Eggshells as fertilizer for the garden: how and for which plants to use. Eggshells as a fertilizer for plants: benefits and uses Beneficial properties of eggshells in the garden

Gardeners and gardeners have long used improvised materials and even waste to increase productivity. There are many reasons for this: accessibility, environmental safety, high efficiency, the ability to do without chemical additives. An example of such a natural remedy for improving soil fertility is egg shells. We will discuss in the article how to use eggshells in the fall (spring) in the garden as top dressing, and how to apply them to the soil.

Composition and beneficial properties

Included eggshells There are about 30 macro- and microelements, the main of which is calcium. Moreover, this element is present in easily accessible form for absorption by the root system of plants, since in the bird’s body it has already passed the stage of synthesis. Largest specific gravity in the total mass of the egg shell are:

ALL useful elements eggshells (click to expand)

calcium carbonate, or calcium carbonate – 93%;
phosphorus – 0.12%;
magnesium – 0.55%;
potassium – 0.08%.

Along with the main components, the egg shell contains silicon, copper, sulfur, selenium, iron, zinc, manganese, fluorine, molybdenum and other rare earth elements, which are indispensable when growing garden and vegetable crops. The protein film lining the walls of the shells from the inside consists of organic compounds including mucin and keratin, which are also necessary for the full development of plants.

Application in crop production

There are many different ways to use egg shells:

Application area	Target	Method of application	Application form
Fertilizer	Increased yield	Foliar and root feeding	Water extract, fine powder
Liming see →	Reducing soil acidity		Powder
Structuring heavy soil	Loosening the soil, increasing the saturation of the earth with oxygen	During the main processing (ploughing, digging) of the soil	small crumbs
Drainage	Prevention of putrefactive processes in the soil	Place in the bottom of the seedling cups	In a squashed form
Mulching see →	Improving soil structure, retaining moisture	Sprinkle between rows	Small and medium crumbs
Disease Control Agent	Prevention of bacterial diseases (end rot, blackleg, etc.)	Place at the bottom of the planting hole, sprinkle on the surface of the soil, spray on the affected plants	Fine powder
Pest protection	Repelling harmful insects	Spread over the soil surface	Large and small crumbs

Paste made from ground eggshells soaked in vegetable oil - effective remedy against the mole cricket. When planting seedlings of cabbage, cucumbers, and tomatoes, pour 1 teaspoon of the resulting preparation into the planting holes. Having tasted such bait, the insect dies.

Media consultant, agronomist Z. S. Kulikova

Drainage made from crushed eggshells prevents moisture stagnation and the development of putrefactive processes in containers for growing seedlings.

Fertilizer from shells

The shell decomposes extremely slowly in the soil, so using it as a fertilizer in its entirety is irrational. Before use, it is advisable to grind the collected raw materials to a powder state. The finer the resulting substance, the easier all the beneficial substances will pass into the soil and be absorbed by the root system of plants.

The greatest effect is achieved when feeding plants with shell fertilizer in the form of a water extract. Procedure:

Wash the collected shells.
Finely grind in a mortar or grind in a coffee grinder.
Pour boiling water (do not boil!) at the rate of: 10 egg shells per 1 liter of water.
Keep covered for 1-2 weeks (until it becomes cloudy and the characteristic smell of hydrogen sulfide is released), stirring daily.
Dilute the resulting infusion with water in a ratio of 1:3.
Water the plants 1-2 times a week.

The procedure can be simplified by throwing the shells collected over the winter into a watering container. The contents of it are constantly used and replenished with fresh water, so it does not have time to go rotten and form a specific odor.

Important! Only the shells of raw eggs are used for fertilizer. It is better to leave the heat-treated shells for mulching between rows and structuring the soil.

Tip #1: The effectiveness of shell feeding will increase significantly if you add other natural ingredients, for example, ash, nettle, onion skins (see →), drunken tea, peels of oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits.

