Ā Using organic fertilizer
The world as we knowĀ itĀ is becoming more and more aware of the need to live a moreĀ healthy lifestyle, one that can add years to your lifespan. Everywhere we go we see and hear of health programs that are offering a better way of living.
The media and airwaves are flooded with advertisements and commercials about healthy living. The world has become so health-conscious that it has become common to see people working out in gyms, jogging, walking, and so on.
Dieting has also become the norm, while more and more restaurants are offering healthy choices on their menus. Supermarkets are placing more healthy products on their shelves and nutritional stores are in every shopping mall.
“So what does all of this have to do with organic fertilizers?”
What’s the big deal?
It all goes back to food production. The food that we consume is supposed to sustain us by doing our bodies good but the sad reality is that many persons are becoming ill simply because some of these foods are grown with the use of harmful chemicals.
Now I understand that we may not be able to control the number of foods that are being produced with chemicals but what we can do is try to cultivate a more healthy lifestyle.
Organic fertilizing then is a means of growing and producing foods without the use of chemicals by using natural organic products that are derived from animals, plants, and mined minerals to produce and grow foods.
Examples of organic fertilizers
You can produce your own organic fertilizer on a small scale by means of creating a compost pile. Don’t let the wordsĀ ‘compost pile’ scare you! All it takes is a little effort on your part and you can have your own organic garden.
To learn more about creating a compost pile just click this linkĀ Composting.
Different types of organic fertilizers
Fertilizers that are derived from animals
Fertilizers that are derived from animals are used to add nitrogen to the soil. These fertilizers include blood meal, manure, bone meal, and fish emulsion. I’m sure that there are more but we will be looking at these four more closely.
Blood meal
Blood meal is derived from dry animal blood, i.e. animals that are killed in the slaughterhouses. Their blood is collected and dried. After the blood has dried, it is used to make a powder.
Blood meal will add nitrogen to your soil giving you more healthy and full plants. Blood meal can also raise your soil ph for plants that prefer acid soils. However, overuse of this type of fertilizer can burn plants, stop plants from bearing fruits, flowering, and can kill them.
Labor is law so follow the label to the very letter. Blood meal can be purchased from your garden center or nursery.
Manure
Manure is also a good organic fertilizer to use in your garden. Manure such as chicken, horse,Ā and cow manure can also add or fill your garden soil with nitrogen.
Make sure when using manure that the manure is dried. Fresh manure can cause the plant to burn but adding manure to the soil can help to condition the soil. Clay soils are soils that are compacted, by adding manure to your clay soil, you can actually help this soil with drainage because it will loosen up the soil.
Soils that cannot retain water such as sandy soils can be conditioned with manure also because manure will help sandy soils to retain water. You can check your nursery or go to a farmhouse to purchase manure.
Caution
Do not use manure from domestic animals such as cats and dogs.Ā Their manure may contain parasites that can make you sick.
Bone meal
Bone meal is a fertilizer that is made from ground-up animal bones. For animals that have been slaughtered, the bones are produced in powdered form. Bone meal increases phosphorus in the soil.
Bone meal will helpĀ your flowering plant to produce not only flowers but healthier better- looking flowers.
Always remember to read and follow directions on the label because the label is the law.
Fish emulsion
Fish emulsion is made from fish. Now I know that the thought of fish fertilizer may turn you off but this fertilizer will actually do your plants a whole lot of good.
I remember watching a garden show some time back and on that show, a gentleman was being interviewed about his garden because it was such a healthy-looking garden.
His response was that the reason his plants were growing so healthy was that he planted fish heads In his garden. For me, that was pretty new, but as the saying goes ‘you live and you learn’.
Fertilizers that are derived from mined mineral
1.Epsom Salts
Epsom salts have been around for hundreds of years. It is used to help plants green up and have a better bloom.
Epsom salt contains sulfur, magnesium, and hydrated magnesium sulfate. Before applying Epsom salt to your soil make sure that a soil ph test is done first to see if your soil needs magnesium or not. You can apply Epsom soil once or twice a month to your plant.
2. Calcium
You can purchase products from your nursery or garden center that contain calcium or you can use eggshells. That’s right and who said that you can’t use the whole egg including the shell. Organic gardening is all about recycling.
Believe itĀ or not, eggshell contains calcium that can help boost your plants. Boil about 15 eggs in 1 gallon of water. When the water has boiled let it cool, place itĀ in a jar making sure that the lid is airtight. Store in a cool dark place.
This will make a good foliar spray for your plants and keep them growing healthy and happy. Do you know that another added benefit of eggshells is that you can add them to your plant bed to keep snails away?
If you have a problem with snails just use eggshells. Firstly, let the shells dry out. After you have gotten enough let us say about 10-15 it could be more, place them in a plastic bag. Gently crush them up and walk throughout your plant bed sprinkling them through. The rough edges of the shells will cut into the snail’s soft body causing them to avoid your garden.
Also as the eggshell begins to break down it will add calcium to the soil which in turn will be taken up by your plants through their roots.
Sulfur
Sulfur is needed in plants because sulfur helps in the formation of plant protein. It also acts as a soil conditioner. Although sulfur is needed in a small amount, a lack of sulfur can cause plants to lose their shine or their glow.
These are just a few minerals that you can use to keep your plants in tip-top shape.
You can purchase these products from your nursery or garden center, making sure to carefully read the label and follow as directed.
Final word
Organic fertilizers are a good and safe way to grow foods for consumption. A word of caution here is that even though you are using these methods to grow your plants, care must be taken in how you apply them and in the amount that you use in your garden.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
wow! I never knew that the different types of fertilizers were so important. Let alone organic fertilizers.
I am starting a mini garden and wanted to plant a couple vegetables. Is there a specific fertilizer for that?
I also have some soil but how do you know that it is good soil?
Thank you!
Hello Olive so happy for the follow, What you can do is to get a soil ph test done just take a couple of samples from different parts of your garden area where you want to plant and send it the lab or you can purchase a soil ph kit that comes with the direction that you can follow. This may be sort of a long discussion about your soil type but to cut it short what you can do to get the most out of you soil is to add compost to the soil. Compost will help to condition your soil, Compost will aid in soil drainage as well as holding the right amount of water that your plants need. you can use chicken manure, cow manure or you can create a compost pile. Hopes this helps, if you need anymore help just give me a shout. Thanks again.
Organic Fertilizer! This is an awesome review on fertilizer. The way and process whereby we grow our plants is very important and vital, as these plants are used for various purposes to help with human activities and responsibility.
For our foods, drugs, medication and whatever. Thanks for taking out the time to write a review on this, it was very much informative.
Good evening Mr. Johnson thanks a lot for those kind words. If you need my help or advice just gave me a shout. Thanks again.
This post has a great message of focusing on where the food we eat comes from. Food grown in good soil can be healing and beneficial to out health. I have recently been very focused on my food and getting high quality in all that I eat. Focusing on where the food is grown is also important.
I like how you give examples of the types of fertilizers and how they benefits growing plants. Thanks again!
Thanks Mr. Monrean for those kind words, thanks for the follow glad that I could of be of help to you. Thanks again.
Hey there, great post, I definitely agree with the importance of organic fertilizers. In these days, everything we eat is contaminated and full of chemicals, and some of these are thanks to the fertilization techniques.
These ideas that you mentioned seem very effective, I’ll start using either Calcium or Epson Salt and I’ll tell you the results.
Thanks for this great post š
Good evening Ashley nice to meet you and thanks for the follow, I am glad that i could help and i am looking forward to hearing from you God’s will. Thanks again and have a good day.