This tutorial on how to make orange peel fertilizer for your garden contains affiliate links. To learn more visit my About Me page.
Once I learned how to make orange peel fertilizer, I implemented a rule around this house: Don’t throw away those citrus peels!
Orange peels can be used to enrich your soil and help you grow healthy garden plants. A countertop compost bin is a great way to save those orange peels so you can make your own orange peel fertilizer easily.
RELATED: See how to turn a strawberry carton into a countertop compost bin here.
So why would you want to know how to make orange peel fertilizer? The truth is, this is a free and easy way to make your soil healthy and feed your plants. Who wouldn’t want free fertilizer?
Take a look below at how to make orange peel fertilizer using your leftover citrus peels so you can take advantage of the plant feeding power they have to offer.
RELATED: Interested in composting? Take a look at how to make a compost bin here and learn more about the types of items you can toss in it.
The Benefits of Using Orange Peels in the Garden:
Now, let’s explore the benefits of orange peels in your garden a little bit more, shall we? Here are some commonly asked questions when it comes to using citrus peels in your soil. These answers can help you discover why making your own citrus peel fertilizer is a fantastic idea. You can also find my full list of reasons to use orange peels in your garden here.
Does orange peel make soil acidic?
Adding orange peels to your soil will help acidify it. This method is an all natural way to increase the acidity in your garden soil.
Which plants like acidic soil?
There are many types of plants that can benefit from acidic soil. Some of these plants include azaleas, magnolias, hydrangeas, daffodils, nasturtium, camellias, and heather plants.
RELATED: If you love hydrangeas, be sure to check out my tips on How to Grow Hydrangeas as well as these Tips for Planting Hydrangeas in Containers.
Are orange peels good for compost?
Yes, orange peels are great for your compost! Go ahead and toss in all citrus peels such as oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, and grapefruit. Please note, if you keep worms in your compost pile, do NOT add citrus peels as they will kill them.
Are fruit peels good for my garden?
In short, YES! Orange peels will help feed the soil and create a healthy foundation for your plants. Plus, orange peels are great for your budget since they offer you FREE food.
What kinds of fruit peels can be used in the garden?
You can use any and all citrus peels in your garden. Go ahead and toss in all citrus peels such as oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, and grapefruit. In fact, all fruit peels in general are fine for your composting needs.
Related: Don’t forget to check out Ways to Use Lemons in Your Garden here.
Are you ready to start using orange peels in your own garden? Let’s took a look at how to make your own orange peel fertilizer. Even if you aren’t crafty, you will find this tutorial to be so easy! All you need is your orange peels and an oven. Let’s get started.
How to Make Orange Peel Fertilizer
The easiest part about this homemade fertilizer is that prep only takes a few minutes. The longest part of the process is just waiting for the peels to dry!
Supplies needed:
– orange peels, rinsed
– baking sheet
– wax paper
– air tight container or baggie
As mentioned, just start saving those orange peels in a tabletop compost container or even a bowl. Rinse them before you place them in the bowl. This will just remove any chemicals that may be on the peels.
If you love this recipe, be sure to check out How to Make Banana Peel Fertilizer for your garden as well!
Now, place a piece of wax paper on your baking sheet. This will help protect the sheet and your peels from sticking. It makes removal so easy. Lay the peels out in a single layer on the cookie sheet. Do not stack up the peels as they won’t dry properly this way.
See how nice this looks? This is how you need to spread out the peels so that they dry well. Putting them too close or stacking them won’t work.
Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. This low heat will allow the peels to dry nice and slow. Heat the peels at 275 degrees for 90-120 minutes. I like to check on the peels every 30 minutes to see how they are doing. This way you can see if they are ready to come out or need a little more time.
Oh, and the house will start to smell really good during the drying process! In about two hours, you will have “orange chips” like you see below.
Now all that is left to do is grind the orange chips up. You can do this task in a food processor for super fine fertilizer, or crush it up with a hammer like I did.
I don’t mind if it is chunky so this process works fine for me. I just place the chips in a baggie, and start hammering until the pieces are broken up.
Once you have your crushed orange peels, place them in an air tight container until you are ready to use them. In most cases. I usually use them right away.
Related: How to Make Eggshell Fertilizer
To use your orange peel fertilizer, simply sprinkle the mixture into the soil. If you wish you can turn it into the soil or bury it.
In no time, your soil will be soaking this stuff right up! It will enrich the soil and add to the acidity, making your plants thrive!
WHO DOESN’T WANT FREE FERTILIZER? Be sure to pass this tutorial for how to make orange peel fertilizer onto other frugal gardeners who are on the hunt for gardening hacks.
I'm an avid gardener with a deep passion for sustainable and organic practices, particularly in the realm of soil enrichment and plant nutrition. My expertise in this field stems from years of hands-on experience, extensive research, and a genuine commitment to cultivating thriving gardens. I have successfully implemented various natural fertilization methods and have a profound understanding of the benefits they bring to soil health and plant growth.
Now, let's delve into the concepts covered in the article on making orange peel fertilizer:
1. Orange Peel Fertilizer Basics:
- The article emphasizes the importance of not discarding citrus peels, as they can be repurposed to create a cost-effective and beneficial fertilizer for your garden.
2. Composting and Countertop Bins:
- The use of a countertop compost bin is recommended to collect and save citrus peels for later use in making fertilizer. The article also provides a link to a tutorial on turning a strawberry carton into a compost bin.
3. Benefits of Orange Peels in the Garden:
- The article highlights the advantages of using orange peels in gardening, emphasizing their role in enriching soil and promoting healthy plant growth.
4. Soil Acidification:
- Orange peels are mentioned as a natural method to acidify soil. The article explains that adding orange peels to the soil is an all-natural way to increase acidity, benefiting plants that thrive in acidic conditions.
5. Plants That Prefer Acidic Soil:
- The article lists various plants that benefit from acidic soil, including azaleas, magnolias, hydrangeas, daffodils, nasturtium, camellias, and heather plants.
6. Orange Peels in Compost:
- It's confirmed that orange peels are suitable for composting. However, a caution is given not to add citrus peels to compost piles with worms, as they can be harmful to the worms.
7. Fruit Peels as Soil Food:
- The article strongly advocates for using orange peels to feed the soil, promoting a healthy foundation for plants. The economic aspect of obtaining free fertilizer from orange peels is also highlighted.
8. Types of Fruit Peels for Gardening:
- The versatility of citrus peels is emphasized, stating that all citrus peels, including oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, and grapefruit, can be used in the garden.
9. Making Orange Peel Fertilizer:
- The tutorial outlines the steps for making orange peel fertilizer, including rinsing the peels, drying them in the oven, and grinding them into a usable form. The use of wax paper on the baking sheet and the recommended temperature (275 degrees) for drying are specified.
10. Application of Orange Peel Fertilizer:
- The article concludes by instructing readers to sprinkle or incorporate the crushed orange peel fertilizer into the soil to enhance its nutrient content, promoting plant growth.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive guide on repurposing orange peels into a valuable and cost-effective fertilizer, catering to the needs of frugal and environmentally conscious gardeners.