Application rates

When using eggshells on personal plot it is important to comply with application rates. An overdose will not give the desired effect, but on the contrary, will have a detrimental effect on the development of plants.

Target	Application form	Consumption rate per 1 m²
Fertilizing the land	Fine powder	1-2 glasses
Root feeding	Infusion or extract	3 l
Loosening the soil	small crumbs	1.5-2 cups
Drainage of planting holes when planting seedlings	small crumbs	30-50 g
Neutralization of acidity	Powder	0.5 kg

For calculation: average weight one shell is 10 g, so to collect 100 g you will need the shells of 10 eggs, and for 1 kg, accordingly, you need 100 pieces. Over the course of a year, a family of 3-4 people can stock up on 10 kg of raw materials to prepare environmentally friendly fertilizer.

Suitability for use on different types of soil

Before using eggshells like any other natural material, as a fertilizer, the chemical composition and structure of the soil should be analyzed.

Agronomists note the greatest effect from the use of eggshell-based fertilizers on acidic soils middle zone Russia. It is recommended to apply the prepared powder together with mineral fertilizers, most of which acidify the soil. In this case, a double effect is achieved: the acid will accelerate the transition of microelements from the shell to the soil, and the shell, in turn, neutralizes the acidification process.

In the southern regions, on the contrary, the use of eggshells can do more harm than good. In the south of Russia, carbonate soils with a high content of calcium salts predominate. Adding egg shells to such soil can lead to leaching.

You should use shell feeding with caution if you use hard water to water your garden. Perhaps the pH reaction is already neutral or alkaline, so adding shells will only make the situation worse.

In addition, excess calcium affects plants much more detrimentally than its deficiency, since in this case the availability of iron, potassium and magnesium for plants deteriorates. An excess of calcium in the soil can cause plant chlorosis, which manifests itself in the form of pale necrotic spots on the leaves. Some plants experience increased growth of shoots that eventually die.

Methods for preparing and storing eggshells

As practice shows, to ensure that plants need basic nutrients, it is necessary to add at least 30 eggshells per 1 m² of garden area. Therefore, it is advisable to start collecting and preparing raw materials in advance. By the way, the egg shell white, as a rule, are thinner than brown ones, so you will need a little more of them.

Eggshells from raw and boiled eggs It is recommended to collect separately and then use it for its intended purpose: the first as fertilizer, and the second for structuring or mulching the soil. It is advisable to wash the shells immediately running water to clean the inner surface of protein, no matter raw or cooked. If this is not done, organic residues will begin to decompose, emitting a specific odor.

Before bookmarking long-term storage The shell should be thoroughly dried in a warm place on outdoors, for example, near a heating device or in a slightly open oven on minimum heat setting.

How to understand that the shell is ready for storage and packaging (click to expand)

The shell is ready for storage only after it has become completely dry and brittle, after which it can be crushed and packaged. Egg shells should not be stored in plastic or plastic bags and other containers that promote the formation of condensation. For these purposes, it is better to use paper bags, cardboard boxes, and shingle baskets. Raw materials prepared in this way are stored without loss useful qualities for a year or more.

Preparing the shell for application

For subsequent use, the shells are crushed in any available way:

roll out with a rolling pin;
knead with a potato masher or pestle in a mortar;
passed through a meat grinder or blender;
grind in a coffee grinder.

The latter method is preferable to the others, since it produces the finest grind with minimal physical effort.

Answers to pressing questions

Question No. 1. For which crops is fertilizing with eggshells suitable, and for which plants should it not be used?

Garden and vegetable crops that prefer an alkaline or slightly acidic soil reaction respond well to eggshell fertilizer:

nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants);
all types of cabbage, including cauliflower and broccoli;
bell peppers;
melons (zucchini, squash, pumpkin, melon)
beet;
green crops (onions, spinach, lettuce);
berries (currants, gooseberries, raspberries);
fruit trees (pears, apples, plums);
potato.

