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How to Use Leftover Egg Shells for Your Plants

Why egg shells are good for plants is very simple. Plants take calcium from the soil to grow healthy and strong. And egg shells contain more than 90 percent calcium carbonate, along with other nutrients that your plant needs.

Eggshells can provide a slow-release source of calcium to your plants, preventing calcium deficiency-related issues, and deterring certain pests and fungal problems.

Give your plants an all-natural, eco-friendly nutrient boost while reducing waste in your kitchen!

Empty egg shells used as small plant pots for succulents and pilea plant. Text on image: 4 ways to use eggshells to grow healthy plants.

How to Use Eggshells for your Plants

When eggshells decompose in the soil the plant can take in all the nutrients. Give your plants an egg shell calcium boost, in four clever ways:

  1. Crushed eggshell power as an all-natural fertilizer.
  2. Water your plants with homemade organic eggshell water.
  3. Place broken eggshells on the bottom of the plant’s pot as a drainage hole cover.
  4. Use the eggshells as no-waste seed starters or propagation pots.

How to Prepare the Egg Shells

Before you crush and throw bits of egg shell in with your plant, make sure to thoroughly clean the shells.

First, rinse the egg shells with hot water. Then lay them out on a paper towel and leave them to dry for one or two days.

Don’t want to wait? You can instead boil or oven-dry the shells. Sanitize the shelves by boiling them, or by placing them in a 200°F oven for about 20 minutes.

Store leftover crushed egg shells or egg shell powder in a closed container in a dry location.

Bunch of broken brown egg shells.

Word of caution: It takes several months for egg shells to break down in the soil, and to be fully absorbed by a plant’s roots. So don’t overdo it. Adding egg shells about once or twice per year is plenty.

Crushed egg shells being poured onto the soil of a potted plant.
Crushed egg shells in or on the soil as a natural fertilizer.

Egg Shell Powder as All-Natural Plant Fertilizer

You don’t have to use commercial fertilizer on your plants. You can simply add crushed eggshells in or on the soil as a natural way of providing your indoor plants with extra calcium.

Another advantage is that the eggshells will also help to aerate the soil. Airy soil makes it easier for your plant’s roots to grow.

To make your all-natural plant fertilizer, grind clean egg shells with a food processor, coffee grinder, or mortar and pestle to create a finely crushed powder.

Mix this powder with the soil when you repot your plant or spread it onto the soil around the base of the plant.

White morter and pestle crushing eggshells with a satin pothos plant trailing behind it. Text on picture: All natural DIY eggshell plant fertilizer.

Water your Plants with Eggshell Water

You can use eggshells to make organic calcium water, or eggshell tea, for your houseplants.

Eggs and broken eggshells on and next to a delicate vintage teacup with a cute bird and flowers on it. Behind is a Pilea peperomioides plant in a vintage pot. Text on pictue: Homemade organic eggshell tea for your indoor plants.

Crush the clean eggshells, and pour boiling water over them. Let this soak overnight, and strain the shells out the next day. Pour the eggshell water right onto the soil.

Your homemade all-natural plant fertilizer does not need to be kept in the refrigerator. Houseplants prefer room temperature over cold water.

Broken egg shell pieces and eggshells filled with soil for plants.

Place Crushed Eggshells in Plant Pots

Another way to provide your plants with calcium is to add a layer of (larger) crushed shells at the bottom of a plant pot.

Break the egg shells into pieces large enough to cover the drainage holes. Loosely cover the holes so that the shells will prevent soil from spilling out from the bottom.

Tall image with two photos of succulent cuttings planted in soil filled eggshells. Text on picture: How to turn eggshells into succulent planters.

Egg Shell Propagation or Seed Starters

Because they are biodegradable, eggshells make perfect zero-waste seed starters or succulent propagation containers.

Take a needle or awl and pierce a few holes in the bottom of the egg. These will act as drainage holes when you water your little plants.

When the seeds sprout or plants grow, plant them, shell and all, into the soil of a bigger pot. 

Small succulent potted in an empty egg shell. Text on image: Egg shell succulent planter. Mod and mint dot com.

Inspired? Get a set of succulent cuttings from Etsy or Amazon.

Ukeme

Sunday 15th of October 2023

Thank keep the update

Tish

Saturday 31st of December 2022

Can the eggshells be used for outdoor plants? How about coffee grounds?

Yvette

Friday 16th of December 2022

How much eggshell powder do i use? And how often do i use the eggshell water?

Elaine

Thursday 17th of March 2022

I have never heard of planting in egg shells. I will try it.

Regina

Tuesday 14th of September 2021

My mom and aunts had green thumbs. They always took the eggshells and put them in a jug of water and use it to water their plants. Their plants were beautiful. I do the same thing and it seems to work.

Mod and Mint

Monday 1st of November 2021

Same here, my mom and aunts were great at taking care of their houseplants! Thanks for sharing! ๐Ÿ™‚