How to Make Calcium Rich Fertilizer Using Eggshells and Vinegar
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- Опубліковано 16 лют 2024
- January 2024
Turning eggshells into liquid fertilizer is a simple and environmentally friendly way to utilize kitchen waste and provide plants with calcium and other essential nutrients.
In this video, I experiment with what ratio of eggshell to vinegar produces the best calcium fertilizer based on pH. I also ran the experiment for different lengths of time, from 10 minutes to 24 hours to see if time made a difference. Here's a basic guide on how to create liquid fertilizer from eggshells:
Materials Needed:
1. Eggshells: Collect clean eggshells from your kitchen, in this experiment I used 10 eggshells. Rinse them thoroughly to remove any remaining egg residue, then bake in an oven (300 degF) until completely dry, but before they turn brown. After they cool, grind them into a find powder.
2. Container: Choose a container to store the liquid fertilizer. A glass jar or plastic bottle with a tight-fitting lid works well. Make sure the container is at least 3 times larger than the amount of vinegar you use as the mixture will foam up like a soda.
3. Vinegar: You'll need an acid to help extract the nutrients from the eggshells. I used 500mL of white vinegar, but you can use some kind of citrus juice (such as lemon or orange juice).
Steps to Make Eggshell Fertilizer:
1. Add your chosen acid and eggshells to the container: The acid helps dissolve the calcium and other minerals from the eggshells.
2. Let it Sit: Seal the container with the lid, leaving enough room for the container to breathe. During this time, the acid will break down the eggshells and extract the nutrients.
3. Strain the Solution: After the soaking period, strain the liquid to separate it from the solid eggshell pieces. You can use a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter to remove the solids.
4. Dilute if Necessary: Depending on the concentration of the solution and the sensitivity of your plants, you may want to dilute the liquid fertilizer with water before using it. A general guideline is to dilute it with water so that you get about 1 eggshell for each plant.
5. Apply to Plants: Use the liquid fertilizer to water your plants. Apply it to the soil around the base of the plants, taking care not to splash it on the foliage.
In summary, I found that 2 eggshells for every 100mL of vinegar to be the best ratio for making eggshell fertilizer.
Some Additional Tips:
- Storage: Store any leftover liquid fertilizer in a sealed container in a cool, dark place. It can be stored for several weeks to a few months, but it's best to use it as soon as possible for maximum freshness and efficacy.
- Application Frequency: You can use eggshell liquid fertilizer as part of your regular watering routine, applying it every few weeks during the growing season.
- Nutrient Boost: Eggshell fertilizer provides plants with calcium, as well as other minerals like magnesium and potassium. It can help improve soil structure and promote healthy plant growth.
By recycling eggshells into liquid fertilizer, you not only reduce waste but also provide your plants with a natural and nutrient-rich source of nourishment.
Hello from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Brilliant! Finally! Well done sir. Leaching calcium, with right proportion of vinegar to achieve optimum pH. Simple practical information from your grand-mother optimised with your education. Wherever she is, I am certain she is proud of you for helping others grow better food.
Thank you for showing us the Laboratory Techniques and Equipment! We have used this for the Colorado Science Fair State contest!
We're so glad it was helpful! -The Vegetable Doctor Team
Excellent video, from 1 to 10, I rate this a10 sir.
Thanks so much for the watch! Let us know if there are other topics you'd like to learn about. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
Very helpful! Thank you so much
🤩very helpfu! Thank you!
I just read the whole description thank you will do
If you grind them to powder and then let them sit in the vinegar until dissolved or mostly dissolved, then you will have an acetate solution that will also be good for making gelled alcohol like in sterno cans and other camp stoves.
Very informative video,much appreciated.
Just a suggestion,if you try to add 50%distilled water to it,i think the water will increase the ph a bit.
Mmmmm... i love me some balanced equations
Don't we all! 😄 - The Vegetable Doctor Team
Yes I grind them to a powder and feed them to my earthworm farms
Same, but I add the ground egg shell to the planting hole and in my inground compost buckets.. I read earthworms like the grit.