This type of feeding is not effective for legumes(peas, beans). Violets don't like shells. In addition, this type of fertilizer is only suitable for mature plants. Watering with shell infusion can ruin seedlings of tomatoes, peppers and other young plants, inhibiting their growth and development.

Question No. 2. How to properly fertilize an apple tree with eggshells? (click to expand)

For fruit trees, fertilizing from the shell is applied in the form crushed into flour. The powder is poured into a groove along the perimeter of the crown. It is at this distance from the trunk that the suction roots are located. Then lightly dig in with earth to prevent erosion by precipitation and blowing away by the wind. To fully fertilize one mature tree, up to 100 shells may be required.

Common Mistakes

Using untreated shells as mulch for vegetables and berry crops(strawberries, wild strawberries). The surface of raw eggs can be contaminated with pathogenic microbes, in particular salmonella. Direct contact with vegetables and berries of such a substrate creates a risk of developing intestinal diseases. Before use, the shell should be treated appropriately: rinsed, calcined.
Mixing eggshells with manure is not only ineffective, but even dangerous due to the risk of salmonellosis. As a rule, the causative agent of this disease dies within a couple of days outside the host’s body. However, in the moist, warm environment of compost, Salmonella remains viable for several months. Find out →.

Egg shells are an excellent natural mineral fertilizer. Rich in calcium, it improves the composition and structure of the soil, strengthens plants and helps them protect themselves from certain diseases and pests. It is worth remembering that not all plants respond equally favorably to the addition of eggshells, and its excess in the soil can negatively affect the growth and development of flowers and vegetables.

Eggshells as calcium fertilizer

Eggshells are 90-95% calcium carbonate, the remaining 5-10% are various microelements: iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum, silicon, sulfur, phosphorus, etc. In total, eggshells contain up to 27 different microelements.

Calcium is one of the most important microelements for plant growth and nutrition.

The role of calcium in plant life:

ensures the proper functioning of plant cells, protein and carbohydrate metabolism;
promotes the entry of boron, manganese, and molybdenum into plants;
retains potassium in plant roots;
paired with magnesium and potassium, calcium reduces the intake of radioactive elements (strontium, cesium) into plants;
stimulates the growth of the root system and is especially important at the very beginning of development;
participates in the processes of absorption of other important microelements, therefore its excess or deficiency negatively affects the absorption of other nutrients and contributes to the occurrence of mineral starvation;
protects plants from the absorption of ammonia nitrogen and certain diseases;
ensures the growth and development of seedlings and young plants after planting in the ground.

Most garden crops calcium is required in certain quantities throughout the entire life period: at the end and at the beginning of the growing season, during fruit set and active fruiting.

How to determine calcium deficiency in plants

The lack of calcium in plant nutrition can be determined by external signs. The lack of microelements primarily affects the development of the root system.

Negative symptoms appear to a greater extent on young parts of the plant. Brown spots, curvature, and curling appear. If the calcium deficiency is not replenished, the newly emerging shoots will begin to die in the future.

At the same time, a lack of calcium leads to impaired absorption of other minerals, so along with calcium, you can notice signs of potassium, nitrogen, and magnesium starvation.

Signs of calcium deficiency in plants:

twisting and dark color leaves, their bluish tint
damage and death of apical buds and roots (the tips of the shoots curl and dry out)
formation of rosettes of small leaves
strong branching of roots
chloroticity (stunted growth and gradual change in color of the entire plant),
the appearance of white stripes along the edges of the leaves (especially on turnips, rutabaga, cabbage), chlorotic spots and stripes
slowing down the growth of the root system and, as a result, rotting of the roots
thickening and shortening of roots

With severe deficiency, hairs form on the roots and the absorption of nutrients stops.

Which eggshells to use for fertilizer?

It is believed that raw materials from raw eggs are more suitable for preparing fertilizer, because when cooking most useful substances is destroyed.

