Peace lilies , known for their captivating beauty, are surprisingly tough houseplants that can thrive in a range of lighting conditions, even semi-darkness. They're resilient enough to withstand some neglect, making them perfect for those who might not have the greenest of thumbs. For those looking to maximise their peace lily’s potential, occasional fertilisation is key.
Gail Nacoste, a member of the Creative Gardening group on Facebook, swears by banana peels for her peace lily’s impressive flowers . She shared a snap of her flourishing plant, captioning it: “I have been watering my peace lily with banana peel water. It has been flowering like crazy with big flowers and growing faster.
I have also been watering my other plants with banana water. All are going great.” Bananas are packed with potassium, an essential element of fertiliser , alongside nitrogen and phosphorus.
Potassium is crucial for helping plants transport nutrients and water within their cells and is particularly beneficial for flowering species such as peace lilies. They also boast traces of manganese, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur, which are all beneficial to plant health. Gail detailed her method for creating this nutrient-rich banana peel water, saying: “You put the banana peel in a jar of water with the lid on top and leave it in the water overnight or a couple of days.
"The water will look cloudy then I put the liquid in a jug to use later. Make sure you cover the peel completely with water. “I use quart mason jars with a lid to soak my peels.
When I use the banana water I do add some more water to it about three parts banana water to one part plain water. “I also save the water in a jug. We both eat a banana a day so I have a lot of water to save.
I water once a week or more often if needed.” Fellow group members were amazed by this tip, with many having either tried it out or planning to. Beverly McGovern exclaimed: “Wow.
I've never heard of that. I have one. Now I'm going to try that.
” Sandra Copson noted: “I just started using banana water too! So glad to see you used it in your peace lily. I'm going do that too.” Christine Holden responded: “My husband made what he calls banana soup we had the best show of blooms on ours this year.
It's brilliant and practically free.” Kathy Davis remarked: “It works. My mother-in-law, who lived to 100 and had never used Google, swore by placing banana peel at the base of the plant to enhance growth and flowering.
It's the potassium.” However, it could be argued that banana peel isn't a complete substitute for fertiliser as it lacks nitrogen. While peace lilies do benefit from fertiliser, it's crucial not to overdo it as this can lead to brown spots appearing on the leaves.
If the blooms are more green than their usual creamy white, it's likely a sign of too much fertiliser..
