Category: Soils & Plant Nutrients

Aglaonema Care Guide: How to Grow Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema, the Chinese evergreen is a low-maintenance and versatile houseplant that comes in wide varieties. This plant is great for adding a bit of color to any working or residential area if well taken care of. In this article, we will give you the best Aglaonema care guide that will help you to get the best out of these stunning plants.
Some of the qualities that make Aglaonema such a popular and ideal houseplant include its unique, lush, and beautiful foliage. With these qualities, there is no reason why you would not consider having this plant in your living or working space. Another great advantage of this plant is that it adapts really well to different environmental conditions. If you want to know what these conditions are and how best to get your Chinese evergreen to thrive in them, keep reading.
Aglaonema
Agloanema, commonly known as the Chinese evergreen is a plant that is Native to the forest areas of Asia. Because this plant grows under canopies of taller plants where it is shielded from direct sunlight, it has adapted to low light conditions. This is one of the qualities that makes it such a good indoor plant.
When planted indoors, they grow to sizes of 12-24 inches in height. They can be almost as wide as they are long and have lance-shaped leaves. Because it starts small and grows quite slowly, you can keep them on your desks for anywhere between 12-18 months before it gets too big.
Few plants are as easy or easier to care for as the Chinese evergreen. Although it is adapted to low light conditions due to its natural habitat, it can also tolerate fluorescent lighting indoors if provided with it.
There are hundreds of different varieties of Aglaonemas and they have different environmental requirements to thrive. It is therefore essential to know the particular variety of the one you have so you can give it just the right growing environments it requires.
Aglaonemas Plant Care
As with all other plants, there are ideal environmental conditions you need to maintain to keep them happy. We will discuss these below.
Temperature
Aglaonema prefers temperatures between 65-75°F degrees Fahrenheit to thrive. They can tolerate temperatures of about 10 degrees Fahrenheit outside this range without suffering any serious damage. Feed your Aglaonema monthly during the spring and summer, when the temperatures are within this range.
Light exposure
Due to the natural habitat of this plant, it prefers bright but indirect sunlight. Never expose it to full sun as it may cause leaf burn and may ultimately kill the plant.
If you keep the plant indoors, artificial or fluorescent light will be enough to keep it alive and growing.
The light tolerance levels vary between Aglaonema varieties. The darker green varieties of this plant can tolerate low light intensities. The ones with lighter-colored leaves, however, prefer bright and indirect light. An example of these light-leafed varieties is the Aglaonema Osaka.
In general, the more colorful varieties of the plant, such as those with pinks, reds, and peaches need more light to maintain their vibrancy.
Newer cultivars of Aglaonema have bright colors such as red and pink. These normally do not do well in low-light conditions. They can, however, survive in such conditions. But if you notice that they are losing their color, simply move them to an area with more light and you should notice their color should start to come back.
Humidity
Chinese evergreen plants prefer more humidity than most homes and indoor spaces can provide. This means that you should provide them with supplemental humidity. You can boost humidity levels in their environment by putting the plant in a pebble tray, using a humidifier, or putting the plants in a group with other plants.
You can also try misting your plants once to a few times each week. This will only make a minor difference in terms of improving humidity levels. It does however offer the potential benefit of getting rid of pests that may be trying to infest your plant.
Soil moisture and watering
Chinese evergreen plants like to stay moist but not soaking wet. When you water the plant, make sure that the water drains completely each time so that it does not get waterlogged. Only water if the first two inches of the soil are dry.
Overwatering can cause the plant leaves to turn yellow, and the roots of the plant to rot. Another sign of overwatering may be the yellowing of the tanks, as well as mushy stalks and leaves.
Repotting
To repot your plants, use good soil with peat and pine bark blended. Never use peat moss directly or by itself as it colds too much water and will not allow the roots of your plant to dry out as needed.
Repot Chinese evergreens once every 12-18 months. Use the same vessel with new soil, and trim away some of the roots and leaves. Repotting should be done in the spring or summer months only, this is when they are actively growing and have the best chance of surviving the repot.
If you are repotting a larger plant, do it every 18-24 months. Use a new pot that is about 2-4″ larger than the current one. This will give room for the plant to grow.
Fertilizing
Any good, balanced houseplant fertilizer will work for Aglaonema. Feed your Aglaonema monthly during the spring and summer while they are actively growing. Reduce the amount of fertilizer you give them in the fall and completely stop feeding in the winter months as the plants enter dormancy.
Providing fertilizer to the plants in the winter when they do not need the nutrients for growth can lead to fertilizer buildup in the soil, which will burn the roots over time.
Rotate your plant
Rotate your Chinese evergreens from time to time so that they get all sides exposed to sunlight so the plant can grow evenly.
Inspect your plants for pests
When taking care of your plants, and dusting the leaves, make sure that you inspect especially the underside of the plant to check for any pests that need to be removed before they cause any damage to the plant.
How to Grow Aglaonema
Aglaonema are very low-maintenance plants that are great for even the novice gardener or plant parent. Here are some points on how to grow Chinese evergreens.
1: Use well-draining soil to grow your plants
They do really well in well-draining soils as they do not like to have their roots permanently submerged in water. You can add some perlite to the potting soil if you need better drainage.
2: Provide them with indirect, bright light
Never expose your Chinese evergreens to direct sunlight as it may burn the leaves.
3: Let the soil dry between waterings
This will give the plant roots room to breathe so the plant can grow efficiently. Water only when the top 2 inches of the soil has dried.
4: Repot
Repot the plant as required.
5: Ideal temperature
Maintain ideal temperatures of between 65-75°F degrees Fahrenheit, and high humidity for your plant to thrive.
6: Fertilize the right time
Fertilize your plants in the spring and summer months and never in the winter.
Aglaonema care indoors is the same as outdoors. The environmental conditions that you should provide the plants are the same regardless of where they are planted. If they are indoors, however, it is easier to get the environmental conditions right as you can manipulate them.
Types of Aglaonema
There are many different varieties of Aglaonema that you can cultivate. In the past, there were only green and cream varieties available. However, there are many different Aglaonema shades that you can find. There are more colorful Aglaonema in colors such as pink, red, and peach. Here are five of the most common varieties;
- Aglaonema Commutatum (Emerald Beauty) – also known as the Maria. It is one of the older varieties and has dark green leaves with light green stripes.
- Aglaonema (Sparkling Sarah) – has pink stems and midribs. It also has pink mottling on the green leaves of the plant.
- Ruby Red – The leaves of this Chinese evergreen variety are a beautiful bright red and have stems with a shade of pink.
- Aglaonema Commutatum (Silver Bay) – The leaves of this variety have a light silver leaf variegation.
- Siam Aurora Red – has ed stems and midribs. The leaves also have a red frame.
Problems Associated With Chinese Evergreen Plants
While these plants are some of the easiest to take care of, they can have their fair share of issues that you should be aware of in case you ever have to deal with them.
The number one issue is susceptibility to pest infestations. Chinese evergreen plans are susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, and scale. They get infested most of the time because they are not healthy and stressed. Opportunistic bigs use this window to destroy them.
Keeping your plants in their best health will help you to avoid this. You can also use this leaf wellness spray to prevent infestations.
Yellowing of leaves is another common occurrence. This usually signals that your plants are stressed. Investigate which of their environmental conditions are not ideal and remedy it as soon as possible. Your plants should return to good health in no time.
Dropping leaves or leaf curls are other indicators of stress on plants. This can be a consequence of leaf burn from direct sunlight. If you notice this, move your plants away from sunlight.
Unfortunately, Chinese evergreen plants are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. If you have any pets in your house, you will need to keep them out of their reach.
