Do Spider Plants Like Eggshells?

Do you want to add eggshells to your Spider Plant?

But does your plant even like them?

Many gardening experts believe that eggshells can prove to be effective in growing indoor as well as outdoor plants.

However, it doesn't mean you should add them to each and every plant in your garden.

So, how should you go about it?

In this guide, I have shared some useful insights on this topic, which should help in using eggshells for your Spider Plants.

Do Spider Plants Like Eggshells?

Yes, Spider Plants do like eggshells, and you can surely add them to the pot periodically.

You can either use them in crushed form or powdered form.

The crushed eggshells take a long time to break down in the soil.

It might take a year or more for the decomposition process.

So, if you are expecting quick results after using crushed eggshells in your plant, you might get disappointed.

This is why you should use them in powdered form.

Although it will also take time to break down in the soil, the overall time will be much shorter than the crushed eggshells.

However, you should never use them in large quantities.

Since the eggshells only help provide calcium to the plant, you won't see much of a difference in the plant's growth solely because of this natural fertilizer.

You will also need to provide some compost or other commercial fertilizers to the plant.

But what should be the ideal quantity for using eggshells in your Spider Plant?

Well, it really depends on the container size.

If you have a small plant, you can use a couple of tablespoons of eggshell powder.

For a relatively bigger pot, you may increase the quantity accordingly.

Now, let's take a look at the things that you need to remember while using eggshells in this type of plant.

Tips To Use Eggshells In Your Spider Plant

Here's the list of tips for you -

1. Clean The Eggshells With Dishwash Soap

Yes, you need to clean the shells before using them as fertilizer in your Spider Plant's pot.

The cleaning process is quite important here because it helps remove any residual egg white and yolk from the shells. 

If you don't clean the shells, they will rot in a couple of days, and the odor will be unbearable.

More importantly, it will also attract bugs to your plants, as they like to feed on such organic waste matter.

For cleaning, you can use any dishwashing soap or insecticidal soap available to you.

Gently clean the inner side of shells and make sure there is no residue left on the surface.

2. Let The Eggshells Dry Out Entirely

Again, this is an important step, and you shouldn't ignore it at all.

When you rinse the eggshells, you need to allow them to dry out completely.

Otherwise, the shells will remain wet and might invite fungal activity once you put them in the pot.

Also, if you want to use them in powdered form, you will find it difficult to grind them.

Since there might be some moisture content in them, you will probably end up getting a paste instead of powder.

For the drying process, you can keep them in the sun for at least 2-3 days.

You should put them in direct sun, though.

This should help them attain a solid crisp texture.

Now, if you want to expedite this process, you can also oven-dry them for 15 minutes or so.

This is a much faster process and will save a lot of time.

3. Crush Or Grind Them Before Adding To The Soil

As I mentioned earlier, the eggshells should be crushed into pieces or powder before using them.

It greatly helps in the decomposition process.

In case you have a snail issue in your garden, you should crush them into tiny pieces.

This should deter these garden pests.

If you don't have any such issues, you will only need to use eggshell powder in the pot.

Note: You can also use eggshell tea as a fertilizer for your Spider Plant.

4. Add Soil On Top Of The Eggshells Powder

Now, this is very important!

Even though you clean the eggshells, there might always be some residue that will remain on their surface.

And as you know, it can attract unwanted pests in your Spider Plant pot.

To avoid such issues, you can simply put the soil on top of the crushed or powdered eggshells.

Make sure to keep them covered properly, as it should help avoid any foul smell from the shells.

Apart from that, the bacteria present in the soil will decompose the eggshells pretty quickly with this method.

So, that's an added benefit of covering them with some soil mixture.

5. Water The Plant

Once you have added eggshells to the plant, you can water the plant.

Here, the watering stage is quite important because it helps settle the powder in the soil.

If you have already watered the plant, you can use a garden spray to achieve the same outcome.

You don't really want to have an overwatering situation in the pot.

So, it is always a good idea to spray the soil.

Now, let's look at the FAQs section, where I've tried to answer some frequently asked questions about this topic.

FAQs

Over To You

Eggshells have always been considered one of the best sources of nutrients for plants.

And you can use them without any hesitation at all.

Of course, there are a few things you need to consider while using them in the pot, and I've shared those details in this guide.

Meanwhile, if you have any questions, do let me know in the comments below.

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