Garden lovers enjoying their roses in full bloom may be surprised to learn that a simple trick using banana peels can make their flowers even more vibrant. Jocelyn, a gardening expert and founder of The Reading Residence, shared her go-to method for boosting rose growth using a common kitchen leftover.
“I discovered that feeding banana skins to my roses encourages bigger, better blooms,” she explained. “It might sound unusual, but placing banana peels into the soil during summer adds potassium, which helps the plant move water and nutrients. That leads to more flowers.”
Potassium is also known to improve a plant’s strength and ability to fight stress. This means roses are better prepared to resist common fungal diseases during the warmer months. In addition to potassium, bananas are rich in calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus—nutrients that support healthy root growth and more blossoms.
The process is simple. Start by collecting used banana peels and allow them to darken slightly. Then cut them into smaller pieces. To avoid attracting pests, bury the pieces in the soil close to the rose bushes. As the peels break down naturally, they release their nutrients over time, helping the roses grow stronger and produce more blooms.
Jocelyn described her method: “I kept the peels for a few days so they could start decomposing. Then I chopped them up, dug a little soil around each rose, placed a few bits of peel near the roots, and covered them back over. That’s it. It’s so easy!”
This natural, cost-free gardening hack is gaining popularity among rose enthusiasts—and with results like these, it’s easy to see why.