Conclusion – Aglaonema Care Guide: How to Grow Chinese Evergreen
Aglaonema are such low-maintenance plants that anyone can keep them in their home or office. So whether you are a novice or an experienced hardener, these plants can be a great addition to your space.
We hope that you found this Aglaonema care guide useful and that you will be well on your way to growing and maintaining these beautiful plants.
The most important thing to do is provide them with the kind of environmental conditions that mimic their natural habitat. These are; high humidity, moderate temperatures, and indirect bright light.
Happy growing!
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May 16, 2023
How Many Potatoes Will Grow Per Plant (and From ONE Seed)
The potato is one of the world’s most commonly grown, consumed, and versatile vegetables. Its ease of growth contributes to its popularity. Knowing how many potatoes will grow per plant is crucial to knowing how your plants will perform and to deciding how many you should plant to fulfill your needs.
How many potatoes will grow per plant will depend on certain factors such as the type or variety of potatoes being grown, environmental conditions, and how well their growing needs are being met.
Keep reading to know how many potato plants to plant to ensure that you harvest enough to last you and your family until the next growing season.
How Many Potatoes Per Plant?
How many potatoes per plant can you expect from your harvest? Under ideal growing conditions, the average number of potatoes a potato plant can produce per plant is between three and eight. Different varieties may produce fewer or more potatoes than others. The tubers’ sizes may also differ, ranging from small to extra large.
If you want to provide for a family, about 40 potato plants may be sufficient for the year. If these plants all grow healthily until harvest, you should expect a harvest of around 125 pounds of potatoes.
How Many Potatoes Grow From One Potato Seed?
Seed potatoes vary significantly in size. A small-sized seed potato is planted whole, and a single potato can be produced per plant. However, Larger seed potatoes can be cut into halves or quarters, grown, and produced between two and four potato plants.
Planting seed potatoes whole will usually produce more vigorous plants. It is, therefore, unnecessary to cut the seed potato unless it is huge.
A single-seed potato that grows well will produce one plant, and this one plant will produce between 8 and 10 full-sized potatoes. In addition, each potato plant is likely to have a couple of smaller baby potatoes as well.
Do Different Potato Varieties Produce the Same Number of Potatoes Per Seed?
How many potatoes per plant seed can differ between different cultivars? To find out how many potatoes your particular variety will produce, read the plant descriptions on the packaging or the resources available online.
However, the average yield per potato plant listed assumes that ideal growing conditions are met for that particular potato variety. If the conditions are not ideal, the plant may produce fewer potatoes or nothing at all.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Optimal Potato Yield
While different potato cultivars will have different specific environmental conditions for maximum yield, here are some things you can do to help ensure that you get optimal productivity out of your potatoes:
1. Planting distance
Potatoes are tubers that grow underground. Because of this, they need plenty of space to grow, so it is important to provide them with sufficient room.
If potatoes are planted too closely, young tubers will not grow as well as you would expect them to, resulting in a poor yield.
Another reason not to plant them too closely is that they will compete for nutrients, further negatively impacting their growth.
Potato plants should be planted 12 -14 inches apart and have 3 feet between rows to achieve the best growth and optimum yield. If you plan to harvest your potatoes at the baby stage, however, you can plant them closer to each other, as they will require less space to grow.
If you have adhered to this recommended planting distance, you should not have to worry about the possibility of them crowding up in the soil. They will adjust themselves and spread out as needed, provided the soil they are planted in is right. The plant roots and tubers will grow well.
2. Planting depth
How deep you plant your seed potatoes will have a massive impact on the eventual yield. Seed potatoes need to have enough soil covering them so that no part of the tuber is left exposed. If they do not get completely covered and are exposed to the sun, they will turn green due to the solanine in them. If these potatoes are consumed, they will cause solanine poisoning. Green potatoes should not be eaten and must be immediately discarded. This will lead to a loss of crop yield.
The best depth to plant your potatoes is 4-6 inches. Start with this depth and hill them up as the plants continue to grow taller to keep them protected.
You can hill your potatoes up by mounding the soil around them with a spade, hoe, or other implement that you have. Hill them up to within 2-3 inches of the plant foliage. Start hilling them when the plants have attained a height of 8-10 inches, and repeat the process when they get new growth of 8-10 inches.
The process of hilling your plants will help to provide them with sufficient soil for adequate growth and expansion of tubers underground. The higher level of soil will also help to support the growing foliage on top of the ground. If your plants are not provided with enough soil, they will be exposed to the sun, which will diminish your crop yield.
3. Soil type
Potato tubers need to be planted in loose soil for them to grow well and expand underground. Using loose, soft, and well-draining soil will help to increase your potato yield. Potatoes require plenty of space to spread their roots and grow large potatoes.
Growing potatoes in compacted soil will produce only small potatoes as they will struggle to push against the dirt to increase in size.
4. Soil fertility
Soil fertility is an important aspect of increasing your potato yield. Before your potatoes are planted, apply a suitable fertilizer to the soil. It is important to use a fertilizer that is specific for potatoes when you first plant them and mid-way through the season so that they get the boost of nutrients they need to produce as many potatoes as they can.
Use a 5-10-10 fertilizer in the planting rows and carefully work it into the soil. Follow the instructions on the packaging container. You must also side-dress the potatoes with the same fertilizer before the first hilling.
5. Soil moisture
Potatoes need adequate, but not too much watering. Potatoes need about 1 to 2 inches of rain per week. If your area does not receive this amount of rain, you will need t give your potatoes supplemental water.
Water your potatoes enough to saturate the soil up to the level of the roots and tubers. Water each time the first two inches of the soil feel dry.
Going for long periods without watering or adequate water will lead to malformations of your potato tubers, which can lead to poor yields. This is because insufficient moisture will cause the potato tubers to grow slowly if they even grow at all.
If you resumed watering your potatoes or got plenty of rain after a period of no rain, it will cause the tubers to grow rapidly and split or develop malformations.
To get the best yield out of your potatoes, and get the best shapes, you will need to water them regularly during their growing season.

6. Pests
Pests can have a detrimental impact on your potato crop yield. Treat them as soon as you notice them before they have any significant damage to the plants. Insect pests such as the Colorado potato beetle can completely destroy the foliage of the plants. If this happens, the growth of tubers underground will stop because the plants will not have enough support. Eventually, you will have reduced yield and small potatoes.
7. Sunlight exposure
Like all other plants, potato plants require sunlight to carry out photosynthesis. Without sufficient sunlight, the growth of the plant will slow down and result in your potato yield is poor.
Make sure you plant your potatoes in an area that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day, for the entire duration of the growing cycle. The plants can and will grow with less light, however, their growth will not be as good as it would be if they received more light. So to get the best growth, health, and ultimately good yield from your potatoes, provide them with plenty of sunlight.
8. Proper hilling
Hilling your potatoes at the time they are first planted, and one or two more times during their growing season will help improve crop yield. Hilling provides support for the growing plant foliage, which will force it to grow upwards toward the sunlight and consequently increase the growth of tubers.
9. Choosing the right potato variety
There are hundreds of potato varieties to choose from that are readily available from local seed stores and online shops. Before you choose the variety to grow. Do a bit of research around it to find out if it is suited to your climate, or if you will be able to provide it with the growing conditions it requires.
It is also helpful to know information such as the length of the growing season, the amount of space they need for growth, specific uses of that particular potato, and as well as resistance or susceptibility to disease and parasites.
Potato varieties such as Pontiac Red, Kennebec White, and Purple Majesty are all great varieties of potatoes that consistently produce high yields of potatoes. If you are you do not know much about potato varieties, you can begin by researching these three to see which one would be best suited to your environment.
10. Plant your potatoes at the right time
Potato plants have an ideal time that they should be planted to get the best chance of survival. You should plant them when the soil warms up to about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. In most areas, that would be about two weeks after the last frost date.
