In order for your plants to thrive in the garden, they need fertilizer from time to time. Make it yourself, save money and protect the environment.
Sufficient supply of nutrients to the plants is necessary for greenery and blooming in the home garden and on the balcony and terrace. Flowers, trees and shrubs do not always automatically receive all their nutrients from the substrate. Green and flowering plants need additional fertilizer during the growth phase.
Especially in balcony boxes and planters, the substrate uses up very quickly and fertilizer must be applied regularly. Commercially available fertilizer is not always the best choice. Because this is usually enriched with chemical additives and damages the microorganisms in the soil.
In the following we will show you how you can easily make natural fertilizer. This is easy on the wallet and on the environment.
Natural fertilizer without much effort: compost and manure
Almost every kitchen garden has a compost bin. Grass, shrub cuttings or dried flowers are disposed of here. Egg shells or leftover fruit and vegetables can also be composted.
Tip: Compost is a nutrient rich slow release fertilizer and can be used to make heavy clay soil more permeable.
Dung is also an organic fertilizer that does not have to be produced by yourself and is available at any time. Many farmers willingly donate cattle or horse manure. A natural fertilizer has thus been found that has a long-term effect and often even surpasses mineral fertilizers.
Making natural fertilizer from plants
If you want to make your own natural fertilizer from plants, you need the following things:
• Baskets
• Jars
• Bowls
• Watering Can
• Spray Bottles
• Dispenser
• Secateurs• Kitchen Knife
• Cutting Board
• Scale
• Sieve
• Funnel
• Work Gloves
An overview of the manufacturing options
There are different ways to make your own natural fertilizer from plants:
• Extract
• Infusion
• Decoction
Make Extract
Extracts are made on a cold basis with water. With little effort, a gentle remedy is created to strengthen the body's defencesto strengthen the plants and to take targeted action against diseases and insect infestations.
Basic recipe for plant extracts:
1. Cut plant parts into small pieces
2. Place plant parts in a glass filled with water
3. Leave plant parts for one day at room temperature
4. Strain off
5. Extract into fill a spray bottle
6. Use the extract undiluted
Examples of plant extracts
| Examples of plant extracts | |
|---|---|
| Stinging nettle: | • general strengthening • insect protection |
| Yarrow: | • increases the body's defences |
| Onion: | • Insect Repellent • Fungicide |
| Rhubarb: | • Insect screen |
Make infusion
In an infusion, the parts of the plant are poured over with hot water. Infusions can be used to strengthen plants and counteract insect or fungal infestations ahead of time.
Basic recipe for infusions:
1. Chop the plant parts into small pieces
2. Place the plant parts in a pot
3. Pour in the water
4. Bring the water to a simmer
5. Remove the pot from the heat before boiling
6. Allow infusion to cool
7. Use infusion immediately
Examples of herbal infusions
| Examples of herbal infusions | |
|---|---|
| Holy Herb: | • strengthens the plant and protects against insects |
| Oregano: | • protects against insects • acts against fungi |
| tansy: | • strengthens the plant • protects against downy mildew |
| Lavender: | • protects against insects |
Make Decoction
If certain active plant ingredients cannot be dissolved by simple infusions, this form of preparation is used. The raw materials are soaked before heating and serve to strengthen the plants and protect them from insects.
Decoction Basic Recipe:
1. Cut the plant parts into small pieces
2. Soak the plant parts for a day
3. Put the plant parts in a pot
4. Pour on water
5. Leave to rest for a day6. Boil water
7. Cover pot
8. Simmer plant parts for 20 minutes
9. Allow decoction to cool
10. Strain decoction
Examples of decoctions
| Examples of decoctions | |
|---|---|
| Comfrey: | • stimulating effect • protects against insects |
| Bracken: | • Strengthening of the plant • Protection against snails |
| Horsetail: | • general tonic • protects against insects |
| Elderberry | • protects against insects |
The 4 best plants for natural crop protection
Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium) - © jbphotographylt / stock.adobe.com
The yarrow helps to strengthen the plants' defences. The essential vegetable oil has a growth-promoting effect. The extract should be applied between June and September.
