The plants we grow in our gardens and orchards require three main types of nutrients: nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
Although other elements like calcium and magnesium are also important for the proper functioning of plants, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are vital for the growth of all vegetables.
In this article from HealthNGarden, we teach you the process of making organic fertilizer at home. That would be easy and cheap, based on each essential nutrient.
You may also be interested in: The Best Organic Garden Soil For Raised Beds.
Table of Contents
Making your own organic fertilizer with phosphorus: wood ashes
Wood is a very abundant material and we can use the ashes resulting from the burning we do in fireplaces to heat our homes.
For example, as a very effective organic fertilizer to provide phosphorus to our plants. Although to a lesser extent, the burned remains also contain a small amount of potassium. The simplest way to obtain ash is to use the final result of barbecues or fireplaces.
So, to use wood ash as fertilizer, you just have to mix it with water, to dilute its content, and apply it to the plants for irrigation. It is important to do this only 2 or 3 times a year so that it is not excessive.
Best homemade organic fertilizer with potassium: banana peels
As is well known in popular culture, bananas are a fruit with a high potassium content. This element is also found in large quantities in the peel of this fruit.
In this section, we will teach you how to make an organic fertilizer with a high potassium content from banana peels. The simplest way to obtain ash is to use the final result of barbecues or fireplaces.
So, to use wood ash as fertilizer, you just have to mix it with water, to dilute its content, and apply it to the plants for irrigation. It is important to do this only 2 or 3 times a year so that it is not excessive.
Ingredients
- 3 or 4 banana peels
- 1 liter of water
Elaboration
- First of all, you need to have a few banana peels, which will allow you to make a good extraction from an infusion. 3 or 4 banana peels for each liter of water will be enough.
- The total amount of fertilizer will depend on the number of plants each person has available.
- Chop the shells and put them, together with the water, in a pot to boil for approximately 15 minutes.
- After this time, strain the mixture and let it cool.
- You now have your fertilizer, which mixed with 2 liters of water, will be ready to apply to your plants.
- Potassium is a very useful element during flowering or fruiting periods. You can apply it every 10 or 15 days and your plants will notice a great contribution. Which will help the plants grow faster and produce their flowers and fruits. It’s the best way to making organic fertilizer from food waste.
How to make the best fertilizer for coffee plants:
Coffee can be a potential ally against certain pests and diseases. But it also has great potential as an organic fertilizer.
Since its nitrogen content is very high, as well as containing other nutrients to a lesser extent and antioxidants. In this section, we will learn a very quick, simple, and cheap way to provide our plants with extra nitrogen.
Follow these steps to make Homemade organic fertilizer recipe fertilizers with nitrogen :
- Collect the coffee grounds from the coffee makers you prepare. Whether they are the ones you use at home every day, or, if you have a large number of plants, you can use the nearby bars and cafes.
- You can mix these remains with water and let them sit for a few days, or you can apply them directly to the soil.
- It should be remembered that coffee is a very acidic material. So its use as a fertilizer is only recommended for plants. That requires an acidic substrate, such as hydrangeas, camellias, and gardenias.
How to prepare organic fertilizer with calcium: Eggshells
Finally, we will tell you a very quick, simple, and also cheap way to provide your plants with extra calcium. These are eggshells since their content is 95% calcium, and to a lesser extent nitrogen.
This is a very simple but effective organic fertilizer making process, you just need to follow these instructions:
- Collects a large number of eggshells.
- Wash them if they still contain any residue and crush them.
- They can also be applied directly to the soil, although absorption by the plants will then be slower.
Calcium is not an essential nutrient, nor is it one that the plant needs most. However as mentioned above, some secondary elements can play a decisive role in some specific plant processes.
Calcium contributions can help solve problems related to the cultivation of some vegetables. Blossom end rot is a problem that can affect tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.
If you want to know about the benefits of organic gardening, we recommend that you enter our page Benefits of Organic Gardening at Home.
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Conclusion
Making your own organic fertilizers at home is easy and cost-effective. Use everyday materials like wood ashes, banana peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, and kitchen scraps.
These items are rich in nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, and calcium. They are readily available and fit well into your gardening routine. Natural fertilizers improve plant growth and support sustainable gardening.
They are perfect for enriching soil, supporting flowering plants, or meeting specific plant needs. Homemade organic fertilizers are versatile and eco-friendly. Enjoy lush plants with these simple, homemade solutions. For more on organic gardening, explore our page on the Benefits of Organic Gardening at Home.