Typically, shells from raw eggs are washed from the inside (to prevent rotting), dried or calcined in the oven and placed in a fabric bag, paper bag, cardboard box or glass jar.
There is no need to close the biomaterial tightly.
It is also better not to use plastic bags to store shells.
Spoiled (rotten) eggshells cannot be used as fertilizer. Otherwise instead healthy nutrition, the shell will become a source of harmful bacteria.

How to use fresh shells

If it is possible to immediately prepare the fertilizer, then film with inner surface There is no need to wash off the shells - this is an excellent organic fertilizer. To do this, place 5-10 shells in 1 liter of water and leave for 10-15 days. When the water begins to become cloudy and a specific smell of hydrogen sulfide appears, the infusion is ready and can be used for irrigation. The concentrated infusion is diluted to a working solution 7-10 times.

In order to preserve the useful organic matter on the inside of the shell for a long time and you don’t want to wash off the film, but you need to store the shell for a long time, you can dry it in the oven. As eggshells accumulate, they are laid out on a baking sheet and calcined until the film is completely dry. This way, useful organic substances will be preserved, and the shell will become more fragile for preparing the powder.

Eggshells for pests

Eggshells can be used as part of a complex of preventive and protective measures in the fight against pests such as mole crickets, slugs, snails, moles, and shrews.

To protect against slugs and snails, eggshells are crushed into powder and scattered in places where pests appear.
Large pieces of shells will help against shrews and moles - the sharp edges of hard shells will prevent the spread of unwanted guests.
Eggshell powder is scattered over the surface of the beds to protect against cruciferous flea beetles, clutches of cabbage butterflies.

Eggshells as a container for seedlings

Egg shells are convenient to use as an environmentally friendly container for seedlings. To do this, you need to try to keep the raw materials as intact as possible and make drainage holes in the lower part. Then, like a regular container, the shell is filled with seedling soil and the seed is planted.

When the time comes to move the seedlings to permanent place into the ground, the seedlings are planted directly along with the shell. It will be enough to slightly crush it when planting, and in this form it will already serve as a valuable nutritious fertilizer.

And no waste or polluting plastic!

Egg shell infusion

An infusion of eggshells is convenient to use for watering indoor flowers, seedlings, and young plants after planting in the ground.

How to make an infusion from eggshells

We found several recipes for preparing eggshell infusion. The degree of concentration of the solution and the convenience of its preparation will depend on the preparation options. In general, they come down to one thing: eggshells are filled with warm water and infused for 5 to 14 days.

The readiness of the infusion is determined by the degree of cloudiness and the appearance of a specific smell of hydrogen sulfide. This way a concentrated infusion is obtained. To obtain a working solution, it must be diluted several times with water. Proportions are taken by eye.

Remember that it is always better to underfeed than to overfeed your plants. Therefore, depending on the concentration of the initial infusion (the degree of its turbidity and the strength of the odor), the solution can be diluted 3-5 and even 10 times.

To prepare the infusion, you can use eggshells in any form: almost whole shells, crushed or powdered.
It is believed that the infusion is best prepared from unwashed eggshells with a film on it. inside- this way you will get both mineral and organic fertilizer in one.
If you have to store the biomaterial for a long time, it is better to wash the shells, dry them and grind them into powder.

How to use eggshell infusion:

for watering seedlings and indoor plants once every 10-14 days

Egg shell decoction

Many summer residents also use a decoction of eggshells to feed indoor flowers and seedlings. To do this, the water remaining from boiling the eggs is not poured out, but is cooled and used for irrigation.
____________________________________________________________________

Eggshell powder

Egg shell powder is convenient to use for adding to the soil, sprinkling beds against pests and as mulch. It is advisable to grind the eggshells as finely as possible, literally to a powdery state. In this form, it will be better and faster absorbed by the soil and roots. It is convenient to scatter the powder over the surface. You can make a simple device - do it in plastic bottle holes - and use it as a “seeder”.

