The Poetry of the Peel: What to Do With Leftover Banana Skins

At Hida Dream House, we believe there’s meaning in what’s often missed — the peels, the scraps, the skins we toss aside without thought. The banana, soft and sweet, is a daily comfort. But the peel? Slippery. Disposable. Forgotten.

It’s time to look again.

Banana peels are rich in minerals that nourish the soil, soothe the skin, and support the quiet rhythms of slow living. In folk gardens from Romania to India, banana skins have long been used as polish, fertiliser, even remedy.

Here’s how to give this golden crescent its rightful place — in the garden, in the home, and in your daily ritual.

Why Banana Peels Matter

Banana peels contain:

• Potassium — crucial for flowering and root growth

• Phosphorus — supports fruiting plants

• Calcium, magnesium, and natural sugars — for healthy soil and lush foliage

• Gentle oils and antioxidants — helpful for softening and calming the skin

• A fibrous texture — perfect for compost or DIY fertilisers

They’re quick to break down, easy to use, and steeped in slow wisdom.

6 Beautiful Ways to Reuse Banana Peels

1. Feed Your Plants (the Right Way)

Banana peels are plant food in a wrapper — but they need to be prepped right.

Try one of these methods:

• Chop and bury: Cut into small pieces and bury around flowering plants (roses, tomatoes, peppers).

• Layer under mulch: Tuck chopped peels beneath bark or straw to enrich the soil.

• Blend and pour: Make a quick fertiliser by blending peels with water and pouring at the base of plants.

🍌 Avoid placing whole peels on the surface — they’ll attract pests. Always chop or bury.

2. Make Banana Peel Tea for the Garden

A gentle mineral brew your plants will love.

How to:
Soak 1–2 banana peels in a jar of water for 2–3 days.
Strain and pour around fruiting plants or houseplants.

Bonus: Add a spoonful of molasses or a fresh nettle leaf for added minerals.

3. Boost Your Compost

Banana peels are quick to break down and help balance drier materials like cardboard or leaves.

How to:
Tear peels into strips.
Mix with kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, or garden clippings.
They add moisture, sweetness, and vital potassium to your compost.

4. Shine Leather and Houseplants

Folk wisdom says: banana peel makes a natural polish.

Use the inside of the peel to gently rub:

• Leather shoes and bags

• Large houseplant leaves (like rubber plants or monstera)

Wipe clean and buff with a soft cloth for a subtle, healthy shine.

5. Soothe the Skin (Folk Remedy)

Banana peel is rich in antioxidants and natural oils — perfect for quick skin care.

Try it for:

• Bug bites or itchiness (cooling relief)

• Puffy under-eyes (apply a strip for 10 minutes)

• Gentle exfoliation (rub in soft, circular motions)

🌿 Always use organic peels, and test on a small area first.

6. Fertilise Your Houseplants

Dried banana peels make a gentle, slow-release fertiliser.

How to:
Let the peels dry completely.
Grind or crush into flakes.
Sprinkle a pinch into your indoor plant pots.

It strengthens leaves, supports root growth, and encourages new shoots.

A Note on Banana Peel Safety

• Use organic bananas if applying to skin or houseplants, to avoid pesticide residue.

• Never leave large pieces of banana peel exposed in your garden — bury or compost them properly to avoid attracting pests.

A Home That Honours the Whole

At Hida Dream House, we believe that nothing is truly waste — especially not what once held sweetness. Banana peels remind us that nourishment often lives in the unnoticed, the tossed-aside, the everyday.

So save your peels.
Hang a bowl on the windowsill.
Dry them, soak them, crush them, compost them.

Use them with intention.
Because a home that honours the peel, honours the whole.