Roses blossoming is what every owner wants but there’s a nifty trick to encourage an even more impressive bloom.
Jocelyn, a gardening enthusiast and the mind behind The Reading Residence, was thrilled to discover that her roses could benefit from a surprising household waste item to use as fertiliser – banana peels.
Used-up banana skins can give roses a hefty growth boost, ensuring stronger development.
Delighted by the find, Jocelyn exclaimed: “I discovered that if I feed them with banana skins it encourages bigger, better blooms.”
She also learnt: “Apparently, the potassium in the soil is really good for them, so I thought I’d best get on it, especially given the amount of bananas the kids consume I’m never short of banana skins here!”
While it might sound odd at first, tossing banana peels into the soil around your rose bushes during summer can release essential potassium.
This key nutrient plays a pivotal role in how water and other vital supplies move around within the plant, leading to more bountiful blossoms.
Potassium is not just about flower power, but it strengthens the rose’s capability to cope with stress and boosts its natural defences. A strong immune system is crucial for fending off common fungal afflictions keeping your rose bush healthy and vibrant.
But the goodness doesn’t stop at potassium as banana skins are full of nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous, all well known for promoting robust root systems and enhanced flowering which can mean more blooms for you to enjoy.
The method couldn’t be simpler. Start by collecting your banana peels in a container until they start turning brown, cut them up into smaller pieces, and bury them in the ground close to your roses, making sure you avoid drawing in unwanted critters.
The peels will decompose naturally, gradually enriching the earth with nourishing goodness over time, providing a welcome boost to help your flowers flourish.
Jocelyn shared: “I kept hold of them for a few days so that they’d started to decompose, then chopped them up a little so I could spread them out among all of my roses.
“I then dug a little dirt out by each of my roses roots, scattered a few peelings, and covered them back over. Simple!”
Roses thrive when fed banana peels every two weeks, ensuring you water them well afterwards.
Gardening enthusiasts flooded Jocelyn’s comment section with praise for her brilliant rose care secret, vowing to try it themselves. A user exclaimed: “How easy is that? We eat at least 12 bananas a week here and usually just chuck them in the compost. I will now begin adding them to our roses!”
Another follower expressed their excitement, commenting: “What a great tip! I never knew that, I am hoping to get some roses this year (I am a very novice gardener) so I will be trying this!”
A third added: “Wow I love tips like this! Thank you, Jocelyn. I’ve only got a few roses, but it will be bananas for pudding tonight, and rose feeding tomorrow morning!”