While looking at the timing, it is also key to monitor the soil moisture content. If you have had a wet spring, wait a few weeks until the ground has dried up a bit. If the soil is too wet, it can cause the potato tubers to rot.
If you have no choice but to plant potatoes earlier than this, look for the varieties that mature earlier, as they are better able to withstand cold conditions. You can plant these up to six weeks before the last first date.
How Many Potatoes Does a Potato Plant Produce?
Typically, a single potato plant will produce anywhere between 3 and 5 pounds of potatoes. This may be enough to feed a family of four people twice.
Keep in mind, however, that different varieties of potatoes will produce different numbers of potatoes. In addition to this, the growing conditions such as sunlight, nutrient provision, adequate growing space, and a good irrigation schedule have to be maintained well to achieve optimum growth.
Can I Use Store-Bought Potatoes as Seeds?
Technically, yes. Store-bought potatoes can be used as seeds to grow potatoes. You will have figured this out when you left potatoes out for too long and they started sprouting. If you plant them in the ground during the right growing season, you should harvest some potatoes.
However, potato growth experts advise against using shop potatoes as seeds. They recommend only using certified potatoes to plant in your garden.
The reasons for this include that potato growers put sprout inhibitors to slow down the rate of budding when the potatoes are being shipped, and while they are at the store. This may cause the potatoes to grow weak or not produce any growth when planted.
Another reason that you should not use shop potatoes as seeds is that they often contain a lot of microorganisms and diseases. These can easily spread to plants and completely destroy all other plants in your garden. Seed potatoes that are certified will come with a guarantee that they are free of any diseases or microorganisms that can destroy the potato and other crops.
Certified seed potatoes are usually strong and healthy, and have a higher chance of having vigorous growth, producing large and strong potatoes, and ultimately a good yield.
How Do I Know That My Potatoes Are Growing
Because potatoes grow underground, it may be difficult, especially for new and inexperienced growers to be able to tell what stage their plants are at. It can be difficult to tell whether or not your potato tubers are growing. There are signs that you can look out for.
Flowering is a great indicator that your potatoes have started growing. If you want to harvest your potatoes in the baby stage, you can go ahead and do so at this point. After the flowers have come and gone, the foliage at the top of the soil will die back. This is so that the plant will start directing its energy towards growing the tubers larger. If you want to harvest full-sized potatoes, you should do so after the plants have died back.
Another way to know that your potatoes have matured is when the stems of the plants have started to go yellow and die off. This usually happens at the end of summer, or early in the fall.
If you still want a bit of reassurance that your potatoes are ready to harvest, you can dig a small test spot and get a few tubers out to gauge if they are at your desired harvest size.
Quick Summary – How Many Potatoes Per Plant (and From ONE Seed)
Different varieties of potatoes will produce different amounts of potatoes at harvest time. You will need to read the information on the seed packaging to get an idea of how many potatoes per plant your particular variety will produce. Generally, with potatoes, however, if the plant is healthy, you can expect to dig up about five or six full-size potatoes per plant.
Potato plants yield from five to 10 potatoes per plant depending on the variety, climate, and whether the growing conditions of the plants are met. Usually, a single potato plant produces anywhere between 3 and 5 pounds of potatoes. Knowing this can help you to plan how many plants to plant to you can have enough potatoes until the next growing season.
Follow the guidelines and tips provided in this article to increase your potato plant harvest. Remember that a single plant has the potential to produce between three and four pounds of potatoes, and a single seed potato will produce above four or five plants. Start from there and then plan how many potato plants to plant for an adequate supply.
We hope this article has given you all the information you need to know on how many potatoes per plant you can expect from your potato plant. Happy growing!
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06/04/2026 09:04 am GMT
May 16, 2023
Bone Meal for Tomatoes: Best Uses & How Much?
How much bone meal per tomato plant? This article will help you determine how much bone meal you should give per tomato plant and how to effectively use bone meal for tomatoes.
Tomatoes are heavy feeders and require a lot of nutrients. Bone meal is one of the easiest ways to give an extra boost to your tomato’s health and growth. Let’s take a closer look at using bone meal for tomatoes.
Bone Meal Nutrition Facts
Bone meal made from animal bones is rich in phosphorus, calcium, and nitrogen. It can be used as fertilizer for tomato plants. Both fresh and dried bone meals are available on the market; however, make sure that you buy organic bone meals without any chemical fertilizers or fillers added.
Fresh bone meal contains a high amount of water (moisture) which can cause problems if not removed before storage. The dried form provides more nutrient content than the fresh form because it has fewer moisture contents; thus, making it easy to store for a long time without spoiling.
One tablespoon of bone meal provides seven grams of phosphorus and nine grams of calcium, which equals 13% of the recommended daily value (RDA) for phosphorus and 18% RDA for calcium.
Bone meal supplies important nutrients that help encourage health in plants because it contains both phosphorus and calcium. The ratio between these two minerals can affect how each nutrient contributes to your plants’ overall health. Using too much phosphorus can cause growth problems, especially for seedlings. Excessive phosphorus can stunt a plant’s root growth and interfere with how well a plant absorbs other nutrients.
Bone meal is an organic fertilizer that contains a high amount of calcium, an essential nutrient for promoting strong cell wall development in new blossoms and fruits. Calcium also helps fruit to mature properly after harvest.
You should use bone meal as soon as possible after opening the package because the moisture from the soil or environment may cause it to become moldy or change color over time.
Is Bone Meal Good for Tomatoes?
Bone meal is good for tomato plants. It contains a high amount of calcium that helps in fruit formation. It contains nitrogen and phosphorus which are required by plants to produce chlorophyll while the growing stage and calcium during the fruiting stage.
Please note: you can add bone meal directly to the soil without any preparation or cooking process. However, if you want it cooked before adding it to the soil, you can add it to the compost because raw bone meal contains a high amount of ammonia that can burn roots once mixed with soil.
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How Much Bone Meal for Tomatoes?
Now that we know the benefits of this organic fertilizer to tomatoes, how much bone meal per tomato plant?
Use 3 pounds of fresh or 1 pound of dried bone meals for 100 square feet of garden space. For example, how much bone meal per 10 tomato plants? You will need 1/2 pound of bone meal per tomato plant.
Can You Add Too Much Bone Meal?
It is possible to add too much bone meal and hurt your crops. Do not add too much bone meal to the soil because it will cause phytotoxicity in tomato plants. Excess amounts of nitrogen contained in it can damage leaves and slow down fruit formation or growth.
You should avoid adding more than 0.25% nitrogen level to the soil because even if it contains plenty of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, sulfur, and other nutrients, an excess amount of nitrogen will burn the roots after absorption by the soil.
Bone Meal for Tomatoes Benefits
Ways to use bone meal for tomato plants:
- To boost the health of tomato plants, you can give it every week during the first couple of months of growth. You can also use it as transplanting fertilizer or seedling fertilizers at half the rate of how much you would give to mature plants later on. Bone meal works well for this purpose because it is rich in phosphorus which helps with root formation and healthier stem structure.
- Bone meal gives a calcium source that is beneficial for both humans and soil microbes. Calcium accelerates the decomposition speed of dead materials, thus increasing nutrient availability to growing tomatoes faster than compost alone. Organic matter content also improves due to the presence of calcium in bone meal.
Can You Add Bone Meal After Planting?
Bone meal can be added after planting tomatoes if it is dry. However, do not add bone meal to the soil until you are ready to transplant seedlings into them because tomato plants cannot grow properly when nitrogen levels are too high. Especially for seeds that have just emerged, adding too much bone meal will result in yellow leaves or stunted growth.
If you want to use bone meal for tomatoes as fertilizer, it is better to mix organic fertilizers with soil before planting tomatoes.
