What Does Banana Water Do? Exploring Uses for Plants, People & Skin

December 14, 2025 •

4 min read

Many gardeners believe that soaking banana peels in water creates a powerful, potassium-rich fertilizer for plants. So, what does banana water do, and is it truly effective for encouraging plant growth, or does it hold other applications for human health and skincare worth exploring?

Quick Summary

Banana water serves different purposes depending on preparation. While it is a mild, nutrient-based tea for humans with potential health perks, its use as an effective liquid fertilizer for plants is debated by experts.

Key Points

Plant Fertilizer: Banana water made from steeping peels is a mild, DIY fertilizer, but experts question its effectiveness compared to composting.
Human Tea: Boiling bananas or peels creates a tea with nutrients like potassium and magnesium, believed to aid sleep and reduce anxiety, though scientific backing is limited.
Skincare Uses: Applied topically via masks or ice rollers, it's suggested to hydrate, soothe inflammation, and combat aging, leveraging vitamins and antioxidants.
Nutrient Availability: For plants, soaking peels doesn't release nutrients effectively; decomposition via composting is needed.
Pest Risk: Using soaked banana water on plants, especially indoors, can attract fruit flies and gnats due to the fermenting sugars.
Low-Sugar Option: Banana tea is a low-sugar alternative to other sweetened beverages, with natural sweetness from the fruit.
Proceed with Caution: Both human tea and topical skin applications have limited scientific studies, and tea has some contraindications.

The Dual Nature of Banana Water: Soaked vs. Boiled

The term "banana water" can refer to two very different preparations: a simple soak of banana peels in water, typically for plants, or a boiled brew of whole bananas or peels, known as banana tea, consumed for health benefits. Both leverage the nutrients found in bananas but differ significantly in how they are made and what they are purported to do. This article explores the science and anecdotal evidence behind both uses, examining their effectiveness for gardening, wellness, and skincare.

Banana Water for Your Plants: A Controversial DIY Fertilizer

For gardeners, banana water made from steeping peels is a popular, eco-friendly hack, praised for providing plants with nutrients like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The idea is simple: collect peels, soak them in water for a few days, and use the liquid to water your plants. However, experts offer a more skeptical view.

The Science and the Skepticism

While banana peels contain beneficial minerals, soaking them for a short period may not release a significant, usable amount of nutrients. For plants to absorb these elements, the organic material often needs to be fully decomposed by microorganisms in the soil, a process that doesn't happen during a simple soak. For this reason, many horticulturists suggest composting banana peels is a far more effective way to enrich soil.

Risks and Best Practices for Plant Use

For those who still wish to try it, there are a few things to consider. Using conventional bananas can introduce pesticides from the peel into your soil. The sugary nature of the water can also attract pests, especially fruit flies and gnats, to your indoor and outdoor plants. As a safer alternative, you can dry the peels and grind them into a powder to mix into the soil, ensuring a slower, more reliable release of nutrients.

Banana Tea for Human Health: A Calming Brew

Unlike the cold soak for plants, banana tea for humans involves boiling a whole banana or its peel in water, often with spices like cinnamon. Proponents claim this beverage can offer numerous health benefits, leveraging the water-soluble vitamins and minerals from the fruit.

Potential Health Benefits

Improved Sleep: The magnesium, potassium, and tryptophan in bananas are believed to help relax muscles and support the production of sleep-regulating hormones like serotonin and melatonin.
Reduced Anxiety and Bloating: Magnesium is known to have calming effects on the nervous system, potentially reducing anxiety. Potassium helps regulate fluid balance, which can combat bloating associated with a high-salt diet.
Heart Health: Both potassium and magnesium contribute to regulating blood pressure, while antioxidants like gallocatechin (higher in the peel) may help combat free radicals and reduce heart disease risk.

Considerations and Recipe

It's important to note that clinical studies confirming the efficacy of banana tea are limited. While generally safe, excessive consumption can lead to too much potassium, and it is not recommended for children or people with certain health conditions.

