Natural fertilizers for flowers
When growing plants, you should use fertilizers of natural origin. Natural fertilizers have a high nutrient concentration and allow you to get food free from chemical contamination. Learn about 6 natural fertilizers that every gardener should use.
- Manure
- Compost
- Green manure
- Wood ash
- Egg shells
- Coffee grounds
- Ready made fertilizers
- Fertilizers NPK table
The most recommended natural fertilizers are: manure, compost, green fertilizers, wood ash, egg shells and coffee grounds.
It is also worth using ready-made substitutes for these fertilizers, available in stores. However, it is important to buy only 100% natural fertilizers of organic origin.
1. Manure
Manure is an excellent natural fertilizer for plants, used in horticultural production since time immemorial. It contains all the necessary ingredients for plants, improves soil structure and biological and physicochemical properties, makes light soils compact, and heavy soils loose.
Apply manure in autumn at a dose of 50-80 kg per 10 m², mix it with the soil by digging it to a depth of 20 cm on lighter soils and 8-12 cm on heavier soils, leave the soil in this condition until spring.
You can also use this natural fertilizer in the spring, but remember that it should be well fragmented, and that you dig the soil deeply and thoroughly rake afterwards.
Remember that not all plants can be grown immediately after manure. You will have to wait at least one year before you plant carrot, parsnip, beetroot, raddish and tomatoes.
On average manure contains:
- Nitrogen (N) – 0.5%
- Phosphorus (P) – 0.3%
- Potassium (K) – 0.7% – 1.0%
- Calcium (Ca) – 0.5%
- Magnesium (Mg) – 0.2%
- microelements – boron, copper, zinc, molybdenum, cobalt
2. Compost
Another valuable natural fertilizer is compost. You can produce it from garden waste, so it’s basically free. The place for the compost should be shaded, ideally under trees.
Compost is made from crop waste, tree leaves and other plant debris. It can be enriched with bird droppings or other organic fertilizers. It is characterized by a high humus content.
Use compost at a dose of 20-60 kg per 10 m². Spread the fertilizer on the dug soil and mix it with a rake.
Remember! Do not dig the compost, as is done in the case of manure, because it should lie in the upper soil layer as a humus fertilizer. After scattering, just rake it up.
Use compost to fertilize the soil immediately before sowing or planting. Plants such as lettuce, spinach, cucumber and radish respond particularly well to the use of this natural fertilizer for plants.
On average compost contains (strongly depends on substrate used for composting):
- Nitrogen (N) – 0.75% – 1.75%
- Phosphorus (P) – 0.25% – 0.5%
- Potassium (K) – 0.5% – 1.0%
- substances stimulating growth (Vitamin B), natural hormones and organic acids
3. Plants for green manure
Another natural fertilizer is green manure, which consists of plants dug or plowed with the soil. Fast-growing plants that produce a large amount of green mass are particularly suitable for green fertilizers.
They are: yellow lupine, seradella and phacelia. Green fertilizer crops can be sown to improve the structure and fertility of the soil one year before growing plants.
Plants for green fertilizers can be sown in throughout Spring and Summer, but the best results are obtained by sowing them at the turn of July and August, then dig the plants in the fall.
For sowing at this time, the following plants are recommended (per 100 m²), yellow lupine (1.8 kg) with seradal (0.35 kg), field flower (1.5 kg) with sunflower (0.17 kg), phacelia (0.2 kg) .
Plants for green fertilizer can also be sown in mid-September (e.g. a mixture of winter vetch with winter rye). By mid-May of the following year, the mixture will give a large amount of green mass. After it is dug up, you can plant, for example, tomatoes, which will be able to yield abundantly in this position.
Plants grown for green manure, which is a great natural fertilizer for plants, need to be dug to a depth of about 16 cm in coarser soils, where green mass distribution is slower, and up to 20 cm in lighter soils. After carefully digging up the plants, level the soil with a rake. On such a prepared stand, you can grow all kinds of plants!