Bone meal can be used with other organic fertilizers. For example, blood meal, cottonseed meal, and kelp extracts. This combination will provide essential nutrients needed by growing tomatoes. If bone meal is added directly into the garden or container without mixing with other ingredients first, soil microbes may not be able to absorb them properly which can lead to loss of nutrients in time.
Bone meal works best when mixed with compost piles because they allow microbes to break down the materials slowly over time.
You should always water your tomato plants after adding any kind of fertilizers into the soil because soluble nitrogen releases quickly into roots which affects how well it absorbs water. Watering your plants first will allow them to take up the nutrients gradually without getting too much nitrogen.
Using Sugar, Epsom Salt, and Bone Meal for Tomatoes
You may be wondering how else you can use bone meal for your tomatoes. I’ve found that the use of bone meal, along with sugar and Epsom salt works very well. These three are a good trio because the sugar adds sweetness to your tomatoes, the Epsom salts add both sulfur and magnesium and the bone meal adds phosphorus.
To plant your tomatoes, you’ll need to make a hole larger than you usually would for your tomatoes. Then you’ll need to add a cup of bone meal and a cup of sugar, along with a reasonable amount of mulch. Mix them and place them in your hole, evenly distributing them in the soil.
Carefully place your tomato plant into the soil; be sure to bury it reasonably deep. Once planted, add around a cup of Epsom salts on top and mix them into the top of your soil using your hands. Finally, water your tomato plants with a good amount of water – and your tomatoes are ready to go.
Disadvantages of Bone Meal
We’ve already looked at the benefits of using bone meal for your tomato plants, but you may be wondering if there are any disadvantages. While there aren’t too many negatives, there are a few that you may want to be aware of. Let’s take a closer look.
You can only use bone meal in soils below 7 on the pH scale. This may not be ideal. However, a good alternative is rock phosphate, which we’ll be taking a look at later in this article.
If you’re looking for a quick fix, then this probably isn’t the best choice for you, as it’s a fertilizing choice that releases slowly.
If used too much, overfertilization can occur. If this happens, problems may arise for your tomato plants such as yellowing leaves. It can also lead to deficiencies in other nutrients, like zinc and iron.
If not used correctly, the smell can attract unwanted wildlife. However, as long as it’s adequately mixed in, this should not be a problem.
Bone meal is only a good source of phosphorus, so you’ll need to use other fertilizers too, to ensure your tomato plants are receiving all of the nutrients they need.
Rock Phosphate vs Bone Meal
Earlier, we mentioned rock phosphate, which is a great alternative to bone meal, if you’d prefer. However, there are quite a few differences between the two. Let’s take an in-depth look at the two.
They’re similar in that they both contain phosphorus. However, that is where the similarities start and end. The differences between the two are that for the short supply of phosphorus, bone meal is best, whereas, for a long-term supply, phosphorus is best, as it’s slower.
Another main difference between the two is the price. Bone meal starts at around $13 per lb, whereas rock phosphate starts at around $30 per lb. So if you’re looking for a more affordable option, it’s best to use bone meal.
Rock phosphate works best on flowers and other leafy plants, whereas bone meal works best on rooted plants, such as carrots and onions. However, you can choose to use both together, if you’d prefer – and reap the benefits of both.
Final Thoughts: Bone Meal for Tomatoes
Bone meal for tomatoes is beneficial in most cases. Adding too much nitrogen to the soil will hurt plants, although you can add it if your plants are mature enough. You should only use bone meal after preparing the soil with compost or manure and not mix it directly into planting holes.
It s evident that bone meal provides your tomatoes with plenty of benefits like boosting up the nutrient content of the soil, by adding calcium source which creates healthier stem structure and roots.
FAQs
How should you mix bone meals for best results?
You should not mix it directly with planting holes because adding too much phosphorus can affect how healthy tomatoes grow even if they are combined with other organic fertilizers. Therefore, it is better to prepare compost piles or manure before mixing into the soil or using as transplant fertilizer after seeds have germinated and grown some roots.
When should I start fertilizing my tomato plants?
Bone meal should be added to the soil when the first set of tomatoes starts growing. Wait until your plant is about 6 – 8 inches tall before adding bone meal fertilizer. If you add it too early, it will affect how healthy or how tall they grow.
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05/17/2026 08:03 am GMT
March 16, 2023
How Often Should I Use Molasses on My Plants?
As someone who’s been growing his own plants, I can say that one of the most beneficial nutrients I gave my crops is sugar. I know it might sound weird; after all, sugar is deemed unhealthy for people. However, the same can’t be said for plants.
For them, sugar can act as a valuable source of nutrients and energy, thereby boosting the overall quantity and quality of your harvest. In this article, we’re going to answer the question: how often should I use molasses on my plants?
When Should I Add Molasses to My Plants?
When plants start to mature and bloom, they will need more carbohydrates than they can produce. While molasses can be beneficial for plants throughout their entire life cycle, it is best if you add it during your plants’ transition from their vegetative to the blooming stage. The reason is that it is during these stages that their sugar need is at their highest.
With the extra carbohydrates found in molasses, you can give your plants a major boost and help them produce more flowers than usual.
However, before you even grab your bottle of molasses and start pouring it on your plants, here are a few things you should know first.

What is Molasses?
Molasses is basically the by-product of sugar beets or sugar cane and is extracted from the said crops to collect a highly viscous liquid. Despite being a by-product, it is actually rich in essential vitamins and minerals. This explains why molasses can be used to provide plants with the nutrients they need as well.
Using Molasses for Gardening
Using molasses for growing plants is actually something that has been put into practice for quite some time already. Since it contains a lot of calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and lots of micronutrients, you can use them to provide your plants with a quick source of energy. Apart from that, it can also encourage the growth of microorganisms to help your plants grow.
The key minerals which make molasses healthy for people can be beneficial for plants as well. For instance, calcium and potassium play an important role during a plant’s budding and flowering stages. What makes it even better is the fact that molasses can act as a natural “chelating” agent, thereby binding nutrients so they can be absorbed by the plants.
When molasses are combined with organic fertilizers, you can create food that is used by the healthy microbes found in the soil. The higher the number of healthy microbes, the healthier your plants will get.

Benefits of Using Molasses on Plants
Earlier, we talked about molasses being beneficial for plants. However, how exactly is it good for them? To learn more about it, here are the benefits of molasses on plants worth noting:
- It comes with a high carbohydrate content
Due to molasses being a by-product of the sugar refining process, it is packed with carbohydrates which serve as an instant food source for healthy microbes in the soil. By regularly feeding the soil, they will be able to support more beneficial microbes. This, in turn, will provide the plants with more nutrients that are essential for optimal health and growth.
- It contains trace minerals
Another important benefit of molasses is that it contains a good amount of trace minerals which are essential for your plant’s growth. These trace minerals come in the form of calcium, iron, potassium, and sulfur which are all helpful in keeping your plants healthy.
- It can act as a chelating agent
As mentioned earlier, molasses can act as a chelating agent. This is important since some nutrients are “locked” in the soil, thereby making it hard, even impossible, for plants to absorb. Molasses binds these “locked” nutrients through the process known as chelation.
As a result, molasses will “unlock” those nutrients, making them easy to absorb for the plants.
How to Apply It to Your Plants
Now that you’ve known when you should apply molasses to your plants, the next step is to apply it. Before you do so, do keep in mind that adding molasses into your plant’s feeding cycle is most effective when you combine it with an organic fertilizer. This is because adding molasses will help make all of the fertilizer’s nutrients readily absorbable by your plants.