How to make eggshell powder

There are no rules for preparing shell powder, you just need to choose the most suitable and convenient method for yourself:

Pass through a meat grinder
Run through a coffee grinder
Crush with a masher
Wrap in a cloth bag or towel and crush with a hammer or roll out with a rolling pin
Grind in a blender
Crush in a mortar

How to use eggshell powder

Add to holes when planting onions, potatoes, carrots
As a drainage and soil amendment for indoor plants (1/3 tsp per pot)

Which plants are useful to fertilize with eggshells?

Apple and pear tree
Raspberries, currants and gooseberries
Citrus and coniferous ornamental and houseplants

These plants include indoor flowers that prefer acidic soils:

Gloxinia,
Violets,
Azaleas,
Hydrangeas,
Gardenias,
camellias,
Pelargoniums

You should not add eggshells to the holes and beds of such garden crops as:

cucumbers,
Zucchini,
Strawberries,
Cabbage,
Beans,
Spinach.

What do you think people most often eat for breakfast? Exactly scrambled eggs. Imagine how many shells would be collected in a year. So: the mass of an average shell is 10 grams. Now multiply the number of eggs you eat by 10. Thus, a huge amount of organic fertilizer ends up in the trash. But eggshells are very useful. Eggshells are a storehouse of useful substances that have been used for many years. Instead of throwing this resource away, use it to improve the soil in your garden, as eggshells are a good source of calcium for your plants, and can help make excellent fertilizer. You can easily add minerals and nutrients to your soil using crushed eggshells. They say that if there is not enough calcium in the body, you need to eat eggshells. So why not use it as a fertilizer in the garden, because when growing various crops in the garden, the soil is depleted over time. Its use is so widespread that eggshells began to be used as fertilizer for plants. And this is not surprising, because such fertilizer is environmentally friendly. Today we will talk about the use of eggshells as a fertilizer for the garden, as well as what plants it is suitable for.

Composition and beneficial properties of eggshells

First of all, the shell can boast a high content of calcium carbonate - about 90%. In addition, when added to the soil, the shell deoxidizes it well and enriches it with minerals, and also makes it looser. In addition, the shell can be used against pests as a repellent. In addition, the shell contains all the microelements necessary for the body. Such as: copper, fluorine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, zinc and more - only 27 elements!

How to properly collect and store eggshells

So that when collecting and storing shells you do not have any problems, because, as you know, the shell begins to emit after a while bad smell, this must be done using one of the following methods:

with washing under running water in order to get rid of organic particles and the films themselves;
bake the shell in the oven.

When you dry the shells well, you protect yourself from the unpleasant odor that egg shells can emit. Of course, by washing the shell, you lose its beneficial substances.

For which plants is eggshell fertilizer used?

Egg shells are used as fertilizer for the following plants:

Vegetables - peppers, tomatoes, beet;
Fruits - cherries, cherries, plums, pears, peaches;
Berries - currants, raspberries, gooseberries;
Indoor and garden flowers.

For which plants should you not use eggshell fertilizer?

You won’t like this addition to the soil when planting beans, peas, kale, cucumbers, spinach, zucchini, and strawberries.

Ways to use eggshells in the garden

The crushed shells are used as fertilizer when growing seedlings. It is placed in a thin layer on the bottom of the container in which the seeds will be placed. By constantly adding eggshells to your garden, you increase its fertility as the acidity of the soil decreases.

During the research, scientists found that in order to neutralize the increased acidity of the soil per 1 m2, you need from 0.5 to 1 kg of calcium carbonate, depending on its acidity. The weight of the shell of one egg is approximately 10 g. Knowing this, you can use simple calculations to find out how much it will be needed to fertilize your plot. Egg shell powder will provide significant benefits when added to compost.

Since eggshells contain calcium carbonate, they are used to improve the germination of seeds of various crops. Thanks to it, the process of consuming the proteins contained in the seeds is activated, so the sprouts appear much faster and the sprouts are stronger. We can safely say that such seedlings differ from usual cultivation in their strength, and this is not unimportant when planting seedlings in open ground.

