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Eggshells are very beneficial for plants when used as a fertilizer in the soil. They provide a variety of important nutrients to the plants that help them stay healthy and grow faster.
Many bonsai plant owners ask us a common question that, are eggshells safe for bonsai? Should you add eggshells to the soil of your bonsai plant? What are the benefits that you can get? How can you give eggshells to your bonsai plant?
This article is a complete guide where you will find answers to everything about eggshells and bonsai plants.
Are you excited? Let’s go!
What are the ingredients present inside eggshells
The thumb rule is very simple.
When you want to know if a particular thing like eggshells is safe for bonsai or not, you will simply check the ingredients. It will easily help you find out whether if it’s beneficial for bonsai or not.
What are the ingredients present inside eggshells?
The whole eggshell is made from crystals of calcium carbonate (CaCo3).
The majority of the eggshell consists of calcium carbonate and the other ingredients include calcium, protein, and some minerals, etc.
Are eggshells good for bonsai or not
Bonsai plants do not have any native soil and they are inert. It means that sometimes they cannot get enough of tracer elements like calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and nickel, etc.
On the other hand, eggshells contain calcium carbonate. It means that adding eggshells to the soil of bonsai plants can fulfill their need for calcium.
However, what you need to keep in mind is that you have to add an extremely small amount.
The reason is that bonsai plants need calcium in a very small amount. If you will add too many eggshells to the soil then the calcium carbonate (lime) will accumulate in the soil of your plant. This will affect the pH level of the soil and make it alkaline whereas bonsai plants prefer slightly acidic soil.
It can also cause lime-induced chlorosis and make the plant yellow and unhealthy.
Do adding eggshells affect the soil of bonsai plants
Eggshells can affect the soil of bonsai plants if the soil is acidic.
Wondering how?
Bonsai plants contain calcium carbonate. It is also called lime and is alkaline. When we will add eggshells into the soil of bonsai plants, the calcium carbonate present inside it will breakdown into calcium and carbonate.
The carbonate then reacts with the acidic part of the soil and neutralizes it. This way the pH of the soil increases.
Are too many eggshells dangerous for the bonsai plants
Yes, too many eggshells can also harm the bonsai plants.
The reason is that eggshells contain a high percentage of calcium carbonate (lime).
When you will add too many eggshells to the soil then it will increase the concentration of lime in the soil. The lime will accumulate in the soil and cause health problems for the soil such as lime-induced chlorosis.
The excess presence of lime in the soil can be more dangerous for your bonsai plant as compared to the shortage of calcium in the plant.
Therefore, you need to be very careful with the number ad frequency of eggshells you give to your bonsai plant.
Are eggshells good for the extremely acidic soil of bonsai plants
Yes, if you have extremely acidic soil and your tap water is also somewhat acidic then adding eggshells to the soil can be a great solution.
The reason is that eggshells contain calcium carbonate which is alkaline and has the potential to neutralize acidic soil.
When the eggshells are added into the soil then the calcium carbonate present inside will breakdown into calcium and carbonate.
The carbonate reacts with the acidic part of the soil and neutralizes it.
Therefore, eggshells can be helpful with the neutralization of acidic soil and making it neutral.
How to fertilize bonsai plants with eggshells
Do you want to add eggshells to your bonsai plants but do not know how to start? Well, don’t worry because we will teach you all the ways for doing so.
Total Time: 35 minutes
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Start saving eggshells
You probably eat a lot of eggs at home and use them in different foods as well, right?
After using the eggs, please do not throw away their shells. Instead, start saving them.
Take the eggshells and properly wash them with clean water. Let them dry for a while and then preserve them somewhere.
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Crush the eggshells into a fine powder
Once you have saved enough eggshells then it’s time to crush them into a fine powder.
There are multiple ways of doing so.
You can either crush them by hand. You can put use mortar and pestle or you can use a thick wood or brick to crush them into powder.
You can also use an eggshell as a whole but it will take longer to decompose.
Therefore, powdering the eggshells is better as they decompose faster and show quick results.
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Add the powdered eggshells into the soil of the bonsai plant
Once you have the powdered eggshells ready, then it’s time to add them to the soil.
Add a few teaspoons of powdered eggshells into the soil of your bonsai plant.
It will take some time to decompose and then leach all the nutrients including calcium into the soil. Then the plant will eventually consume it through the roots. -
Mix the powdered eggshells into the soil
Take anything in your hand thoroughly mix the powdered eggshells into the soil of your bonsai plant.
Doing this will ensure the proper mixing of the nutrients in the soil.
How many eggshells you should add to the soil of your bonsai plant
Here you might be wondering that what is the right quantity of eggshells that you should give to your bonsai plant?
Well, it should be 2-3 or 4-5 per plant.
Nothing more than that.
Final Thoughts
We can conclude our whole discussion in a simple line that, eggshells can be good for bonsai plants but in an extremely small amount.
Curious to know are coffee grounds good for bonsai trees too?