If you prefer a more DIY approach, you can use blackstrap molasses, particularly the unsulfured type. Once you have it, add it to your fertilizer at around 1/4 cup per gallon. Although you might have heard of some people mentioning that you should spray the solution directly on your plants, the problem is that the residue can end up attracting pests to your grow room.
You can get the most benefits of molasses in your nutrient solution if you use a soil-based system for your plants. However, it can work on hydroponic systems as well. Just make sure to check its pH before you give it since the sugars will make it acidic.
Once your plants are nearing the end of their growing cycle (particularly two to three weeks prior), stop giving them molasses and fertilizers. Instead, you should give them water to “flush” out all those unused nutrients.
If there are still leftover molasses, you can combine it with water at one cup per gallon and then pour it into your compost pile. This way, it can stimulate healthy microbes in there too.
How Often Should I Use Molasses on My Plants?
The reason you’re likely reading this article is to find out how often you should use molasses on your plants. It’s best to use a small amount on individual plants every two weeks or so. While you may be tempted to apply more often, it’s important not to do so. This is because it can even cause damage to your plants, such as causing an imbalance in the pH of the soil.
Should You Use Molasses for Tomatoes?
Molasses can be used for many reasons, including to help your tomatoes. As well as aiding the tomatoes in growth and energy, molasses have also been known to make your tomatoes taste even sweeter too! However, it all comes down to the gardener as to whether they think molasses are suited to their tomato plants.
If you add molasses to your tomatoes, it’s important to add the molasses to water first. This creates a diluted mixture so that you don’t overwhelm your tomato plants. Once diluted, you can either choose to spray or pour it onto your plants. Use once every two weeks in the mornings, for best results.
Should I Use Unsulfured Molasses for Plants?
Yes. It is important to use unsulfured molasses for your plants. If it’s not labeled whether the molasses are sulfur or unsulfured, they are likely unsulfured. This simply means that it’s concentrated and pure sugarcane. However, if they’re sulfured, it means that sulfur dioxide has been added. Unsulfured molasses are then added to your plant directly or can be added to compost tea or liquid fertilizers.
Should You Use Organic Molasses for Plants?
You may be curious as to whether you should use organic molasses for your plants. And it’s encouraged to use organic blackstrap molasses. We’ve already established that unsulfured molasses are the best choice, and when molasses are unsulfured, they can be classed as organic. This is because they’re free from any chemicals or additives.
Does Molasses Fatten Up Buds?
You may be curious as to whether molasses can fatten up your buds. The answer is: absolutely! Much like a human eating sugary foods to help put weight on – the same could be said for your plant buds. Another reason is that it contains potassium. Potassium is known to encourage fast and healthy growth. If you’re looking for fat buds, molasses is the miracle ingredient you’re looking for!
How to Apply Molasses
Applying molasses to your plants is super easy to do. Before you begin, you should dilute your molasses, rather than directly adding it to your plants. For every gallon of water, add around one cup of molasses. Mix well and then add to a sprayer or pour onto your soil. Another method you can use for veggies is to mix around 1/4 cup of unsulfured molasses, 1 cup of milk, and 4 cups of water. Mix well and add to a sprayer.
Whichever method you use, you should not apply it to your plants more than once every two weeks or so. Remember, using molasses too often to feed your plants can cause damage and cause a pH imbalance in the soil.

Conclusion: How Often Should I Use Molasses on My Plants?
Apart from giving plants a major boost, molasses is also capable of warding off pests, thereby making your garden pest-free. Based on experience, I was able to enjoy healthy plants by adding molasses to my fertilizer solution.
If you haven’t tried doing it yet, then now is the time to do so. I personally use the organic blackstrap molasses from Plantation, and so far, the results were impressive.
How about you? Have you tried applying molasses to your plants? If so, what were the results so far? Please leave a comment below. As always, thanks for reading!
FAQs
How do you apply molasses to plants?
ou use molasses as a mulch, spread it around your plants. The amount you put on the plants will depend on how much of a mulch you want. If you are using more than an inch or so, then you can spread it on top of the soil or mix it into the top inch or so of soil.
When should I start planting molasses?
Molasses is a great way to provide nutrition for your plants and is an excellent source of potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. I started using molasses around five years ago and planted it right after I finished my first season of growing.
It worked well and I started using molasses for everything I grow. Now I’m on to my second season of growing and I’m thinking about planting molasses in my garden next year. Molasses contains a high amount of sugar so it’s best used in combination with other nutrients. I’ve found that it can be very effective when used as a foliar spray. It can also be used as a soil drench. I’ve found that molasses is very effective when used in combination with kelp, fish emulsion or blood meal.
What plants benefit from molasses?
Plants that benefit from molasses include both those that have a preference for the sugar in molasses and others that grow better with it. The best known and most commonly used of these is sugar beet. Molasses is also used to feed pigs, chickens, horses and cattle. It is also used as a fuel for heating and cooking and for making soap.
Molasses is made by pressing or boiling the juice of sugar cane. It can be made from a mixture of sugar cane and sugar beet, but sugar cane is preferred because it has a higher sugar content than sugar beet.
How should I use molasses on my plants?
Molasses is a great plant food, and it has been used by gardeners for centuries. It’s been used as a feed for animals, as well as being an additive in the home for making bread and baked goods. It is rich in nutrients that are readily available to your plants, including calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, sulfur and iron.
The only downside is that molasses is sticky and can be hard to get out of your soil after application. You can apply it directly to your plants or mix it into a water-soluble fertilizer such as Fish emulsion or Liquid Fertilizer. You can also add molasses to your compost or use it as a mulch.
Does molasses lower pH?
Yes, it can. Molasses is a byproduct of the sugar industry. It’s a thick, dark brown syrup that contains about 40% sucrose. Sugar cane has been around for a long time and has been refined to make many products including molasses. Molasses is acidic, but it doesn’t seem to be as acidic as vinegar or citric acid.
March 13, 2023
Best Substrate for Oyster Mushrooms: Ultimate Guide
The oyster mushroom is a popular edible mushroom that is loved by many. Different substrates can be used for growing this oyster mushroom. But do you know which is the best substrate for oyster mushrooms? Let’s find out.
Oyster mushrooms are a group of gilled mushrooms, and this means they are classified as fungi. However, they are the type of fungi that is totally different from plants. Oyster mushrooms can be enjoyed in your various dishes. They are also known for their great health benefits.
So, this article covers what you need to know about growing an oyster mushroom, choosing the best substrate for oyster mushrooms, and so on. So, continue reading for some knowledge on this.
About Oyster Mushroom
The popular edible oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is a member of the Pleurotus genus. The oyster mushroom is a close relative to the king oyster mushroom, and the oyster mushroom is one of the most cultivated mushrooms around the world.
These mushrooms were first cultivated by the Germans during World War II. Then this mushroom is now been grown commercially around the world for food.
The shape of the oyster mushroom tends to be a funneled-shaped cap. It has a white to light brown, to a darker brown color. The flesh is white, then the gills appear whitish-yellow and run up a short off-center stem. The gills of oyster mushrooms tend to be recurrent, and the stalks are short and stout.
You can find oyster mushrooms in the forest in both temperate and tropical climates. These mushrooms are saprotrophic and are mostly found as fungi on hardwood trees. They can as well be found in unhealthy dying or dying trees or on decaying conifer woods.
Surprisingly, oyster mushrooms are carnivores that kill and digest nematodes just to obtain nitrogen from them.
Oyster mushrooms are edible and can be enjoyed in various dishes such as pasta and stir-fries. These mushrooms can be eaten raw or you can cook them. They also offer impressive health benefits.
What is the Best Substrate for Oyster Mushrooms?
Generally, when it comes to choosing the best substrate for mushrooms, straw is the most used for growing mushrooms. However, there are other varieties of substrate that you can go for. It all depends on what you have available.
