Many of us throw away things we don’t realize can be gold for our garden. Every time fruits go bad or peels are left behind, we think they are useless. But what if I told you that those same leftovers can be turned into powerful plant food?
You don’t need to spend money on fancy store-bought fertilizers when nature gives you everything for free. In this article, you’ll learn a simple way to make a natural liquid fertilizer at home using spoiled fruits, fruit peels, compost, and a little bit of time.
This homemade liquid will help your plants grow faster, give more flowers and fruits, and stay green and healthy. Let’s get started step-by-step and learn how to turn simple waste into garden gold.
Collect and Prepare the Ingredients
To begin, you will need around one and a half kilograms of spoiled fruits and peels. These are things you were going to throw away anyway. Now take a big bucket that can hold at least 15 liters. First, put all the spoiled fruits and peels in the bucket.
Then add some good compost—this can be compost you’ve made at home or store-bought compost. Compost helps to start the breakdown process and adds good bacteria and nutrients to the mix. Mix the compost with the peels properly using a stick or even your hand (wear gloves if you like). The better you mix it, the faster the breakdown will happen.
Add Water and Begin Fermentation
Next, you need to add about 10 liters of rainwater or any water that does not have chlorine in it. If you’re using regular tap water, fill it in a bucket and keep it open for one full day. This helps remove the chlorine, which can kill the good bacteria we need. Once the water is ready, pour it into the bucket with the fruit and compost mixture. Now give it a good stir so everything gets mixed well.
Cover the bucket with a cloth or a loose lid. Make sure air can go in, but insects and flies cannot. This is important for the fermentation process. Now keep the bucket in a shaded place for about two weeks. During these two weeks, open the lid every two to three days and stir the mixture with a stick.
This helps mix the top and bottom layers and allows air to reach the whole mixture. Slowly, you will notice the smell changing—it might become a little sour or fermented. This is normal. It shows the process is working and good bacteria are growing inside. The color may also change to brownish or dark as it breaks down.
Prepare Onion Peel Water Separately
While the main mixture is fermenting, you can start preparing another powerful natural booster—onion peel water. About one week before your fruit fertilizer is ready, collect onion peels and soak them in warm water. You don’t need to boil the water—just warm is enough.
Fill a container with the peels and warm water, and let it sit for about 5 to 7 days. Over time, the water will turn reddish or brownish and become rich in potassium and sulfur. Onion peel water helps plants grow stronger roots and improves flowering and fruiting.
Mix Onion Peel Water into the Main Liquid
After two weeks, your main fruit and compost mixture is ready. Now it’s time to add the onion peel water to this mix. Open the bucket, pour the onion peel water into it, and stir everything well. Now your homemade fertilizer is complete. This is a strong concentrate and should not be used directly on plants, as it can burn them. The final step is to dilute it.
Dilute Before Using on Plants
To safely use this liquid fertilizer, always mix one part of the fertilizer with ten parts of clean water. For example, if you take one glass of the fertilizer, mix it with ten glasses of water. This keeps the nutrients at the right level for plants to absorb safely.
Use this diluted mixture on the base of the plants, not on the leaves. Pour it near the roots, so the plants can drink it slowly. The best time to give fertilizer is in the early morning or late evening. Avoid using it in the afternoon when the sun is strong.
Why This Fertilizer Works So Well
This homemade liquid fertilizer works like magic because it brings together everything a plant needs in the most natural way. First, the spoiled fruits and peels are full of potassium, phosphorus, and some nitrogen, which are the main nutrients plants need to grow. Second, the compost brings in good bacteria and microorganisms that help improve the soil.
When soil is full of life, plants grow faster and stronger. Third, the onion peel water adds sulfur and potassium that support flower and fruit development. When all these things mix together, they create a powerful liquid that not only feeds your plants but also protects them from diseases and pests.
Visible Benefits in Your Garden
After using this fertilizer just once or twice, you’ll start to see changes. Leaves will become greener, plants will look fresh, and new shoots will start to grow. Flowering plants will show more buds, and vegetable plants will give better yields.
Because this fertilizer improves the soil as well, you will see long-term benefits. Over time, your soil becomes softer, richer, and better at holding moisture. It’s especially good for container gardening where the soil quality is not always the best.
Which Plants Can Use This Fertilizer
You can use this fertilizer on all types of plants—vegetables, fruits, flowers, even indoor plants. It is gentle but strong, so you can apply it every 10 to 15 days. Just remember to always dilute it before use. You can store the concentrate in a closed container for a few weeks, but it’s best to use it fresh. If it smells too strong or has white mold, don’t worry—that means the fermentation is working well. Just stir and dilute before using.
Save Money, Save Plants, and Save the Earth
By making this fertilizer at home, you’re not just saving money—you’re saving the environment. You are turning things you would throw away into something very useful. You are reducing waste and giving your garden the gift of natural food. Plus, it’s safe for pets, children, and bees. No chemicals, no damage—just clean, rich nutrition for your plants.