1) Banana-peel fertilizer (bury or soak peels)
What people do : Bury banana peels in the pot / soak peels in water for a few days and use the water on plants.
Why it’s claimed to work : Banana peels contain potassium (K) and small amounts of other nutrients.
How to test : One pot gets banana-peel tea (1 peel soaked 48 hrs), another gets plain water. Compare growth for 4–6 weeks.
Verdict : Partially effective. Banana peels release K slowly and can help in very small, local doses — but decomposition is slow in pots and can attract fruit flies if left on soil surface.
Risk : Minor. Smell/flies if not buried or composted.
Biosar alternative : Use a balanced pot-safe potassium + micronutrient fertilizer (small-dose liquid or soluble NPK) for a predictable K boost. We would recommend Biosar KMB + Biosar Gromax Banana respectively and for NPK, we would recommend our very own Biosar NPK.
2) Eggshell water / crushed eggshells
What people do : Crush shells or soak them in water to make ‘calcium water’.
Why it’s claimed to work : Eggshells are mostly calcium carbonate.
How to test : Add crushed shells to one pot’s soil vs. control. Or use soaked-shell water weekly on seedlings vs. water. Observe for 6–8 weeks.
Verdict : Mostly ineffective as a quick fix. Eggshells release calcium very slowly unless finely powdered and composted; ‘shell water’ is very weak. Good in compost long-term, not a fast corrective for calcium deficiency.
Risk : Minimal, but may attract pests if fresh food residue remains.
Biosar alternative : Use a chelated calcium foliar spray or a compost + calcium source recommended by agronomy for a measurable correction. We recommend Biosar Hira Plus + Biosar Cams respectively.
3) Coffee grounds in potting mix
What people do : Sprinkle used coffee grounds on soil or mix into potting mix.
Why it’s claimed to work : Adds organic matter and (supposedly) acidity; thought to feed plants.
How to test : Mix a thin layer (10% by volume) in one pot vs none; monitor plant vigor and drainage.
Verdict: Mixed, useful only sparingly. Coffee grounds are good compost ingredients but fresh grounds can compact, create crusts, or temporarily tie up nitrogen. Small amounts mixed into compost are fine; straight heavy use in pots can harm drainage.
Risk : Overuse → root stress; fresh grounds may be slightly phytotoxic to seedlings.
Biosar alternative : Use ready-made potting mixes like Biosar Hira and small compost-amendment packs designed for pots like Biosar Neem Plus (these keep drainage and nutrition balanced).
4) Rice water (water from rinsing/saving water after cooking rice)
What people do : Use rice rinse/wash water to water plants.
Why it’s claimed to work : Rice water contains trace nutrients and starch.
How to test : Water one set of pots with diluted rice water (cooled) and another with plain water for a month.
Verdict : Mildly effective but inconsistent. Rice water adds a tiny amount of organic matter; risks include stickiness on leaves and attracting ants/molds if overused. Dilute well and avoid foliar contact.
Risk : Mold/fermentation if stored warm.
Biosar alternative : Small organic liquid feeds or compost tea, recommending Biosar Natura (controlled), or our mild liquid feed trial packs for pots.
5) Ice cube watering for potted plants (especially orchids/houseplants)
What people do : Put 1–2 ice cubes on potting mix once a week.
Why it’s claimed to work : Supposed to give slow-release water and prevent overwatering.
How to test : Use ice-cube schedule on one pot, manual watering on another. Check root health and growth over a month.
Verdict : Mostly a gimmick. Ice is inconsistent, too cold for some tropical roots and not a replacement for proper watering technique. Works only for specific plants (some orchids used in certain commercial displays), but not a universal hack.
Risk : Cold shock in sensitive species; uneven moisture distribution.
Biosar alternative : Teach correct watering frequency by pot size and soil moisture or use a moistureretaining potting mix that holds water without over-saturation.
6) Cinnamon as rooting hormone / antifungal (sprinkle on cuttings)
What people do : Dip cuttings in cinnamon powder or sprinkle cinnamon at cut sites.
Why it’s claimed to work : Cinnamon has mild antifungal properties and can reduce rot; may aid rooting.
How to test : Treat half your cuttings with cinnamon and half with no treatment or commercial rooting hormone; observe rooting rate over weeks.
Verdict : Usefully effective for hobby scale. Cinnamon can help prevent fungal rot on cuttings and is a safe, cheap option. It’s not as potent as commercial rooting hormones for stimulating roots, but it’s a good, natural anti-rot step.
Risk : Low. Don’t overdo it: fine dust everywhere.
Biosar alternative : Biosar rooting hormone like our Biosar Rootset or a safe bio-root stimulant for faster, predictable rooting.
7) Aloe Vera gel on cuttings / foliar
What people do: Use fresh aloe gel on cut ends or dilute gel as a foliar spray.
Why it’s claimed to work : Aloe contains compounds believed to help root formation and has antimicrobial action.
How to test : Apply aloe gel to some cuttings and compare to untreated and commercial-hormone treated controls.
Verdict : Moderately effective for cuttings. Aloe can help as a natural antiseptic and slight rooting aid; results vary by species. Not a guaranteed substitute for commercial rooting hormones.
Risk : Low; gel spoils if stored.
Biosar alternative : Small rooting hormone sachets for reproducible nursery results.
8) Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in seed soaking / soil for aeration
What people do : Dilute food-grade hydrogen peroxide and soak seeds or water soil to reduce fungal load and increase oxygen near roots.
Why it’s claimed to work : H₂O₂ breaks down into water + oxygen, briefly raising available oxygen and killing some pathogens.
How to test : Use a 3% H₂O₂ diluted 1:10–1:20 for a short seed soak vs plain water; observe germination. (Do NOT use undiluted!)
Verdict : Conditionally useful. A very mild H₂O₂ soak can reduce seed-borne fungi and aid germination if used cautiously. Overuse can damage delicate roots. Follow safe dilutions.
Risk : Moderate if misused. High concentrations damage tissue.
Biosar alternative : Use our seed treatment guidelines or lab-tested seed disinfectants and fungicide treatments (as per label) for important crops. One of our best-sellers for this is Biosar Tricho (Trichoderma Viride).
9) Milk spray for powdery mildew
What people do : Spray diluted (1:9 to 1:10) milk solution on leaves to control powdery mildew.
Why it’s claimed to work : Milk proteins can have antifungal effects and a beneficial microbial effect on leaf surfaces.
How to test : Spray one infected plant with diluted milk and another with water; watch disease progress.
Verdict : Sometimes effective for light infections. Milk sprays can reduce powdery mildew in mild cases, especially with repeated treatments, but are not a cure for severe outbreaks. May smell if overused.
Risk : Minimal; possible odour/attracting insects.
Biosar alternative : Use a recommended bio-fungicide, Biosar Pseudo (Pseudomonas fluorescens) or targeted fungicide, Biosar Sul (80% WP) for reliable disease control, especially in commercial settings.
10) Beer/Snail trap for slugs & snails
What people do : Fill a shallow container with beer and bury so its rim is level with soil: slugs/snails fall in and drown.
Why it’s claimed to work : Slugs are attracted to fermenting liquids.
How to test : Place traps near affected plants and monitor damage.
Verdict : Effective locally. Beer traps attract and eliminate some slugs but won’t remove all pests and need maintenance. Not a full pest-management plan.
Risk : Low (may attract other animals).
Biosar alternative : Use cultural controls (mulch management), physical barriers, and approved snail/slug baits or biological predators where appropriate. We suggest our Biosar Trap.
How to run a cheap home test for any of these
1. Pick one hack and one plant species (same age/size).
2. Use paired pots: Hack pot vs Control pot. Keep everything else identical.
3. Record the start date, take a photo, and note watering and light.
4. Observe for 3–8 weeks (seedlings shorter; mature plants longer).
5. Judge by growth, leaf colour, pests, smell, and root health.
If a hack looks promising, scale slowly.
When to use hacks vs When to use tested products
• Hacks are cheap and fine for experiments, beginners, and low-stakes hobby gardening. They’re great for learning and sharing on social media.
• Hacks are not a substitute for reliable fertiliser, nutrient correction (from soil tests), or professional pest control when you care about predictable yields or commercial outcomes.
• If you need reproducible results (FPOs, farms, plantations) use lab-tested products, soil/leaf testing and agronomy advice (Biosar can help with packs on Amazon or bulk scheduling via WhatsApp/partnerships).
Safety & a short checklist
• Start small and test.
• Never use concentrated household chemicals undiluted (H₂O₂, etc.).
• Don’t mix unknown tank mixes: do a jar compatibility test.
• Label any homemade sprays and don’t store them for long.
• Keep food-derived liquids (rice water, banana peels) composted or diluted to avoid pests.
Biosar Catalogue (what to buy instead of guessing)
• Biosar NPK (Pot-friendly NPK) + Biosar Gromax Banana (Micronutrient liquid): Feeding.
• Biosar Rootset (Rooting hormone sachets): For consistent cutting success.
• Biosar Tricho / Biosar NPK (Bio-fungicide / Bio-fertiliser packs): For safe disease control and soil health.
• Biosar Hira (Starter potting mix & compost): Good soil beats home hacks.
• WhatsApp : Send a photo, get a short plan.
References :
1) Banana-peel fertilizer
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351597179_Effectiveness_of_Banana_PeelBased_Liquid_Organic_Fertilizer_Application_as_Potassium_Source_for_Eggplant_Solanum_melongena_L_
Growth_and_Yield
2) Eggshells as calcium source
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
363522714_Eggshell_powder_as_calcium_source_on_growth_and_yield_of_groundnut_Arachis_hypogaea_L
3) Coffee grounds in potting mix
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1618866716300103
4) Rice-water / rinse water for plants
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10559983/
5) Ice-cube watering (orchids / houseplants)
• https://www.justaddiceorchids.com/orchid-care-blog/why-water-orchids-with-ice-just-add-ice-wateringmethod-explained
6) Cinnamon as antifungal / for cuttings
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
350994926_Effect_of_Aloe_vera_Gel_for_Inducing_Rooting_of_Stem_Cuttings_and_Air_layering_of_Plants
7) Aloe vera gel for rooting / foliar use
• Experimental papers on aloe vera gel improving rooting success in some cuttings (useful as a mild natural
aid). ResearchGate
8) Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for seed soaking / aeration
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3405688/
9) Milk spray for powdery mildew
• https://www.ppjonline.org/upload/pdf/PPJ021-03-11.pdf
10) Beer traps for slugs & snails
• https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/aes/AES/pubs/pdf/tb97-1.pdf