8 Benefits of EggShells for Plants, Here's the List

When processing eggs into food, many of us may immediately throw away the shells because they are considered no longer useful. In fact, egg shells have a myriad of benefits, especially for plants. Well, instead of just throwing it away and becoming garbage, it's a good idea to use eggshells on plants in your home.

Egg shells have many benefits for plants, such as being able to make plants fertile, free from pests, and even being a place where they grow! If you still don't believe it, just take a look at the various benefits of egg shells for plants below!

In this article, we will explain further the benefits of eggshells and how to make fertilizer from eggshells, let's look at the following explanation!

Benefits of Egg Shells for Plants 

Eggshell is one of the household waste that is easy to find every day. It is even known that the production of chicken egg shells per year reaches 150,000 tons. Come on, see more about the benefits of eggshells for plants!

1. Very good for plant compost

Egg shells are excellent for composting. Apart from being easy to break, egg shells can also add a good dose of calcium for plants. However, make sure that the egg shells are dry before putting them in the compost, ladies. The goal is not to attract pests or other unwanted creatures. Also, if you have worm compost, you can add egg shells to the compost to maintain the pH level.

2. As a container for seedlings

Egg shells that have been removed can be used as a medium for seedlings. The eggshell allows it to provide the nutrients needed for the germination process and also for the plant growth process. In addition, using egg shells, also makes it easier to transfer to the land. We can move plants that are sown on eggshells by slightly crushing the eggshell and then inserting it into the planting hole.

3. As a substitute for dolomite lime

The function of giving dolomite lime is to increase the acidity of the soil to a neutral pH. Soil with an acidic pH can affect the availability of nutrients in the soil and also interfere with the activity of microorganisms in the soil.

Acidic soil can bind nutrients such as phosphorus (P) which is strongly bound by aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) so that it cannot be absorbed by plants. The addition of dolomite lime can increase soil pH because dolomite lime contains calcium (Ca) elements so a chemical reaction occurs which is an exchange of ions in the soil colloid and is able to increase soil pH.

4. Pest and Disease Control

Who would have thought that we could use eggshells to control plant pests? Egg shells that we throw away and are garbage can be used as vegetable pesticides. The content of egg shells that are rich in calcium can control plant pests such as snails, white pests, fleas, and beetles.

Pests that are exposed to eggshell powder will squirm, turn around, and then die. The application is very easy. We simply turn the egg shells into powder form and then sprinkle them directly on the target pests. We can also sprinkle it on plant parts that have been damaged and also on planting media to prevent these pests from damaging plants.

5. Prevents plant decay

Egg shells can be used to prevent the rotting of the flower tips of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. This rotting of the flower tips is usually caused by a lack of calcium. Well, egg shells have calcium that can be absorbed by plants.

If you want to use eggshells a prevention this decay, you can sprinkle the crushed eggshells into the ground hole before you plant the plants.

6. Dolomite Lime Substitute

Dolomite lime is given to plants to increase the acidity of the soil so that the pH in it becomes neutral. This is because soil with a pH that is too acidic can affect the availability of nutrients in the soil and interfere with the activity of microorganisms. Egg shells contain about 90% calcium. Therefore, it can be used as a substitute for dolomite lime.

7. Prevents animals from roaming around the plants

There are some animals that usually damage crops; such as chickens, stray cats, and others. Some of these animals, usually like to defecate around the plant and interfere with its growth. To prevent damage to plants, try sprinkling eggshell chips in areas where animals frequent. A rough egg shell will make the animal move away from the plant and find another place that is considered more comfortable.

8. Supplements for Roots

The benefit of eggshells for other plants is that they can flow nutrients to plants to the maximum. The trick, water the plants with liquid fertilizer with egg shells that have been crushed. The trick, take five egg shells and crush them until the texture becomes powder. Then, pour the boiling water mixture and cover then store in a dark place for 1-2 weeks. During the storage process, be sure to stir the mixture every day.