Other substrates such as wheat straws, sawdust pellets, coffee grounds, cardboard, coco coir, as well as other agricultural waste by-products all make an ideal growing medium for oyster mushrooms. Just go for the substrate that is easier to access.
Wood pellets are also a great substrate to be used for your oyster mushroom. This is because they come sterilized. You just need to add water to get a good growing substrate for your mushrooms.
How Do You Make Oyster Mushroom Substrate?
A substrate is a medium for growing things. A substrate is used to grow mycelium that provides the root of the mushroom. Now, this is essential for the successful cultivation of mushrooms.
Preparing your substrate refers to the process of inoculation. Now inoculation is the point where you add the mushroom spawns to your growing medium.
So, when it comes to making or preparing your substrate for oyster mushrooms, you need to be very careful not to contaminate the substrate. Contamination can encourage mold to begin to grow on the substrate and mushrooms, which is what we don’t want.
Therefore, ensure you wash your hands properly and use a clean kitchen gloves. Then use mild bleach to wipe down all surfaces to eliminate any microorganisms or germs.
Once you’ve successfully prepared the growing substrate, you can then proceed to the next stage. You can learn further about how you can grow this mushroom below.
How to Grow Oyster Mushrooms
Growing oyster mushrooms can be an easy thing if you get the right knowledge about them. Although oyster mushrooms are usually seen growing abundantly in the wild, you can grow oyster mushrooms in your home.
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Here is a quick guide on how you can grow oyster mushrooms at home:
Supplies needed
To grow oyster mushrooms, you need to prepare your growing site and procure your growing materials. Here are the important supplies you will need:
- Growing substrate (e.g. sawdust, straw, coffee grounds, and so on)
- You will need oyster mushroom spawn
- Then you will need growing bags or containers (note that oyster mushrooms can be grown in buckets or even Ziploc bags)
However, you can obtain ready-made growing kits for your oyster mushrooms from some retailers.
The process of growing oysters can be broken down into 3 phases:
Oyster mushroom growth stages
1. Inoculation
The substrate material of your choice is mixed with the oyster mushroom spawn. The growing medium, which is the substrate, should be placed in the bag or container. Make sure there are holes or air filters in the bag for air exchange.
1. Incubation
Next, place the bags in a warm dark room. This is to incubate and begin the first phase of growth.
For the spawn to grow a full web of root-like threads of mycelium and colonize the growing medium; it only needs about 10 to 14 days to achieve this.
1. Fruiting
The mushroom will begin fruiting once the growing substrate has been totally colonized by the spawn. Then the bags or containers will need to be exposed to autumn-like conditions with fresh oxygen, low light levels, high humidity, and cooler temperatures.
Doing this will signal the mycelium to begin to produce mushrooms. The small pins will start to sprout. So, you will start to notice oyster mushroom pins coming out from the holes of the bag.
The last surviving response of the mycelium results in fruiting. In the wild, this fruiting is a result of the response to stress from the mycelium that happens due to changes in the environment.
Hence, imitation of this stress in the form of starvation will give rise to the survival response in your bag or container.
In just about 5 to 7 days, the tiny pins sprouting will grow and develop into a full-size mushroom.
Oyster Mushroom Cultivation Using Sawdust
If you’re wondering how to cultivate oyster mushrooms using sawdust, then look no further. For this recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 5 cups of sawdust (ensure you use hardwood pellets)
- 1.4 liters of water
- 1 cup of wheat bran
Now all you need to do is:
1. Once you’ve measured your ingredients, place your pellets and water into a container, and mix well. At this point, it should look more like the sawdust you’re familiar with. You can use either warm or cool water for this.
2. Once your pellets are sawdust and loose, add your cup of wheat bran. Distribute evenly in the sawdust and mix well.
3. Now add the sawdust mixture to grow bags. For every grow bag, you’ll need around 4 lbs and 4oz of the mixture.
4. Once you’ve added the mixture to your grow bag, you’ll need to add a filter to help fight against contamination. Add the filter and then fold the top of the bag over a few times.
5. Place the grow bag(s) into a pressure sterilizer. They can be placed on top of one another. Ensure the bags aren’t in direct contact with the base of the sterilizer. Add the water and place something heavy on top to secure the bags. Then leave for around two and a half hours.
6. Leave to cool for around 8 hours, or overnight. Add grain spawn to your bags and tie them with a zip tie. Shake the bag well.
7. Leave for around 10-21 days before you notice any results. However, check frequently to see if any problems or contamination are occurring. Once colonization has happened, your mushrooms are set to fruit! Simply cut off the top of your bag and get ready to grow!
Best Wood for Oyster Mushrooms
If you’re wondering what the best wood is for oyster mushrooms, then look no further. You can use either softwood or hardwood. However, I prefer to use softwood. Common favorites for mushrooms are soft maple, aspen, or birch sweet gum.
How to Sterilize Mushroom Substrate
You can sterilize the mushroom substrate with or without a pressure cooker. We’ll be taking a look at how to do both. Sterilization is important for some mushroom substrates as it’s the best way to avoid contamination. It’s important to note that simply boiling the substrate probably isn’t enough. Temperatures must be above 120C to remove all pollutants.
Using a pressure cooker, all you need to do is add the substrates to the cooker and cover them with water. Add the lid and allow the temperature to reach 120C to sterilize your substrate.
If you can not use a pressure cooker for this, you can try fractional sterilization. This is boiling jars until they reach 120C. You can use either an oven or an autoclave for this. However, this may cause your substrate to dry out and render it unusable, so you have to be extremely careful when using this method.
Conclusion: Best Substrate for Oyster Mushrooms
When it comes to selecting the best substrate for oyster mushrooms, it really comes down to which substrate you can easily obtain. Most types of substrates will work just fine. Therefore, you can simply go for what you have available.
Do you have any other ideas for the best substrate for oyster mushrooms? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!
March 13, 2023
Can You Compost Chicken Bones: Best Detailed Guide
‘Can you compost chicken bones’ is one of the frequently asked questions by organic farmers who do not want to waste any material.
Organic farming means using all the waste around the home to make compost manure. All waste is good but some cannot turn into compost manure.
Can You Compost Chicken Bones?
Yes, it is possible to compost chicken bones. Though it takes more work to compost them than the normal waste material, it is possible.
Chicken bones need more time to break down so do not compost them in haste. You may burn them first to quicken the process of breaking them down. So it can work together with the rest of the organic materials you decompose together.
How Do You Compost Chicken Bones?
Do not add chicken bones to the normal compost pile for your fruit and vegetable waste. The bones should go into food waste collection bins instead. This is because the bones get composted differently from the rest of the food matter.
Do not put the chicken bones in the green bin either. Dairy, meat, and bones should not go into the green bin.
The best compost to use for bones is hot compost. Hot composting means putting all the organic matter you need into a heap or a compost bin and then adding some heat to quicken the process. The heat acts as a catalyst which quickens the cooking process.
The best way to compost chicken bones is to chop them off into smaller pieces of about 4cm with secateurs. Carefully break the shells or bone joints into fragments with a hammer. Do not compost any large pieces of bones.
Chicken bones are generally good for plant growth. They supply the plants with organic phosphorous nitrogen nutrients.
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Step-by-Step Process: Composting Chicken Bones Fast
- Assemble all the chicken bones you have stored in your freezer and allow them to defrost. Lay them out under the sun to defrost properly.
- Put them in a container that can be used to burn them, most probably an old cast iron grill.
- Add a layer of wood shavings, papers, or cardboard to act as a fire starter. Add well-dried wood depending on the number of bones you are burning.
- Place your chicken bones on top of the wood.
- Start the fire and allow the bones to burn. The idea is to heat the bones until the fat within them melts and starts to drip out. Fat makes the bones burn and feed the fire.