On average green manure contains:
- Nitrogen (N) – 0.5%
- Phosphorus (P) – 0.7%
- Potassium (K) – 0.7%
- Calcium (Ca) – 0.5%
10 fertilizers that you can make at home!
4. Wood ash as fertilizer
Wood ash, although generally a waste, can be used to fertilize garden plants. It is worth using the ash fertilizer in the garden both in spring and autumn, adding it to the compost or sprinkling it directly onto the beds. You can also use wood ash as a fertilizer for your lawn. But beware – fertilization with ash is not always beneficial!
Wood ash as a fertilizer – properties, application
Wood ash is nothing more than a by-product of biomass combustion. It has an alkaline reaction and a rich elemental composition. The ash fertilizer obtained from plant biomass has in its composition potassium, phosphorus, calcium and microelements necessary for plants.
However, it does not contain nitrogen, as this is released into the atmosphere when wood is burned. Wood ash used as a fertilizer may contribute to the improvement of the physicochemical properties of the soil and the yield of plants. It is an excellent alternative to mineral fertilizers.
Due to its high pH, wood ash can be used for soil deacidification, similarly to fertilizer lime. However, numerous studies show that the action of wood ash can increase the yield of plants in some soils by up to 45% compared to traditional calcium fertilizers.
Wood ash also works very well as an additive to compost, supplementing the resulting fertilizer with ingredients such as phosphorus, potassium and calcium.
The amount of wood ash harvested varies according to the type of wood. Hard wood (oak, ash, hornbeam) usually produces more ash than softwood (linden, pine, birch). On the other hand, the bark and leaves tend to produce more ash than the inner parts of the tree. Conifer ash has less minerals than hardwood ash.
Attention!
For fertilizing plants, it is not allowed to use ash obtained from burning stained, impregnated or varnished wood, paper, cardboard and garbage due to the content of harmful chemicals. Only ash resulting from the combustion of natural, raw wood may be used for fertilization.
Fertilization with wood ash – terms, dosage
You can fertilize with wood ash throughout the growing season. As it contains valuable macro and microelements, except for nitrogen, it will be perfect for autumn fertilization, when nitrogen fertilization is inadvisable. The phosphorus and potassium it contains will prepare the plants for wintering.
Fireplace ash is also perfect for autumn soil deacidification. You should select the ash dose depending on the soil pH and the requirements of our plants. Numerous experiments on the effect of ash on soil properties show that the most convenient dose is 30-50 g per 1 m².
Smaller doses do not significantly affect the soil pH and nutrient content. If soil is very acidic, the dose can be increased to 80 g per 1 m². Mix the ash with the surface layer of soil to a depth of 10 cm.
On the other hand, wood ash as a fertilizer should not be used on alkaline soils (pH above 7.5), where it will further increase the already high pH of the soil, and too high a single dose of ash will easily lead to the unfavorable phenomenon of soil salinity.
What plants can be fertilized with wood ash
Wood ash is a perfect fertilizer for vegetables and fruit plants. Chimney ash contains a large amount of calcium, an element extremely important in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits.
Calcium deficiency causes inhibition of plant growth, the appearance of dry rot on the tops of tomatoes and peppers, or bitter spots on apples. The leaves are also deformed and their tips dry. By using wood ash as a fertilizer, you can prevent these calcium deficiencies.
Fertilization with wood ash can also be performed in flower beds and under ornamental plants that like the alkaline pH of the soil, such as jasmine, privet, dogwood, hawthorn or evergreen boxwood.
Due to its de-acidifying properties, wood ash should not be used for acidophilic plants such as highbush blueberry, Kamchatka berry, healing berry, rhododendron, azalea, pieris and conifers.
Wood ash as a fertilizer for the lawn
You can also fertilize with wood ash on the lawn. However, when deciding to fertilize your lawn with ash, remember to use it moderately. At the same time, let’s give up other fertilizers rich in magnesium, iron or calcium, thus avoiding over-fertilization.
Too high a dose of ash can cause problems with iron or boron uptake, and consequently weaken the grass. However, you can mix wood ash with nitrogen and potassium fertilizer.