Simple Banana Tea Recipe:

Wash one ripe banana (or just the peel) thoroughly.
Cut off the ends and boil it in a pot of water for 5-10 minutes.
Remove the banana and drink the tea. Add a dash of cinnamon if desired.

Banana Water for Skincare: Topical and Antioxidant Properties

In skincare, bananas are used topically in DIY masks and ice rollers to hydrate and brighten the complexion. The fruit's vitamins and antioxidants are the main draw, though scientific backing for significant effects is lacking.

The Allure of Natural Skincare

Hydration: The high potassium content and fatty acids in bananas can help moisturize and nourish the skin.
Soothing: With anti-inflammatory properties, bananas may help soothe irritated skin and reduce redness.
Anti-Aging: Antioxidants like vitamins C and E fight free radicals that contribute to premature aging, and some suggest silica may boost collagen production.
Acne Reduction: The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties may assist in managing acne.

How to Use Banana Water on Skin

One method is to simply rub the inside of a fresh banana peel on the skin to reduce inflammation and fade spots. Another popular technique is to create a banana water infusion, freeze it into ice cubes, and use them with an ice roller for a cooling, soothing facial.

A Quick Comparison of Banana Water Uses


Aspect	Banana Water (Plants)	Banana Tea (Human)	Skincare (Topical)
Primary Goal	Mild fertilizer; use for eco-gardening.	Aid sleep, reduce anxiety, heart health.	Hydrate, soothe, anti-aging effects.
Preparation	Soaking peels in room-temp water.	Boiling whole bananas or peels in hot water.	Mash banana for mask; infuse water and freeze for ice roller.
Key Benefit	Adds trace minerals; reduces waste.	High in potassium, magnesium, antioxidants.	Vitamins (C, E), antioxidants, hydrating.
Effectiveness	Limited; microbial decomposition is more effective.	Anecdotal; clinical evidence is lacking.	Anecdotal; limited studies on topical application.
Drawbacks	Attracts pests, risk of pesticide introduction.	High potassium risk; not for all health conditions.	Potential irritation for sensitive skin; temporary effects.

Conclusion: Understanding the Hype

In essence, what banana water does depends entirely on its preparation and intended use. For plants, its function as a standalone, potent fertilizer is largely a myth, with composting being a superior method for nutrient delivery. However, it remains a popular zero-waste option for light fertilization. For human consumption, banana tea offers a calming, nutrient-rich beverage with anecdotal benefits for sleep and heart health, though scientific validation is scarce. Finally, as a skincare treatment, topical banana applications can provide mild hydration and antioxidant effects but should not replace proven dermatological care. Whether you're seeking a garden booster, a bedtime brew, or a natural face treatment, understanding the science behind the preparation is key to managing your expectations.

For more in-depth information on the potential health benefits of banana tea, you can consult this article on Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/banana-tea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Experts are skeptical about its effectiveness. While banana peels contain nutrients, soaking alone may not release a significant, usable amount for plants. Composting the peels first is a more reliable way to enrich the soil.

To make banana tea, wash a ripe banana (or its peel) and cut off the ends. Boil it in water for 5-10 minutes. Remove the banana and drink the warm liquid, optionally adding cinnamon or honey for flavor.

Some believe it can. The tea contains potassium, magnesium, and tryptophan, which are thought to promote muscle relaxation and regulate sleep hormones. However, there is a lack of clinical studies to confirm these effects.

For plants to absorb nutrients from organic material like banana peels, it needs to be broken down by soil microorganisms. This process happens during composting but not during a short soak in water.

Yes, if used on plants, the sugary liquid can attract pests such as fruit flies and gnats. This is especially a concern for indoor plants.

Possible side effects include drowsiness and an increased urge to urinate. Consuming high quantities can lead to excessive potassium, causing nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. It should be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding individuals due to a lack of safety studies.

While it's not harmful, it is not a balanced fertilizer and may not provide all the nutrients a plant needs. If you use conventional bananas, there is a risk of introducing pesticides. Use caution, and consider composting for better results.