“Look, what a blooming and lush green garden!” We all might agree that our plant-loving spirit giggles whenever we hear this compliment for our garden. What if I say that you can achieve that using what you have in the kitchen? Today, we are surrounded by so many urban gardeners who try to find new ways to get the best out of gardening. But let me remind you that the roots of Indian gardening connect us to practices developed many years ago. This blog covers some notes from the times when farmers used natural fertilisers (and they are still using them). I am pretty sure that you must’ve heard about a couple of them from your grandparents, as they contribute a lot to the entire plant growth. So, let’s get to our kitchen and find out a bit more about them as urban gardeners. (Rest assured, this is going to be your favourite read of the day.)
List of Organic Fertilizers You Can Find at Home
Bananas
Have you ever thought that the banana you so love can be used for your plant, too? Yes, here we are talking about banana peels that act as one of the best organic fertilisers for plants. The hidden fact here is that bananas are high in potassium content, which, on the plant’s end, is an essential nutrient. You can either take banana peels and soak them in the sun or add banana peels to the jar of water to prepare a liquid fertiliser.
Egg Shells
Had an omelette for breakfast? Why not collect those egg shells and use them in the soil? All you have to do is take some eggshell pieces and sprinkle them on the soil. Egg shells contain a high amount of calcium, which can prepare the soil to facilitate healthy root development for the plant. Plants consume a significant amount of calcium from the soil, and calcium must be replenished.
Epsom Salt
Epsom Salt is also called Magnesium Sulphate. Magnesium is a very important ingredient when it comes to soil mixes for plants, like photosynthesis. All you have to do is take 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt and dilute it with water, then spray this mixture after a couple of weeks. You can also sprinkle Epsom salt in the plant’s soil for better results.
Green Tea
How to make fertiliser at home? Well, your companion on the weight loss journey can also accompany you on the gardening adventure. Green tea is packed with nitrogen, amino acids, phosphorus, and potassium — all of which are highly beneficial for plant growth. As these ingredients will boost the quality of soil in your garden, your plants will grow healthier and faster.
Hair
Yes, you read it right! Hair can be an effective organic plant fertiliser as it contains nitrogen, which is then slowly released into the soil. You can gather the waste hair clumps that you find on the haircomb and use them in the garden.
Seaweed
Like others on the list, seaweed is also rich in the famous plant nutrients Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Apart from this, its extract has a multitude of benefits, including amino acids, auxins, etc. For those living in coastal areas, seaweed can be an easy-to-find and excellent fertiliser. Dilute the extracts of seaweed in water, which you can later use for watering.
Coffee Grounds
Next is coffee grounds. You can prepare a fertiliser from used coffee grounds and mix it with the compost. You can also prepare a liquid fertiliser for your plants. These coffee grounds are also helpful to deter pests from your garden.
Rice Water
Made rice for dinner? Good, but don’t discard the rice water residue. One of the many benefits of rice starch is in your garden. First, let the water ferment for 2 to 3 days in a container, dilute the fermented rice water with three parts fresh water. You can use this for your houseplants to improve soil fertility by adding nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Wood Ash
The ash of the burnt wood is rich in potassium and calcium carbonate. You can fertilise your plant with wood ash by using it along with compost fertiliser. It also helps the plant bloom better and have heavier foliage.
Fish Tank Water or Fish Emulsion
Fish tanks have lots of microorganisms and hidden nutrients that can facilitate better plant growth. As another wonder of aquatic life, simply watering your plants with the fish water can do wonders for their growth. Talking about fish emulsion, it's simply a mix prepared from fish waste and water. This emulsion is then added to the soil and enhances its quality by the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Tea
The tea you so love can also act as a fertiliser, supplying the right mix of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus in the soil. While draining your tea, save the leftover mix in the strainer. Remember to rinse it properly and dry it only to add as fertilizer later.
Cooking Water
When you boil vegetables like potatoes, broccoli, etc., the nutrients present in the vegetables get mixed with the water, which can be transferred to the soil for better growth. This fertiliser may have a pungent smell, so you can use it outdoors.
Grass Clippings
You can also use the grass clippings as mulch, while not directly acting as a fertiliser, they help prepare well. With them, the soil retains better moisture. They can also help reduce the growth of the weed and maintain a certain temperature as per the requirements of the plant.
Cow Dung
The use of cow dung is not new. Indian agriculture has been using it for almost all years in gardening. It is one of the richest sources of beneficial microorganisms and nutrients, which can be mixed with garden soil to improve its structure and composition. You can even prepare a liquid fertilizer by using cow dung and water, which can be used on any plant to watch it spring with joy.
Neem Cake
Neem cake is another fertilizer that has been widely used in agriculture for a long period. It’s a byproduct that is left after extracting oil from neem seeds. It provides the essential three (Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus) and some other nutrients to the soil. It also acts as an eco-friendly alternative to any other chemical-induced fertiliser, which acts as a great solution for pest control while balancing the requirements of the soil.
Conclusion
That’s it! An easy way to make sure your plant care routine goes well as you care for them. The special thing about such fertilizers is that they are easy to find, and you can trust them with your garden. Urvann India is an online plant nursery that was started with a passion for home gardening. As a team, we collaborate daily and think about what’s best for the greens that we sell to thousands of customers on a regular basis (check our website to buy plants online at great deals). If you are a beginner looking for tips or tricks to improve your gardening practices, then don’t forget to drop a comment down below!
Frequently Asked Questions about Homemade Organic Fertilizers
Q: What are some of the best homemade nitrogen fertilisers?
A: Some of the best homemade fertilisers can be found in your kitchen. For example,rice water, egg shells and coffee grounds, etc.
Q: Can we use sugar water for plants?
A: No, we do not recommend sugar water for plants as it can attract pests, and larger quantities of it can even kill your plants. Instead, you can use the natural fertilisers or dilute them into water to prepare a liquid fertiliser for your plant.
Q: Do tea leaves contain nitrogen?
A: Yes, tea leaves contain nitrogen. They are a rich source of other useful nutrients to the plants, like phosphorus, potassium and tannic acid, which in turn enhances the plant’s soil structure.
Q: Can we make liquid fertilizer at home?
Yes, you can make lots of liquid fertilizers at home. These can be used by simply storing them in water bottles. Some of the fertilizers are neem oil solution, compost, egg shells and banana peel solution as well.
0 Comment