Shell On Earth – Crushed Whelk Shells

From the shores of Cardigan Bay in West Wales comes Shell on Earth, a beautiful and sustainable way to give discarded seashells a new purpose. Made from recycled crushed whelk shells, this natural plant pot top dressing adds a lovely coastal texture to houseplants, cacti, succulents and terrariums, while offering practical benefits for plant care.

Carefully washed, crushed and dried, the shells offer an attractive alternative to conventional decorative gravel and grit. Every bag represents an ingenious way of turning a by-product of the Welsh seafood industry into something useful for our homes and gardens.

The story behind Shell on Earth

Shell on Earth is the creation of husband-and-wife team Caryl and Jordan Andrews, whose family has been involved in the seafood industry for three generations. Their processing business is based in New Quay, a picturesque fishing village overlooking Cardigan Bay on the west coast of Wales.

The family factory, established in the 1970s, processes locally caught whelks, which are gathered using traditional fishing pots, a relatively low-impact method that helps minimise disturbance to the seabed.

For years, the empty shells were an unavoidable by-product of the seafood business. Rather than letting this natural material go to waste, the family developed a way to repurpose it. In 2019, Shell on Earth was born.

Today, the business gives these shells a second life as natural gardening materials, helping reduce waste and support a more circular economy.

How are Shell on Earth crushed whelk shells made?

Once the whelks have been cooked and the meat removed for food production, the remaining shells are taken to a dedicated processing area at the family's factory in Wales.

There, the shells are crushed, cleaned a further three times and thoroughly dried to remove moisture. They're then packaged individually in distinctive hand-tied paper bags that are reusable and fully recyclable.

It's a wonderfully simple idea: taking a natural resource that would otherwise be discarded and transforming it into something beautiful for plants and gardens.

Why use crushed whelk shells for your plants?

As well as their distinctive appearance, crushed whelk shells have several useful applications around the home and garden:

• Decorative plant pot top dressing: Create a neat, natural finish around houseplants, cacti and succulents.
• Terrariums and planted displays: Add a contrasting layer of pale, textured shells to open terrariums and miniature plant arrangements.
• Improved compost drainage: Mix the shells into suitable potting compost to add structure and improve aeration and drainage.
• Fungus gnat deterrent: A generous surface layer may help discourage adult fungus gnats from laying eggs in the damp compost beneath.
• Outdoor containers and borders: Use as a decorative mulch to help cover bare soil, retain moisture and discourage weeds.

How to use Shell on Earth as a plant pot topping

Simply spread an even layer of crushed shells over the surface of your plant's compost, taking care not to bury the base of the plant. The shells create a beautifully finished appearance, particularly when paired with ceramic or terracotta pots.

For plants requiring free-draining compost, such as cacti and succulents, the shells can also be mixed into a suitable potting blend to improve its structure.

If you're working with very small pots or miniature succulents, you might prefer Shell on Earth Super Crush, which has a finer, more uniform texture.

Can crushed whelk shells help with fungus gnats?

Fungus gnats are attracted to damp compost, where they lay their eggs. Covering the soil surface with crushed shells can help create a physical barrier, making it more difficult for adult gnats to reach the compost.

Although a shell topping can be a useful preventative measure, it isn't a guaranteed treatment for an existing infestation. Good watering habits and allowing the compost surface to dry appropriately remain important.

Why we love Shell on Earth at grow urban.

We've been stocking Shell on Earth at grow urban. since early 2022, and we love the thought behind this clever little product. It combines the beauty of a natural material with thoughtful British manufacturing and a genuinely interesting family story.

Whether you're finishing a freshly potted succulent, creating a terrarium or looking for a more sustainable alternative to decorative gravel, these Welsh crushed shells are a lovely finishing touch.

Product details

• Brand: Shell on Earth
• Origin: New Quay, Cardigan Bay, West Wales
• Material: Recycled, crushed, washed and dried whelk shells
• Available sizes: Approximately 1kg and 3kg
• Packaging: Reusable, fully recyclable hand-tied paper bag
• Suitable for: Houseplant top dressing, cacti, succulents, open terrariums, outdoor pots and garden borders

Please note: This is a natural product from the sea, so slight variations in colour, texture and shell size are to be expected. Occasionally, a faint marine scent may be noticeable when first opened; this normally dissipates after airing. Keep away from pets that may be tempted to eat the shells.