Materials You Can Use:
1. Kitchen Scraps:
- Fruit and Vegetable Peels: Banana peels, potato peels, citrus peels, etc.
- Coffee Grounds: Rich in nitrogen.
- Eggshells: Rich in calcium.
2. Yard and Garden Waste:
- Grass Clippings: Rich in nitrogen.
- Weeds: Before they seed, to avoid spreading weeds.
- Trimmed Plant Material: Leaves, stems, and prunings.
3. Other Ingredients:
- Manure: Preferably aged or composted to avoid burning plants.
- Seaweed: Rich in trace minerals.
- Fish Scraps: Heads, bones, and guts (for a fish emulsion).
Methods to Make Liquid Fertilizer:
1. Compost Tea:
- Ingredients: Compost or compostable materials (kitchen scraps, yard waste).
- Method: Place compost or compostable materials in a bucket or barrel filled with water. Let it steep for a few days to weeks, stirring occasionally. Strain out the solids and dilute the resulting liquid before using it to water plants.
2. Manure Tea:
- Ingredients: Aged or composted manure (cow, horse, chicken).
- Method: Place manure in a burlap sack or old pillowcase and submerge it in a bucket of water. Let it steep for several days to weeks, stirring occasionally. Dilute before using to avoid burning plants.
3. Weed Tea:
- Ingredients: Weeds (before they seed).
- Method: Place weeds in a bucket or barrel filled with water. Let them steep for several weeks. Strain out the solids and use the liquid as fertilizer. Dilute before use.
4. Seaweed Extract:
- Ingredients: Fresh or dried seaweed (preferably rinsed to remove excess salt).
- Method: Rinse seaweed and chop it into small pieces. Place in a bucket or barrel filled with water. Let it steep for a few days to weeks. Strain out the solids and dilute the liquid before using it as fertilizer.
5. Fish Emulsion:
- Ingredients: Fish scraps (heads, bones, guts).
- Method: Fill a bucket with fish scraps and cover with water. Let it ferment for several weeks, stirring occasionally. Strain out the solids and dilute before using as a liquid fertilizer.
Tips for Making and Using Liquid Fertilizer:
- Dilution: Always dilute liquid fertilizers to prevent burning plants. A typical ratio is about 10 parts water to 1 part fertilizer.
- Application: Use liquid fertilizer as a soil drench or foliar spray. Apply it to the base of plants or directly onto leaves.
- Frequency: Apply liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the growing season, or as needed based on plant growth and nutrient deficiencies.
- Storage: Store liquid fertilizers in sealed containers in a cool, dark place. Use within a few weeks to maintain effectiveness.
By making liquid fertilizer from household and garden waste, you can reduce waste, improve soil fertility, and promote healthier plant growth without relying on synthetic chemicals. It’s an eco-friendly and sustainable gardening practice that benefits both your plants and the environment.
