Homemade calcium fertilizer

[Pancrazio]

Since I'm homestuck i can't buy any fertilizer in local shops.
But, as far i can see, some of my bananas have developed a calcium deficiency.
So i was wondering if there's any way to enrich the soil with calcium with common household items. In normal circumstances i would use Calcium cyanamide, but right now i have an hard time accessing it. Before eventually placing a mail order, i was wondering if...

[TnTrobbie]

You can try egg shells. Pulverize them in a coffee grinder.

[Pancrazio]

i thought to egg shells too, but shouldn't I dissolve them in some kind of acid? Lemon, or something easily digestible by bacteria?

[Frog Valley Farm]

🗯

[TnTrobbie]

Pulverizing it to a power/dust form increases the surface area of the egg shell particles for breakdown by soil microorganisms. Composting and or mulching can aid with breakdown as well with their low pH.

[simon_grow]

I wonder if you can dissolve the egg shells in distilled white vinegar? The vinegar may help decrease the pH of your soil however. I've never tried it myself but I raise jumbo quail and found some recipes where you dissolve the egg shells in vinegar to make it easier to remove the shell.

Simon

[fyliu]

Yes, you can dissolve the egg shells in distilled vinegar. You end up with a sac of whatever's in the egg inside the membrane, and a little bit of shell attached where it's above the vinegar. I think you have to soak the egg for a few days.

[greenman62]

ive heard of people roasting / baking eggshells in the oven until crisp
they will turn into a powder much easier.

To me, this is a lot of work for little gain
unless maybe if you had 30 lb of eggshell.

personally, i would go with Calcium Bentonite Clay
(unless you have heavy, or clay soils already)
but a clay adds other minerals also, and can help sandy soils hold water
and increase microbial life.
http://www.natureswayresources.com/nl/44Bentonite.pdf


Calcium Bentonite Clay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/All-Natural-Calcium-Bentonite-Clay-Healing-Powder-and-Facial-1-oz-to-10-lbs-/231988232482?var=&hash=item3603938122:m:mKYLw64t6gQO_irDrDr96Ig