How to make fertilizer from shells

In order to make feeding from eggshells you need:

The next step is grinding. You can grind it in a coffee grinder, meat grinder or mortar. If the pieces are larger, then the beneficial properties for the soil from the eggshell will not be immediately available, since such shells will decompose for a long time.
Storing eggshells. It is better to store this powder in a glass jar.

How to make liquid fertilizer from eggshells

You can use eggshells in addition to powder and as an infusion. To do this you need:

Wash the shell and dry well. You can lay it out on paper or dry it in the oven.
Then, as in dry form, first grind it. You can grind it in a coffee grinder, meat grinder or mortar.
Next, the crushed shells are poured into a glass jar and filled with water. Cover the jar with a lid and leave for a couple of weeks. dark place. When you apply this fertilizer in the garden, dilute this solution with plain water in a ratio of 1 to 3.

This fertilizer is often used when growing cabbage and onions; you can water seedlings of peppers, eggplants, asters, beets, roses, and indoor flowers.

Pest Control with Eggshells

A good way to use egg shells is as pest control. To do this, it is not necessary to grind the shells very finely; you can simply crush them and add ash. This method is suitable for fighting slugs in the garden. If you chop finer, add vegetable oil and the drug Regent, then we can save the seedlings, or rather their roots, from the mole cricket.

Forcing plants in eggshells

When you don’t have plastic cups or other containers for growing seedlings at hand, don’t worry. You can drive out seedlings in eggshells; it will serve you not only as a container, but also useful fertilizer, the seedlings will immediately receive the calcium they need. You can immediately plant egg cups in the garden. Most often, this method is used when growing cabbage, peppers, tomatoes and melons. This method is also suitable for forcing greenery, for example for Easter.

Using eggshells as fertilizer for trees

Upon landing fruit trees you can also use shells, it will serve as a soil deoxidizer, can serve as drainage, and will also replenish the soil where trees are planted with useful substances.

Using egg shells as food for indoor and garden plants You can save a lot, because when buying fertilizers in a specialized store, you cannot always get a high-quality product. Such fertilizer as shells will give good result in any form. The main thing is to know moderation in everything.

Eggs are one of the must-have products on our table. What do you do with eggshells that accumulate a lot? You probably throw it out with the trash. This is not the most The best decision. It turns out that eggshells can be used as fertilizer for your garden.

How are eggshells useful for plants?

Egg shells consist of 93% calcium carbonate, which is easily digestible for plants due to its synthesis in the body of the bird. The fats, organic substances, magnesium carbonate, proteins and carbohydrates included in the shell are an excellent nutrition and source of nutrients.

The crystalline structure of the shell also has a beneficial effect on digestibility. In this sense, the shell is much more convenient than lime or chalk, which are traditionally used to deoxidize the soil. As is known, increased acidity soil negatively affects plant fertility. Finely crushed eggshells mixed with mineral fertilizers help to cope with this deficiency.

Eggshells are a source of nutrients for soil and plants

Table: useful substances contained in raw materials

It is recommended to use eggshells from poultry as fertilizer for the garden. The elements included in its composition are of natural origin, since the diet of poultry includes natural products. Store-bought eggs are also suitable for use, but the feeding from them is much weaker, although the calcium content in the composition is higher.

Video about the benefits of eggshells

Features of collecting raw materials

Start collecting material in winter. At that time Domestic bird begins to rush after a short break. Do not forget that the shell must be clean: protein residues will rot over time and begin to emit an unpleasant odor. Rinse the collected shells thoroughly and dry them afterwards.

Start collecting shells at least from the beginning of winter

Studies have shown that the brown shell is somewhat thicker and denser than the white one. This means that its mass is higher, and therefore the content of nutrients in it is higher.

