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Post by organic15 on Nov 6, 2018 10:56:33 GMT -5
hello everyone,
I was curious if you use fertilizers? Of course, I mean those natural ones. I read that there are many different 'recipes' for fertilizers for e.g. tomatoes that you can make on your own. Have you ever tried?
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Post by tom 🕊 on Nov 6, 2018 13:30:07 GMT -5
I make and use anaerobic fertilizer.
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Post by desertwoman on Nov 6, 2018 18:47:52 GMT -5
I don't use fertilizers per se- organic or otherwise. I feed the soil with plenty of various organic matter that I gather and compost that I make. And my soil is loaded with earth worms- so worm castings, too.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 11, 2019 8:18:39 GMT -5
Hi organic15 , tom 🕊 , desertwoman , lilolpeapicker , I do use compost as well but I also plant in pots and there are no worms in the pots to breakdown the compost. For them and as an adjunct to the compost in the rest of the garden I use organic fish fertilizer as well. |
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Post by tom 🕊 on May 11, 2019 9:12:42 GMT -5
I do use compost as well but I also plant in pots and there are no worms in the pots to breakdown the compost. I am under the impression that plants secrete digestive fluids just as the human digestive tract does. |
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 11, 2019 10:00:50 GMT -5
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Post by tom 🕊 on May 11, 2019 10:10:30 GMT -5
I think of a person as a plant turned inside out. We carry our soil within us. A plant has its soil outside. That's the main difference between us. Villi are analogous to the root hairs of plants. There is very little difference between a potted plant and a human. |
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Post by lilolpeapicker on May 11, 2019 10:54:34 GMT -5
tom 🕊, you have captured the function very well. You know how the body works.
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Post by Mumsey on May 11, 2019 15:34:27 GMT -5
I use organic potting soil that has 3-6 months nutrients in it, varies with brand. Then I will use some earthworm casting tea to water when getting to the end of the 3-6 month period, before I get around to re-potting.
For the garden, just compost and organic matter, and Mumsey's Mix for tomatoes, eggplant and peppers.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Jun 17, 2019 17:12:15 GMT -5
For indoor plants, compost, and on occasion, weak fish emulsion. There is very little difference between a potted plant and a human. Hey, I resemble that remark! ;) |
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Vokar
Blooming
Posts: 183
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Post by Vokar on Oct 13, 2021 21:40:21 GMT -5
Organic-wise, I use ash made out of wood and organic matter. I also use Epsom salt. Fruit, vegetable and fruit peel ash might be good for houseplants (we're in the houseplant forum, so I thought I'd put that out there). Fruit ash shouldn't be alkaline like wood ash. I haven't tried it on houseplants, yet, but I use ashes on my vegetables (including seedlings) with good results. I use basalt rockdust on my muskmelons (cantaloupes, honeydews, etc.) I'm tempted to make horseradish leaf tea (like people make comfrey tea). We have so many horseradish plants!  We tried comfrey tea once, but it was so smelly. Our neighbors didn't seem to like us that year. |
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Vokar
Blooming
Posts: 183
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Post by Vokar on Oct 14, 2021 21:49:13 GMT -5
I'm thinking about steeping basalt rockdust in vinegar before I use it to see if that makes it less alkaline. As-is, it's too alkaline for houseplants, it seems (or they didn't seem to like it, anyhow). I probably wouldn't use it on houseplants anyway, though (probably on vegetables, before I plant them).
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Vokar
Blooming
Posts: 183
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Post by Vokar on Oct 14, 2021 23:18:33 GMT -5
Apparently, it's pretty easy to make calcium acetate with calcium carbonate and vinegar (acetic acid).
You can mix calcium oxide and vinegar to get calcium acetate, too (you might have to mix the calcium oxide with water to get calcium hydroxide first, but I'm not sure). Calcium acetate is water soluble and plants are said to absorb it readily.
Wood ash should contain calcium oxide.
Basalt rockdust contains calcium oxide, and other oxide minerals.
You can use eggshells and vinegar to make calcium acetate.
Garden lime should work as a calcium carbonate source (or just plain limestone; you could just soak it in vinegar until it dissolves and the vinegar turns to water).
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Vokar
Blooming
Posts: 183
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Post by Vokar on Oct 15, 2021 1:55:17 GMT -5
I'm not sure if making chemicals yourself out of natural stuff counts as organic-approved or not--but at least you know what's in it.
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Post by gardendmpls on Oct 15, 2021 6:17:22 GMT -5
Plain minerals are usually considered organic. Many inorganic fertilizers are mineral salts, which over time mess up the soil.
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