Make Your Own Fertilizer

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You don’t need to buy fertilizers anymore because you can now make your own fertilizer using home-based ingredients.

The best way to prepare homemade fertilizers is by creating your own concoction out of simple kitchen items. For example, you can use banana peels, coffee grounds, Epsom salt, etc. These are the most basic ingredients that are easy to obtain from any nearby store.

In this article, we will be going over the details of why homemade fertilizers are effective, what fundamentals you need to consider, and how you can make these on your own despite being a first-timer to the task.

So, without any further ado, let’s get started.

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Natural Fertilizer Versus Synthetic Fertilizer

Natural fertilizer or Synthetic fertilizer, which one should you opt for? This debate has been there for ages.

Essentially, organic or natural fertilizers are produced from earthly substances such as mushroom manure, cow manure, bone meal, kelp meal, etc. On the other hand, Synthetic fertilizers are artificial fertilizers that contain manufactured materials, such as Ammonium Phosphate, Superphosphate, Potassium Sulfate, etc.

Here are some pros and cons of these two fertilizers:

Benefits of Using an Organic Fertilizer

Whether it is synthetic or organic fertilizers, both have their own benefits for the plants. Although organic fertilizer appears to be more useful in terms of providing the secondary and micronutrients plants need.

One may use natural substances like fresh grass clippings, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc., to make his own organic fertilizer for garden plants.

Organic fertilizers are one of the healthiest ways for plants to be fed. They are also considered safer for the environment, as synthetic fertilizers can potentially contaminate nearby water.

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Why Composting Will Help

Composting is generally the process of decomposing organic materials such as grass clippings, organic waste, leaves, etc. You may even compost tea bags as they contain essential nutrients to feed the soils.

If you wonder how your own compost can help make fertilizers, it adds some crucial organic substances that help rapid plant growth. Also, this has a significant contribution to the soil structure as it keeps the soil healthy with proper moisture, nutrients, and air.

There are several types of homemade compost ideas available that you may try out. However, we suggest using the bokashi composting method as this helps upkeep a faster soil fermentation.

Healthy Soil in the Garden and Around the Farm is Key

Soil is an essential part of growing plants. Not only does the soil provides plants with the proper nutrients to grow, but it also gives them the foothold they need. Therefore, soil quality is vital to organic gardening and even farming.

Soil structure, along with soil nutrient density, is the foundation of a thriving organic garden. Healthy soil produces a bountiful harvest of healthy crops, as well as healthy plants like some acid-loving plants, with every growing season.

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Understanding the Basics of N-P-K

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are three of the most important nutrients found in most fertilizers, and these are usually known as the “Big 3” or, in other words, N-P-K.

However, understanding the benefits of these nutrients – and how they work – is crucial to growing healthy plants. Here’s everything you need to know,

The Big 3, a.k.a N-P-K, significantly contributes to the plants’ growth. As plant roots reach down into the soil, they find these nutrients and absorb them to enrich their overall health.

For instance, Nitrogen in fertilizer is a slow-release product that is beneficial to the leaves. Phosphorus is known to help the roots grow and rapid fruit production in the plant. In contrast, Potassium is mainly used to support the plant, absorb moisture and grow better.

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What you need to make your own fertilizer

Homemade fertilizers are easy to process and prepare. You don’t need a couple of days or hours to prepare them. Depending on how you make it and what materials you choose, the process might be simple or complex.

Therefore, to help your make your own fertilizer the easiest way, we have added one of the easiest homemade fertilizer recipes in this guide. But before we jump in, let’s see what you will need:

Materials

1. Watering can
2. Cookie sheet
3. Blender
4. Compost bin

Ingredients

1. Epsom salts, coffee grounds, egg shells, or white vinegar.
2. Water
3. Newspaper
4. Fish tank water
5. Fireplace ashes
6. Fruit and vegetable scrap

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Make Your Own Fertilizer Step by Step

You can use all sorts of things as great plant fertilizer, like egg shells, coffee grounds, or animal manure. But, you must be mindful of the procedure you use. If you don’t do it right, you could end up wasting a lot of time.

So, here’s our step-by-step guide to making fertilizer:

Step 1: Gather your ingredients

If you are to make Epsom salt fertilizers, you will need to get a gallon of water and the Epsom salt. However, for other ingredients like coffee grounds, egg shells, and white vinegar, you will require some more ingredients that include newspaper, cookie sheet, fireplace ashes, etc.

Step 2: Prepare the fertilizer

To make the ingredients powdery, crush them in a blender. Mix the powder with water. Add in the bacteria. Allow the mixture to ferment for two days. Strain the mixture through a fine cloth. The liquid fertilizer is ready.

Step 3: Pour in a container

After the fertilizer is ready to use, store it in a container. You may store some extras in a regular spray bottle for easier applications of the fertilizers.

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7 Homemade Plant Fertilizers

Popular homemade plant fertilizers include those made from plant and animal manure, compost, and bone meal. And here, we have compiled a list of the top 9 fertilizer items that you should try on,

Grass clippings: Grass clippings fertilizers are the best source of nitrogen that can accelerate plant growth, especially the growth of their leaves.

Coffee grounds: Coffee grounds work best to enrich water retention, drainage, and aerotion in the soil.

Wood ash: Wood ash could be used in your garden as a natural resource. It adds lime and potassium, so plants get a boost of nutrients. It also aids in the cooling and moistening of the soil, which is beneficial to your garden.

Teabags: Loose leaf teas and compostable tea bags have nitrogen to add to the compost. They provide good fertilizer for plants.

Banana peels: Banana plants naturally add potassium to the soil, which is necessary for plant growth.

Fish waste/aquarium waste: A farmer (or gardener) can enrich the soil by burying aquarium or fish waste. This not only adds nutrients to the ground but also provides food for beneficial biological life.

White vinegar: White vinegar will not increase the pH levels of your soil; it can be used to prevent acid rain. Acid rain causes certain plants to wilt, but more importantly, it decreases the nutrients in the soil. Vinegar is used to remove these pollutants.

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FAQ – Make Your Own Fertilizer and Homemade Fertilizers