'Don't throw out' as expert urges gardeners to use leftover as fertiliser

A plant and sustainability expert has revealed a nutrient-rich homemade fertilizer recipe that requires just one common household ingredient...plus water.

On Instagram,  @sustainabilitymattersva shared that by using water, a banana peel, and a jar with a lid, you can create homemade fertilizer to encourage your plants to flourish and grow. He advises against discarding the peel after eating a banana, suggesting its use as a resource instead.

He urged people: "When you're done with a banana, don't throw the peel out. Instead, chop it up, add it to a jar of water, mix that in and let it sit for at least a day.

"The peels will release potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. Essentially, all the things your plants need to grow happy and healthy."

Once the water becomes cloudy, as demonstrated in the video, it's ready to be used for watering your plants. This method is effective for both indoor and outdoor plants, allowing you to enjoy your tulips over a cup of tea indoors, or to bask in the beauty of your roses on a warm summer day outdoors.

Elsewhere, Nicole Jaques aka @itsnicolejaques on Instagram shared her fresh flower technique to keep your "blooms going for weeks."

Showing her cutting the stems under water, as reported by the Daily Record, she says that there is a good reason for this. Urging people to instead try this rather than cutting the stems as you normally would, she explains: "Why cut the stems under water?

"The reason for this is because when the stem is cut, the flower’s roots immediately loses access to water. As air flows through the stem, an air pocket or embolism occurs, preventing the absorption of water. Cutting underwater reduces the risk of air pockets and allows the flowers to absorb water right away."