Wood ash can also be used to combat moss on lawns. This ecological equivalent of dolomite will increase the pH of the soil, eliminating the formation of moss, and additionally, thanks to the iron content, it will improve the condition and color of the grass.
However, one should remember not to introduce ash into the freshly limed soil. You will get too much calcium in the soil, reducing the absorption of phosphorus.
Wood ash contains:
- Calcium (Ca) – 30% -35%
- Phosphorus (P) – 2% – 4%
- Potassium (K) – 5% – 10%
5. Egg shell fertilizer
Egg shell fertilizer is an excellent calcium source. This is due to the fact that egg shells contain over 80% of easily digestible calcium, as well as zinc, fluorine, sulfur, and silicon.
Such a fertilizer is perfect for feeding both garden and potted plants, it is 100% natural, and its preparation is very simple. See how to make and use egg shell fertilizer to make your plants grow beautiful and healthy!
Eggs are part of the daily diet in almost every household. Therefore, the production of waste in the form of egg shells is very high.
Instead of throwing them into the trash, let’s use them as an excellent calcium fertilizer of natural origin. It is especially useful for fertilizing plants that prefer a lot of calcium in the soil.
Among ornamental plants it is, among others. lavender, common oleander, peonies, daylilies, tulips, dogwood, elderberry, and vegetables – cucumbers, courgettes, cabbage, beans.
Avoid using egg shell fertilizer for plants that prefer acidic soil, such as blueberries, heathers, rhododendrons, azaleas, ferns and orchids.
4 ways to make fertilizer from egg shells
- Crumble the eggshells and sprinkle them under the plants. When exposed to moisture, the eggshells will slowly dissolve, releasing calcium into the soil. In the garden, it will be a great way for snails that do not like the sharp edges of crushed eggshells.
That is why it is worth sprinkling crushed egg shells under plants that are often attacked by snails, e.g. around the funkia or on the beds with lettuce. In the same way, the shells can be scattered under potted plants grown at home. - You can also dry the eggshells and grind them into a fine powder. This type of egg shell fertilizer is used directly by sprinkling it around the plant or by mixing it with the soil for planting plants. It is especially recommended for potted plants.
- Another way to get fertilizer from egg shells is to prepare a solution and water our plants with it. In order to make liquid fertilizer from eggshells, pour boiling water over the eggshells and leave it aside for about a week, stirring occasionally.
When the eggshells have dissolved, the fertilizer will be ready. Before use, it is worth shaking such a solution to mix. This egg shell fertilizer can be watered directly on the ground around the plant. - Egg shells can also be added to compost. Thanks to this, you will obtain a compost rich in calcium, with an increased pH. It will be perfect for overly acidic soil. Egg shells will recompost faster if you crush them finely before throwing them into the composter.
On average egg shell contains:
- Nitrogen (N) – 1.2%
- Phosphorus (P) – 0.4%
- Potassium (K) – 0.15%
- Calcium (Ca) – 98%
6. Coffee grounds as fertilizer
Have you drunk your coffee and are throwing away the remaining coffee grounds? Do not do this! Coffee grounds can be used as fertilizer to provide plants with important nutrients, including nitrogen, potassium and magnesium. You can also prepare mulch, substrate or a nourishing preparation for watering plants from coffee grounds.
Coffee grounds for watering plants
You can prepare home-made fertilizer from coffee grounds, which will be useful both for watering potted plants and garden plants. You can supply it not only with ornamental plants, but also fruit bushes and vegetables. Prepare the preparation by pouring 10 liters of water over 1 cup of coffee grounds.
You are waiting for the coffee grounds to swell. Then mix the praparatus and immediately water the garden beds with it. You can perform this procedure once every 1-2 weeks.
You can water plants at home with a similarly prepared fertilizer from coffee grounds. To prepare it, pour 1-2 teaspoons of coffee grounds with 1 glass of water. When the coffee grounds swell, the solution should be mixed and then immediately water the plants with it.