- Allow the bones to burn till they look charred. Let them cool for a while and crush them into smaller chunks with your hands or use a hammer to do so.
- You can then dispose of the bones in the compost bin where they’ll decompose.
Can You Compost Meat and Bones?
While you now know that you can compost chicken bones, you may be wondering about other types of bones and meat. The truth is, most fish meat, bones, and seafood can work as compost. But it’s worth noting that some will compost much faster than others. You also should chop your bones and meat into manageable pieces; doing this will increase how quickly it decomposes. Let’s take a closer look at what meat and bones you can compost, and how to do so.
For bones such as chicken, birds, and fish, you should ensure they’re chopped into manageable pieces. It will decay slowly in hot bin compost; but unfortunately, we do not recommend adding it to cold compost.
For shells such as lobster, crab, and cockle, you should crush or break the shells into smaller pieces. It will decay slowly in hot bin compost; but unfortunately, we do not recommend adding it to cold compost.
For cooked meat, that must be it’s in small pieces and no big bones remain. It will decay fast in hot bin compost; but unfortunately, we do not recommend adding it to cold compost.
Can You Compost Cooked Meat?
As mentioned above, you absolutely can compost cooked meat! The truth it, if you can eat it, you can usually compost it! However, most people prefer not to use cooked meat as compost as the trouble with this is that it can cause unwanted attention from wildlife. If you do choose to do this, remove any big bones and chop them into manageable pieces.
How to Dispose of Chicken Bones
You may be wondering what the best way of composting chicken bones is and there are a few ways you can do this. Let’s take a closer look.
The best way is in green waste. Unfortunately, not every city has a green waste program, so this may not be possible for you to do. If it is, we would highly recommend this option as you won’t be contributing to the landfill. As well as this, your city will dispose of the waste accordingly.
Another option is to add to your compost. However, as mentioned above, this is a slow decay rate; even in a hot bin compost. Just be prepared to have your chicken bones composting for a very long time!
If you don’t have either of these options available to you, simply throw them in your usual trash or garbage. Just be sure it’s sealed properly in the bag as they can be dangerous for wildlife.
How Long Does it Take For Chicken Bones to Compost?
You may be wondering how long it takes for your chicken bones to compost. Well, the truth is, it all depends on a variety of factors. It could be months or years; it just comes down to which process you’re following. If you simply bury them as they are, you can expect them to take years to decompose. However, if you add them to hot compost, this will be significantly quicker.
Are Chicken Bones Good For the Soil?
You may be curious as to whether chicken bones are even a good choice for your soil – and the answer is, absolutely! While it can be a lengthy method, it’s certainly one that’s worth the effort. And always remember, smaller chunks are better, and will decompose faster.
Chicken Bones in Compost: Conclusion
By now your question ‘can you compost chicken bones’ are answered in-depth. Why not try the procedure and tell us how it worked for you? If you also try another method to decompose the bones, let us know so we can try it out too.
FAQs
Can you compost a chicken carcass?
Yes, you can compost a chicken carcass. The problem is that the chicken will be eaten before it decomposes and the carcass becomes food for the worms. To prevent this, you need to freeze the chicken carcass immediately after removing it from the bird. This will slow down the decomposition process and make the chicken more available for the worms to eat.
How long does it take to compost chicken bones?
Chicken bones take about 1 month to break down completely. To compost them, place the bones in a bucket with water and a handful of sand or other filler material. Let them sit for two weeks, then move them to a larger container (or a plastic tub).
Check them weekly and stir the compost regularly.
Are chicken bones good fertilizer?
Chicken manure is the most concentrated source of nitrogen and phosphorous in the compost pile.
Chicken manure is also a good source of potassium, magnesium and calcium. Chicken manure can be applied to your garden as an amendment at any time during the growing season. If you have a deep layer of manure on top of the soil, you can apply it as a top dressing or under mulch.
Chicken manure should be added at the rate of 1-2 inches per week. You can add chicken manure to your garden during the growing season. The chicken manure will make your soil better for vegetables.
Are chicken bones good for gardens?
Chicken bones are the best fertilizer for plants because they are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and iron. You can use chicken bones as a fertilizer by adding them directly to the soil or using them in compost. If you add them to the soil they will decompose and release the nutrients into the soil. You can use chicken bones as a fertilizer by adding them directly to the soil or using them in compost. If you add them to the soil they will decompose and release the nutrients into the soil. If you use them in compost, they break down and give the compost more nutrients and make it easier to spread on the garden.
Are animal bones good for soil?
Animal manure is a great source of fertilizer. It’s produced by animals that eat plants.
Animals have special digestive systems that convert plant matter into nutrients that can be used by other living things. Soil that has been fertilized with animal manure is generally more fertile than soil that hasn’t been fertilized. The main difference between animal manure and other kinds of fertilizer is that animal manure has a higher nitrogen content. Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for plants. If you want to plant grass or flowers, you need to use a lot of nitrogen. So if you have a field that has been fertilized with animal manure, it will be more fertile than a field that hasn’t been fertilized. You can also add nitrogen to your soil by using synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. But it’s expensive, and you can only add a limited amount to your soil at a time.
March 6, 2023
How Long Does it Take Cow Manure to Compost: Easy Guide
You may be wondering: how long does it take cow manure to compost? For centuries, new farming techniques have been developed to improve the lives of farmers and food producers as well as to increase food production. These new farming methodologies have been developed through the years, studied, researched, and applied in the farmlands in various corners of the world.
It is not only in farmlands that certain methods are applicable but also in gardening. One of the basic techniques developed in agriculture and horticulture is utilizing animal manure as a fertilizer.
Animal manures have been used in agriculture as a fertilizer to enrich the soil. Dungs from different livestock animals and poultry such as chickens and pigs are utilized. Cow manures have also been popularly used as a fertilizer for soil enrichment for crops and other various seedlings to grow.
However, while cow manure is deemed to be an outstanding fertilizer, fresh cow excrement contains too much salt in it and a high amount of ammonia which can cause plants to burn. Not to mention that this also contains an unpleasant odor.
To get the best out of cow manure without those disagreeable characteristics, it is suggested to do composting on the excrement.
What is Composting?
Composting is the process of putting together biological and organic remnants. Examples of these biodegradable residues include food wastes and scraps, straws, leaf clippings, and of course, animal excrement. These leftovers are gathered; stacked or piled, and blended and slightly wetted to go through a thermophilic decomposition.
Composting products are generally used both in agriculture as a fertilizer and in horticulture; they are used as a viable alternative for peat. It is also noted that compost is put on to enhance the composition of soil and as a microbial supplement to elevate enzymatic activities.
Benefits of Compost
Composting is used to improve soil fertility; the soil‘s capability to store and hold water and moisture; the organic characteristics of the soil; and lastly, its volume and density. Aside from these, compositing has lessened the odor produced in the soil and the number of fly eggs because of the thermophilic reaction taking place during microbial putrefaction.
Unbeknown to many, composting has also helped in eliminating weed seeds and pathogens. Generally, weed seeds happen to pass inside livestock and can multiply in animal manure such as cows. During composting, some weed seeds are eliminated on the 21st day while others take about 42 days to be dispatched.
Thus, through composting, the volume of herbicides or tillage used for weed control has been reduced. Aside from getting rid of weed seeds, composting has also helped in destroying infectious agents such as Escherichia coli in only 3 days if the appropriate heat has been reached (about 131 degrees Fahrenheit).
Composting has also been shown to decrease the density and volume of animal excrement by 50 to 65 percent.
Longevity in Making Compost from Cow Manure
How long does it take cow manure to compost? Normally, the process takes 3 months or less for cow manure to compost. The process depends on several factors; namely, the dimension of the pile utilized for compost, the right combination of carbon and nitrogen content in the compost, and water management. Also, the amount of oxygen being incorporated matters– and of course, the temperature of the compost.