The larger the area you need to fertilize, the more eggshells you will need. Collecting the required amount is not difficult if you have a lot of laying hens at your disposal or if you have neighbors who collect shells only for discarding and can easily give them to you. Otherwise, collection will take a lot of time. You can calculate the total weight of shells collected during the year using the formula: 10 g * N * 12 months - 10%, where:

10 grams - the average weight of the shell of 1 egg;
N is the number of eggs your family eats during the month;
12 months - 12 months;
10% - unusable shells that will have to be thrown away

Rules for grinding shells for fertilizer

To use the material, it must be crushed. The degree of grinding may vary depending on the application. You can process clean, dried shells in a coffee grinder, mortar, or meat grinder. Another way: place the shell on a hard surface, such as a table, in a thin layer, cover it with newspaper or cloth and tap it thoroughly with a hammer, then use a rolling pin as if you were rolling out dough. This way you will achieve a fairly fine grind.

To use the shell as fertilizer, it needs to be crushed

Use in the garden

To get good seedlings and a bountiful harvest, add crushed material to the soil at the rate of 2 cups per 1 square meter area. When digging up the soil before winter, the shells can be added to the soil in small pieces.

The crushed shells are added to the soil when digging

You can also make an infusion from the shells, crushed into powder, to use as a liquid fertilizer. You will need 5-6 shells per 1 liter of water. Calculate how many shells you need, chop them and pour boiling water over them. Leave for 5 days, stirring regularly. This infusion is very good for watering young shoots of any vegetable crops, especially potatoes. It is also great for feeding eggplant and cauliflower seedlings, which are often deficient in microelements. Just remember that during the period of plant germination, the amount of such fertilizer should be moderate. But for adult plants - vegetables, any garden flowers - this feeding will be ideal.

Video about using eggshells in the garden

Benefits for seedlings

You can grow seedlings directly in eggshells

Eggshells have long been known as aid when growing seedlings. It has a very beneficial effect on tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, flower crops at the seedling stage. Gardeners have been using shells since before special containers and peat tablets were available.

It was done like this: the top of a whole egg was removed, the contents were poured out ( a raw egg can be drunk or used to make scrambled eggs, omelettes, baked goods). Drainage holes were made with a gypsy needle, awl or thin nail. This creates a container in which you can place 1–3 vegetable or flower seeds. The soil will be supplied with nutrients, and when it is time to plant the seedlings, it is enough to slightly squeeze the shell so that it cracks. Be careful not to injure the roots of tender seedlings.

If you sow seeds for seedlings in plastic cups, you can add a small amount of shells ground into flour (3-5 grams for each cup) to the substrate used.

Small pieces of eggshells will serve as excellent drainage in seedling containers. Simply spread the shells in a 1 cm layer along the bottom of the pot or container in which you plan to sow.

How to use the product for indoor plants?

The flowers that you grow in pots at home need mineral fertilizers. As you know, they oxidize the soil, which has already given almost all the useful elements to the plant in the pot. Therefore, it is advisable to use ground shells together with mineral fertilizers. Add it at the rate of 1/3 teaspoon per pot.

When replanting indoor plants, place crushed and calcined shells on the bottom of pots and containers in a layer of 2–3 cm. This will ensure good drainage and saturation of the substrate with useful substances.

Prepare liquid fertilizer from eggshells for your indoor flowers. Take a jar of any container, fill it to the top with shells and pour boiling water over it. Leave for a week, covered. A sign of readiness will be cloudiness of the liquid and its unpleasant odor. Before using the infusion to fertilize indoor flowers, dilute it with water in a ratio of 1:3.

If the unpleasant smell bothers you, prepare this tincture in a slightly different way. Grind the shells into powder, pour 0.5 kg of the resulting substance into a jar and fill with 3 liters of warm water. Leave for a day, then use without diluting. The powder can be added with water again to prepare the infusion again.

Use eggshells as pots for indoor flowers

After all, you can use eggshells as decorative element. Plant small plants in the shell, for example, succulents or violets; they will look very original in such improvised “pots”.