You can also use the rest of the unfinished coffee to water the potted plants. You use a drink strongly diluted in water (1: 5). Such fertilizer will delight: anthurium, Japanese camellia, ferns, African violet and cacti. You perform the treatment once every 2 weeks.
Coffee grounds as bedding
If you drink a lot of ground coffee, the remaining grounds should be stored and dried. When you collect large amounts of coffee grounds, you can use them for mulching plants in the garden.
Spread the coffee grounds around the garden plants. Because they are light and very easily blown away by the wind, you can additionally spread mulch made of heavier material, such as garden bark, on the surface.
Coffee grounds that slowly decompose in the lower layer of the litter will gradually supply the top layer of the soil with precious nitrogen.
Another way is to sprinkle coffee grounds in your garden just before it is raining or you are about to water it. They will then be flushed into the ground and will not be blown away by the wind.
You can also use fresh, un-brewed ground coffee for mulching. Fresh ground coffee is slightly acidic and is perfect for acidophilic plants such as blueberry, hydrangeas, rhododendrons and roses.
Vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots and radishes react particularly positively to the coffee litter.
Coffee grounds as an additive to the soil
Coffee grounds add nutrients to the soil and improve its structure. Therefore, coffee grounds can be a component of the substrate for plants. Mixed with soil, they improve its aeration and water capacity.
It is worth mixing the coffee grounds with the soil 1-2 times a month. You can also dig coffee grounds under freshly planted plants. Preferably 15-20 cm deep. As a result, the level of beneficial microorganisms will increase, which will help plants grow faster and bloom more profusely.
Coffee grounds can be used as an additive to the substrate for potted plants. Moist coffee grounds should be mixed with the surface layer of the substrate from time to time. You only need 1-2 teaspoons per 20 cm pot.
The coffee grounds can be poured into the bottom of the pot or spread in a thin layer on the surface of the substrate once a month. However, you should not put wet grounds in a pot on the ground, because they mold and crust very quickly, which limits the access of oxygen.
Coffee grounds can be mixed with flower soil when transplanting plants. The resulting substrate will be looser and will retain water better.
Coffee grounds for compost
Coffee grounds are a valuable component of compost. The coffee grounds enrich the compost heap with trace elements, potassium, magnesium and copper. They contain large amounts of nitrogen, which has a positive effect on the pace of the composting process.
Thanks to their lumpy structure, they loosen the prism, improving its aeration. The smell of coffee grounds attracts earthworms.
Coffee grounds as an additive to seeds
Coffee grounds can be mixed with carrot and radish seeds and sown together with them. This natural fertilizer has a positive effect on seed germination. The emergence of these vegetables is more even and the seedlings are stronger. The presence of coffee grounds in the soil results in higher yields.
On average coffee grounds contains:
- Nitrogen (N) – 2%
- Phosphorus (P) – 0.36%
- Potassium (K) – 0.67%
Ready-made Natural fertilizers for flowers
The above-mentioned natural fertilizers however, have some disadvantages. Compost has to be made by yourself, and you need to set up a compost heap or set up a composter beforehand. Manure is used mainly in the fall of the preceding year. Similarly, a year earlier, green manure must be sown.
What if the decision to grow vegetables is made in spring and you need natural fertilizer at the last minute? In this case, ready-made natural fertilizers available in stores will be the rescue. It is important that you choose the 100% natural ones, without the addition of “chemicals”.
Fertilizers NPK table
| Nitrogen (N) | Phosphorus (P) | Potassium (K) | Calcium (Ca) | |
| Manure | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7 – 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Compost | 0.75% – 1.75% | 0.25% – 0.5% | 0.5% – 1.0% | 0% |
| Green manure | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Wood ash | 0% | 2% – 4% | 5%- 10% | 30% – 35% |
| Egg shells | 1.2% | 0.4% | 0.15% | 98% |
| Coffee grounds | 2% | 0.36% | 0.67% | 0.2% |
Source 1: https://www.britannica.com/science/nutrition/Herbivores
