How to Add Nitrogen to Soil Using Organic Household Items

Like humans, plants rely on certain nutrients to grow strong and healthy. Properly fertilized plants bear an abundant crop of flowers, fruit or vegetables. Nitrogen in soil prompts plants to grow lush foliage. If you are growing an edible crop, you want to avoid using chemical fertilizers in the soil. Several organic additives, such as coffee grounds and eggshells, are commonly found in many households. They allow you to safely put the nitrogen that your plants need into the soil.

Used coffee grounds
Crushed eggshells
Flowers, leaves and grass clippings
Spoiled fruit and vegetables
Used cooking water

Instructions

- 1
  Spread damp, used coffee grounds on top of the soil. Turn the coffee grounds into the soil and add a layer of mulch or dried leaves. Tea bags are a nitrogen-rich alternative to coffee.
- 2
  Crush eggshells and turn them into the soil to provide a nitrogen boost. Small pieces of spoiled produce, bread or rice also provide nitrogen. You can also mix these things into your compost pile.
- 3
  Sprinkle grass clippings, dried leaves or dead flowers into the soil. This is an ideal way to reuse plant waste that you would otherwise throw away.
- 4
  Keep the water that you use to boil potatoes or pasta. The water contains some nitrogen and other nutrients that benefit plants. Add cooking water to the soil when you would normally water your plants. Do not water plants with water that contains salt or oil.

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