Sorry I don’t have all of this measuring equipment to make this fertilizer… I’ll purchase fertilizer
How often do you recommend to add it to a plants/trees on the ground and pots? BTW this was the best video for this topic i have found so far.
Fertilizing schedules are plant specific, for example a tomato needs more fertilizer than chives. This link organizes them by plant variety: aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/easy-gardening-series/
or you can message us back using the following format:
1. Plant/tree name or variety
2a. Where the plant is growing (ie container, lawn, raised bed, etc.)
2b. What zone you're in (Zone 4 or Zone 8, etc. planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/)
3. What stage of growth the plant/tree is in (sprout, seedling, growing, blooming, fruiting, etc.)
- The Vegetable Doctor Team
Should I filter the solution (maybe through a coffee filter) before adding the water? I’ve made several batches and filtered the solution. Seeing all the left over eggshell has me questioning if I shouldn’t just mix it all with water without filtering it.
If you're seeing leftover eggshells there may be more calcium (in your eggshells) than the amount of vinegar. Since this reaction is an acid-base reaction (also called Neutralization), and has a 1 : 2 ratio, you'll need twice as much acetic acid as calcium ions. Calcium amounts can change drastically depending on diet, environment, and rearing conditions.
As far as what you can do, you've got two options:
Option 1: Drain off the clear liquid and store it for use. Then take the excess eggshell mixture and grind it to break it down a bit more (you don't have to do this if the initial eggshells were finely ground). Slowly add more vinegar and stir, pausing every 1 tablespoon to look for bubbling or frothing. If you see bubbling or frothing, add enough vinegar to cover the eggshells and let sit. If there is no reaction, stop there. Adding more vinegar can make the solution too acidic for your plants. You can add this mixture to your compost or add it back to the original fertilizer solution (make sure to shake the container prior to applying to your plants).
Option 2: Dispose of the leftover eggshells as you see fit. The amount of vinegar used in this experiment is safe to pour down the drain or be spread on your compost.
You can add this fertilizer right to your aquaponics growbeds without harming the fish 🐟 etc ?
Pay attention to the pH and test your total calcium values. Too much calcium and it can build up in the pipes, pumps, and other areas causing a clog. If this does happen, you can always clean the parts by letting them sit in a vinegar solution. For plants, too much calcium can make it harder for them to absorb magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, iron, boron, and other nutrients. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
Hello,
Stir plate ?
You’re the only one to have that machine !
So…since I have to mix every 10 minutes b with a spoon, please tell us how much time approximately it will take to attain ~ that number of 6PH ?
Thank you very much !
You only need to stir for about 5 seconds after each eggshell powder addition. If you did not finely grind your eggshell, frequent stirring--every ten minutes for an hour, so 6 times in one hour--will help speed up the reaction because it breaks up the large eggshell pieces. The reaction speed depends on the exposed surface area of the reactants (and powder--with hundreds of small grains--has the most surface area). Let me know if you have more questions. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
would it be best to use a coffee filter as the lid during the first stage since the solution will bubble/foam?
Yes, a coffee filter would be the easiest to use (since the material is breathable), just make sure it won't fall off. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
I got one more question, once the chemical reactions between the eggshell and the vinegar is complete can i add a little bit of baking soda to try to make it less acidic? My soil is already around 5.5 and i am already working on make more alkaline for the plants that need it. Thanks!
As long as you measure the pH before and after each change, it should be fine. I'd recommend making small changes, ie for every 1 pint (473 mL) of fertilizer add 1 teaspoon (5 g) so that you don't overshoot the target pH. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
If you have a neutral or alkaline water and you dilute it with a gallon of water or something similar wouldn’t that also raise the ph of the solution?
Yes, it would; however, it will also dilute the amount of calcium in your fertilizer. For example, you start with 1 gallon of fertilizer and add another gallon of neutral or alkaline water, your fertilizer has half the original calcium concentration. This means you would need to put 14 ounces instead of 7 ounces to get the same amount of calcium per plant. This may work for a typical in ground garden, but I don't know how well it will work for potted plants. If you do decide to do this, let me know how well it works. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
Good stuff. Will a pH and calcium meter cost me an arm and a leg? Off to go see... =)
A so-so pH meter runs about $20 USD and I'd recommend something like the API Calcium Test Kit instead of a meter (kit is ~$15 USD and the meter more like $400 USD) since the cost is so high. Let me know if you need more help. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
@@VegetableDoctor Ooh, yeah, I did see the $420 price tag on the calcium meter after finishing the video. I'll look at the kit you suggest instead.
