What homemade fertilizers work for container peppers?
Written by
Liu Xiaohui
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Homemade fertilizers provide organic options for chemical-free container peppers. I transitioned to homemade options after store-bought fertilizers burned my plants. Kitchen scraps are some amazing plant food. Using these methods saves money and allows for the development of healthy soil microorganisms.
Compost Tea
- Nutrient-rich liquid: Steep compost in water 3-5 days
- Dilute 1:10 before applying to soil
- Provides balanced NPK and beneficial microbes
- Apply every 2 weeks during growing season
Eggshell Calcium
- Prevents blossom end rot: Bake and crush shells
- Mix 1 tbsp per gallon of soil monthly
- Adds calcium without altering pH
- Works best when buried near roots
Banana Peel Potassium
- Boosts flowering: Dry and grind peels into powder
- Bury 2 tbsp per plant quarterly
- High potassium content improves fruit set
- Combine with coffee grounds for nitrogen
Applying fertilizer in tandem with your nutrient loading is just as important as the ingredients themselves. I like to mix my banana peel fertilizer into water and feed seedlings diluted fish emulsion. Then, during flowering, I will switch to banana peel fertilizer. My peppers doubled their number of fruits when I was able to match their nutrient needs with their growth stages. Avoid fertilizing when plants are experiencing overheating or underwatering stress.
Create balanced blends by combining ingredients. Mix eggshells and coffee grounds to create a calcium-nitrogen combination. Mix wood ash and compost tea to increase potassium levels in the soil. Steep mixtures for 2 weeks before use. These combinations surpass fertilizers with a single ingredient.
Look for signs of over-fertilization, such as leaf tip burn. If these symptoms occur, flush soil with plain water. I try homemade mixes on one plant at first. This keeps me from damaging a large number of plants. Natural choices may be gentler, but still require careful use.
Read the full article: Ultimate Guide to Growing Peppers in Pots
