a great way to reuse those shells. Your Christmas cactus is gorgeous!!
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