It is almost always perfectly fine to compost citrus, as long as it is properly prepared. The truth is that
Orange peels are safe to add to your compost pile. Over time, as the citrus peels decompose, they add nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to your compost. Those are three of the most essential nutrients needed by plants.
Citrus fruit, tomato products and pickled food products can do harm to your compost. High acidity can actually kill the good bacteria that helps break down the material in your compost pile.
'Orange peels are great for your garden, as they can help to add nutrients to your soil – aiding in the growth and maintenance of your plants,' Laura explains.
In general, you should not compost too many oranges. This is because they can disrupt the balance of your compost heap. Citrus fruits are acidic and the acidity will affect the bacteria at work and eventually the normal composting process.
Orange peels: It is estimated that orange peels take around 6 months to decompose, although in drier environments like Central Oregon, oranges can last indefinitely.
Orange peels can take as long as two years to decompose. There is a common misconception that “natural trash” such as orange peels, banana peels, apple cores, and shells from nuts and seeds are okay to leave behind on the trail, in campgrounds, or in other outdoor spaces.
According to health experts, the peel of an orange is the healthiest part of the entire fruit. It is said that orange peels are rich in flavonoids and many other essential phytochemicals, which offer numerous health benefits. The peel also contains calcium, magnesium, folate, vitamin A and B.
Orange Peels
Also, aphids and ants really do not like the scent of oranges, so you can bury the peels shallowly in your garden soil, or shred pieces of it and scatter that across your garden. Additionally, similar to one of the many uses of eggshells, you can use half of an orange peel to plant a seed!
Orange peels are waste generated mainly by the juicing industry that can cause environmental problems due to its large volume of generation and physicochemical characteristics, such as soil and water pollution.
Let's just start out by saying: putting egg shells in your compost is okay; they are a rich source of calcium and other essential nutrients that plants need.
They are organic material, right? However, if you have employed composting worms to break down the garbage, worms won't like oranges. Oranges are highly acidic and can harm the worms. They throw off the pH balance in the bin, which can cause noxious odors and even worm die-off.
You can put orange peels into your compost mix. Citrus peels, which are high in nitrogen, can be used to increase the activity of microorganisms by being added to your compost. You can add lemon peels, grapes, lime peels, and other citrus peels to your compost pile as a nutrient.
Adding orange peels to your soil will help acidify it. This method is an all natural way to increase the acidity in your garden soil.
'Orange peels are great for your garden, as they can help to add nutrients to your soil – aiding in the growth and maintenance of your plants,' Laura explains.
Citrus peels will give plants that need a little extra acidity the nutrient boost that they need. Grind dry peels in a food processor and sprinkle the powder over acid-loving plants like nasturtium, blueberries and radishes.
Cats have very sensitive noses and think citrus smells terrible. Anecdotal evidence suggests that placing fresh orange peels (or the peel of any citrus fruit, according to The Best Cat Page) around your garden or around specific plants can make cats steer clear.
Some of the pests that orange peels can help repel include: aphids, slugs, mosquitoes, and biting flies.
Repel bugs
According to sfgate.com, orange peels contain a 90 to 95 percent concentration of limonene, a chemical that is toxic to mosquitoes, flies, and other bugs. Placing snippets of orange peels around your yard or near your doors and windows is a simple and inexpensive way to keep pesky bugs and mosquitoes out.
Banana peels are a great ingredient for your compost or worm farm, adding lots of nutrients to the organic recycling process.
Compost It!
Composting lemon peels and other citrus fruit is a simple way to reduce food waste. Even though citrus fruits are very acidic, there are great benefits to adding them to your compost pile, such as: The strong scent deters pests and animals.
Yes! You can compost avocado pits, avocado skins, and even unusable or brown avocado meat. However, avocado skins tend to be slow to decompose. To speed up the process, cut the peels into small squares with kitchen scissors before adding them to your composter.