And for pH meters, those are more reasonable for something decent, yes? Figure more people measure pH than calcium, and so maybe more prolific? Any recommendations?
The one shown in my videos is made by Hanna Instruments, Combo pH, EC, and TDS meter. Take a look at their pH only meter, model HI98107, and see if that would work for you (it runs about ~$60 USD). Also, make sure to get calibration and storage liquid with any meter you purchase. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
@@VegetableDoctor Good stuff. Saw a few offerings for both what you use and the one you recommend. Perhaps the pH-only unit is...good enough for me. 😅 And thanks for mentioning the liquids.
Give the measurements in cups or spoons. I can’t measure out 10 eggs shell to be a certain weight for this
For this experiment, I used roughly:
- 4 & 1/2 teaspoons of fine ground eggshells
- 2 cups & 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
The smallest amount I used was roughly:
- 1 teaspoon finely ground eggshell
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
The smallest amount ratio will be safe for your plants since there will always be a bit more eggshell than vinegar. If you're feeling unsure about the mixture, you can always add an additional 1/4 teaspoon of eggshell and wait 30 minutes before applying it to the soil around your plants. Adding the 1/4 teaspoon will ensure that there is always an excess of calcium in the solution, which will lower the pH and prevent chemical burns on the plant. Let me know if you have any more questions. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
Agreed
What kind of vinegar are you using ?
We are using a simple white vinegar you would use for cooking. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
@@VegetableDoctorthere is a range of strengths of vinegars being sold
@@trisheverett6950Yes, there are. The cooking vinegar used in this video was 'Great Value Distilled White Vinegar' and has a 5% acidity. Apologies for the confusion. - The Vegetable Doctor Team
How often should we apply this solution?
In general, I recommend every few weeks after the plant has started growing, however I think you were wanting plant specific information, correct? If you were, head here aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/easy-gardening-series/ where you'll find fertilizing information for individual vegetables (fertilizing schedule varies by plant). Let me know if you don't find information for the vegetable you're trying to grow, and I'll either provide it in a video or comment. -The Vegetable Doctor Team
@@VegetableDoctor Thank you!
So, can we use this as a foliar feed on plants when there is no sun in the forecast? 🤔 (diluted, of course)😁
What type of fruit or vegetable are you applying the fertilizer to? -The Vegetable Doctor Team
I don’t have a lab !!!
You don't need a lab, you can substitute my hot plate for a pot on the stove and use a spoon for the stirrer. Let me know if you have more questions, thanks for the view! - The Vegetable Doctor Team
Science as it should be
What percentage of calcium in the shell can i extract? I want to know roughly how many grams of calcium are in my final solution but i dont have the ca meter. Eggshells are about 40% calcium. How much of that dissolves?
If the reaction is allowed to run to completion, an 85% yield of Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂ would be reasonable for an at home experiment (Yao et al., 2006, Optimization of preparation of calcium acetate from eggshell by Response Surface
Methodology, Free article). For 10g of dried, powdered eggshells at 40% Ca content, you would expect roughly 3.4g of Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂ by mass.
I know this calcium water is intended for plant growth. Would it be safe to consume it as human as a calcium supplement?
Disclaimer: I'm unable to give medical or dietary advise; so you'll need to ask your doctor or dietician about what would be right for you.
In this video, Dr. Masabni tells a story about his grandmother--who lived before the age of multivitamins--being told to eat boiled eggs and their eggshells together to increase her calcium levels. He always thought she should've ground the eggshells prior to eating them, as a powder wouldn't poke the inside of the mouth or grind against the teeth.
You can also check out these resources for more information:
agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/assets/life-health/health-nutrition-wellness/
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8384791/
www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jnsv/63/2/63_120/_pdf/-char/en
- The Vegetable Doctor Team