Great burdock (Arctium Lappa) - © Acrogame / Stock.adobe.com
Greater burdock is a popular medicinal plant. Leaves and root parts can be used. The high potassium content makes this plant extract an ideal fertilizer for roses and berries. The burdock extract is used as a fertilizer in a 10% dilution. Tip: The crushed leaves are very suitable as a mulch for tomatoes.
Comfrey (Symphytum Officinale) - © Ruud Morijn / Stock.adobe.com
Comfrey can be used as a fertilizer for already weakened plants. The plant is rich in phosphorus and potassium and is a good fertilizer for fruit and root vegetables. Roses or herbs that do not tolerate nitrogen well also respond to this herbal boost. A decoction diluted 20 percent is used.
Stinging nettle (Urtica Dioica ) - © Orestligetka / Stock.adobe.com
The stinging nettle is a universal plant protection product and fertilizer. The high content of iron and nitrogen justifies its use. The plant is also effective against insects and fungal infestation. Extracts and decoctions are used.
Fertilizer instead of disposal - the best natural fertilizers from waste
In many cases, waste does not have to be disposed of carelessly. Natural plant strengtheners can be obtained from wood ash, tea leaves, coffee grounds etc., which do not have to be laboriously prepared and are immediately available.
Milk
TheResidues in the milk packaging are simply disposed of. Due to the high proportion of microorganisms, it can upgrade soils and help against powdery mildew infestation. So it makes sense to use the milk as fertilizer.
You can use milk diluted ten percent as a liquid fertilizer. Fertilization can begin as early as late winter. Spray treatments are great all summer long.
Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are a daily occurrence in most kitchens. It is a good idea to collect coffee grounds and use them extensively in the garden. As an organic fertilizer, coffee grounds are a top choice due to their high nitrogen and magnesium content.
Tip: Coffee grounds are slightly acidic and therefore very suitable for ericaceous plants.
The coffee grounds are added to the irrigation water and can be used regularly during the growing season. When you repot house and balcony plants, you can mix the coffee grounds directly under the substrate.
Tea Leaves
Tea bags and tea leaves don't have to end up in the trash either. You can pour the rest of the teapot directly into the flower pot. You can mix the contents of the tea bags under the substrate. This nutrient boost during the growth phase is always welcome for balcony and potted plants whose supply of nutrients in the planter is limited.
Wood Ash
Fireplace owners or lovers of grilled steak can use wood ash as fertilizer. Wood ash is rich in potassium, phosphorus, calcium or silica and promotes flowering and fruit development. However, only use ashes from untreated materials.
Warning: This fertilizer is not suitable for ericaceous plants.
The ashes are soaked in water and should rest for a day so that the potassium can dissolve. The solution is then filtered. Wood ash fertilizer promotes the growth of tomatoes, cabbage or pumpkins. The fertilizer is suitable for roses every two weeks.
Potato Water
During the cooking process, valuable ingredients are extracted from the potatoes. Therefore, potato water is not poured down the drain, but can be used directly and undiluted as fertilizer. Flowering plants are particularly happy about potato water.
Warning: Potato water should not contain any s alt. S alt is not tolerated by the plants in the bed.
urine
Urine isn't the most appetizing way to feed your plants, but it sure isone of the most effective ways. In connection with water, urine serves as a growth and strengthening agent for plants.
Tip: Use the more nutritious morning urine.
The urine is diluted ten percent with water and can provide a growth spurt for roses, shrubs and young trees during the growing season. Brussels sprouts, corn, leeks and celery also like this form of fertilization.
Ideally, the fertilizer is poured onto the mulched soil. The high nitrogen content in urine can be offset by the carbon contained in the soil.
Tip: An effective complete fertilizer can be made from urine and wood ash.