Natural Plant Fertilizers

Besides the fact that they are inorganic, most store-bought fertilizers end up costing a small fortune. It really should not be that hard to feed your plants with all the available organic material. If you’re after only the most nutritious ingredients, you’ll be surprised at what’s readily available in your kitchen. Here are five homemade fertilizer options suited for indoor plants.

Coffee Grounds

Besides giving you a boost in the morning, coffee grounds act as a great fertilizer. If you’re growing plants that actually thrive in acidic soil (tomatoes, blueberries etc), then coffee is a great way to reintroduce some acidity. To apply the coffee, you can either sprinkle the actual grounds on the surface of the soil or pour it out in its liquid form. Either way, it will nourish them greatly.

Baking Soda

Everyone probably has some baking soda sitting in the back of their kitchen cabinet. It's time to put it to use! This substance is a double-threat, because it does not only spur plant growth, but it also goes a long way to guard against any fungal diseases. Plants like poinsettias and African violets are prone to mildew so this solution is particularly good for them.

Weeds

Yes, you heard right. You can actually put those weeds to use instead of simply discarding them. Whilst they’re annoying, weeds are high in nitrogen and as such, are increasingly nutritious for plants. However, bare in mind that you can’t simply chop your weeds up and dump then on your plant. The best solution for this? Make a tea from them.

However, you don’t brew it like you would a pot of tea, but rather, you soak the weeds in water for a couple of weeks. Once it turns a brownish-yellowish colour (much like actual tea) it's ready for use.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt is not just great for soothing aching muscles and revitalizing the body after a long day. You can also use it to nourish your plants, thanks to its unique composition. This is because epsom salt contains both magnesium and sulfur, which are highly beneficial for plant growth. What sulfur does is make it easier for plants to absorb nutrients from the soil.

Meanwhile, magnesium spurs the plant’s ability to make chlorophyl, which in turn, makes them look fresher and healthier.

Eggshells

Rather than trashing your eggshells after making an omelette, there’s a great way to put them to good use. You don’t need to do much with them - wash them out and crush them before placing them in the pot. So why does this work? Eggshells comprise about 93% calcium carbonate, which is actually the same substance lime is made from.

All avid gardeners know that lime is a miracle worker when it comes to plant growth. Besides reducing the acidity of the soil, it equally pumps calcium into the soil. So, if you don’t have lime at hand, crush some eggshells and call it a day.

This article was published by Direct2Florist - A reputable flower delivery service specialising in flower delivery via independent local florists.

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By Miles Warner 08 October 2020