Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:49 pm
Are you tired of spending money on fertilizers and other chemicals to keep your plants healthy and growing fast? Are you looking for other solutions than compost, manure or guano to get your soil in good health? It is possible to use several natural products and organic materials that are regularly and easily found at home as natural fertilizers. Here are a few examples that will do your garden’s soil and vegetable garden fertility a world of good. Grab your best bucket and your tools. Let’s get started!
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1 Coffee grounds, the natural fertilizer that gives plants a boost
Coffee filter residues are among the best natural fertilizers. It is well known that coffee grounds are beneficial for enriching the soil of potted plants in particular. Rich in vitamins such as nitrogen and phosphate, it allows to enrich considerably the soil of potted plants and flowers. It is an excellent natural fertilizer for the growth and beautification of plants. Simply pour the coffee grounds at the foot of the plant and water lightly so that it mixes well. This will also keep away flies and worms that can’t stand its smell.
2 Banana peel, the fruity natural fertilizer
Don’t throw away your banana peels, they are very rich in potassium known to optimize plant growth and stimulate flowering. Potassium is also involved in keeping flowers healthy and colorful. To use banana peel as fertilizer, simply cut it into small pieces and bury it at the foot of the plants. Over time and watering, the potassium will be extracted and enrich the soil. This tip is even more effective for the soil of roses, which love this organic waste. Of course, it is preferable to use organically grown bananas. It will have the merit of being better for your health and that of the soil used for planting.
3 Wood ashes
For those who heat their homes with a wood stove, fireplace or those who barbecue regularly, it is useful to save the ashes of the burned wood to use as natural fertilizer. They are very concentrated in nutrients and therefore very effective for the growth and beautification of plants. To use them, you have to start by sifting them to obtain a fine powder that you will then have to put at the foot of the plants, flowers or shrubs. With a large quantity of ashes it is also possible to mix them in water and then water the garden with them. This scares away slugs and snails and protects shrubs from disease.
4 Eggshells
Eggshells have the particularity of being rich in calcium. This mineral, which plants need, stimulates them and protects them against diseases. To use them as a natural fertilizer, dry them for a day or two and grind them with a rolling pin or a coffee grinder. Then simply spread the powder obtained at the foot of the plants, mixing the soil well. Alternatively, you can also plant an egg directly in the soil… Tomato plants love it!
Credits: congerdesign / Pixabay
5 Cooking water, a natural fertilizer that we tend to forget
Very few people think about it, but cooking water is really beneficial in the cultivation of plants. Don’t throw away the cooking water (without salt) from your vegetables, potatoes, eggs, pasta and other food juices. Indeed, it is rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutritive contributions resulting from the cooking of food. In fact, this ready-to-use nutrient water can be used as a fertilizer for good growth. Put it aside, let it cool down and then water your plants and flowers in the ground, pots or planter with it.
6 Nettles
Surprising, isn’t it? This plant that everyone shuns can actually serve as a natural fertilizer for the garden soil. Very rich in nitrogen, it provides nutrients that are essential for the good health of plants. It can also be used to repel harmful parasites and pests. To use the nettles, you must macerate them in plenty of water in full sunlight for 10 days. Then keep only the liquid part, the nettle manure, and water the plants and flowers with it.
Credits: pixabay/Kapa65
Tip for all fertilizers and not just a natural fertilizer:
Always use the fertilizer on moist soil, shortly after watering.