Making a Compost
Choosing the site
Before making compost, you need to look for the appropriate site. Essentially, the area for the compost must have good drainage into the containment pond, and leached water must not reach any water reservoir. Of course, the site must not be placed beside surficial waters. The composition of the soil must be concrete or loaded.
Pile dimension
After selecting a site, you need to gather the manure into a windrow. The dimension of the pile is normally between 10 and 12 feet wide and the height must be 4 to 6 feet. Because of these, in a day or two, the temperature of the pile will reach above 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It must be noted that going for something smaller than the dimension required will cause the pile to not get the exact required heat for a thermophilic reaction while a larger one will cause the pile to acquire less amount of air or oxygen.
Carbon to nitrogen ratio
As soon as the dimensions of the pile have been set, the combination of carbon to nitrogen ratio must be determined. The ratio of carbon to nitrogen must be set to 20:1; loosely, for 20 parts of carbon, there must be one part of nitrogen. This is because approximately half of the metabolized carbon is converted to carbon dioxide. One must also take note that too much nitrogen will cause it to loosen and may cause the pile to smell like vaporous ammonia whereas excess carbon can inactivate nitrogen and decelerate the process of composting.
Water management
Water is another important element in the process of making compost. About 40 to 65 percent of the pore space in the compost requires water, and the compost must have an ample amount of moisture.
Oxygen
A chemical reaction needs to occur; therefore, microorganisms need oxygen to create such a reaction to convert manure to compost. Suitable aerobic conditions must be met. There are different ways to introduce and replenish oxygen in the compost. One, it can be done by turning the compost every 3 days. Second, using a pitchfork, the compost must poke around. Third, it involves the use of Compose Aerator which makes the job easier since air will be established into the pile.
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Temperature
The last fundamental factor that needs to be monitored in the compost is the temperature. A probe-type thermometer can be utilized to observe the temperature of the compost and to detect when to turn the pile. Turning can help the pile if the temperature falls below 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It has been suggested that the temperature of the pile must not be greater than 131 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 days, and turning must be done at least five times.
On the other hand, temperatures must not reach above 160 degrees Fahrenheit which can cause important microorganisms to be eliminated, thus causing a drop in the activity of microbes and decelerating the process.
How Long Does it Take for Cow Manure to Compost?
There is no straight answer to this question, unfortunately. It all depends on a range of factors: such as the temperature, the size of the pile, and the materials you’re composting. However, typically it’ll take around six months. This is from making your cow manure compost and leaving it until it’s ready to stabilize, and then curing it for at least a few months. Doing it this way will ensure the best for your gardens and soil.
Is Cow Manure Good for Gardens?
When it comes to cow manure, you may be wondering if it’s a good fertilizer for your garden. And the answer is – absolutely! It’s an all-purpose fertilizer that’s great for anything you may need fertilizer for. The main draw of cow manure is that it’s bursting with nutrients, but is low in nitrogen. This is ideal if you’re worried about burning your plants. As well as this, it’s low in weed seeds and ideal for improving the structure of your soil.
If you’re wondering how to add compost to your garden, the easiest way is simply to add the cow manure to the area in your garden you need it for.
How to Compost Cow Manure
Composting cow manure doesn’t have to be difficult. You should first start by making two compost bins. You can do this by using pallets. The first is for composting and the second is for curing. Curing can take a few months, but it’s certainly worth the additional effort. The pallet bins should be at least 4 feet high and around 4 feet wide.
Once you have your bins prepared, fill one with cow manure, along with straw, hay, and leaves. The pile should be relatively moist, add a small amount of water so that when squeezed, a trickle of water comes out. But be sure not to add too much. If it’s too wet, add a small amount of organic matter. Using a shovel or pitchfork, turn the compost several times throughout the month; depending on the temperature.
Once cool, add to your curing bin and leave for anywhere between three and six months; the longer the better. Your manure is now ready to use. Just simply add the manure to wherever you need it; no deeper than half an inch deep. This will ensure your soil will get the most from your cow manure compost.
Can You Use Cow Manure for Grass?
As we mentioned, cow manure is an all-purpose fertilizer, so you can also use it for grass too if you’d like. In saying that, you will need large volumes of cow manure which you may not have available to you. If you do or have a smaller patch of grass, simply use cow manure as compost for your grass and watch the benefits unfold before your eyes!
Conclusion: How Long Does it Take Cow Manure to Compost
I hope this post has helped to answer the question: how long does it take cow manure to compost? Overall, composting has benefits that can help the soil and the environment as well. This method is practical in a way that it can help eliminate waste by solving it practically and environmentally. Though the process may take a few weeks to complete, a dark, crumbly, and earthy smell of compost as a final product is not bad after all.
Do you have any tips and tricks when it comes to composting cow manure? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!
FAQs
What are some ways to compost cow manure?
The most common method is to spread it on your garden. But this method has several drawbacks, not the least of which is that the manure is mixed with urine and excrement from your animals, and therefore it may carry diseases that can harm your plants. Another popular method is to mix it with a composting bin. This method is effective, but it requires constant vigilance, and if you are away for any length of time, your compost could go bad and attract pests.
You can try to find a friend who has a compost bin or a large quantity of manure and ask him or her if you can dump your scraps in there.
The composting process will turn your manure into a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
If you live in a community that has a composting program, you may be able to dump your scraps there.
What are good steps for composting cow manure?
Cow manure can be composted by adding it to a bin of other materials, including sawdust, shredded paper and straw. This is the preferred method for most composters, as it produces an excellent product with no odor. To compost cow manure, follow these steps:
1. Collect cow manure from the barn, or find a local farmer who has cows that have just given birth.
2. Add the manure to a bin of other materials, such as shredded paper, straw and wood shavings.
3. Turn the mixture once a week.
4. When the pile is at least 6 inches deep, add sand to help keep the pile aerated.
5. Cover the pile with a tarp or plastic to keep it from drying out.
6. Check the pile every few days to make sure it is not burning.
7. After about one month, the compost should be ready.
8. You can spread it on your garden in a fall application. For More Information There are many different methods for composting cow manure, but if you have access to a large quantity of manure, you can apply it to your garden in a fall application.
Can you apply as fertilizer?
If you have access to a cow or horse, you can try spreading it on your lawn as fertilizer. It’s not very effective, however, because cows and horses don’t actually eat grass; they eat green plants. You would need to spread the manure on the grass and then mow it into the soil.
March 6, 2023

Cal-Mag Deficiency in Flowers: How to Supplement

If you start to notice cal-mag deficiency in flowers, you’ll need to act fast to save your plant’s bloom. During flowering, plants need more magnesium and calcium because of bud production. This is a key productive stage in a plant’s life that requires lots of nutrients to sustain the bloom stage. Calcium and Magnesium are two of the most important secondary nutrients. They are a little less important than the primary nutrients – N, P, K).

The Impact of Cal-Mag on Plants

These two minerals, though secondary, are vital to the biological processes in a plant. Let’s see what each mineral does.

Calcium Benefits to Plants	Magnesium Benefits to Plants
Gives the cell wall more rigidity	Assists in enzyme production
Allows plants to have a strong structure and shape	Helps plants make chlorophyll
Makes cell walls healthy	Helps plants grow into full maturity
Helps the healthy cell wall to regulate the proper transfer of other nutrients	Assists in the absorption and transport of essential nutrients like phosphorous and iron.
It is vital for cell division and formation in plants
Activates specific enzymes in plants
Helps transport the organic molecules in plants
Highly essential for the development of healthy fruit structure

Signs of Cal-Mag Deficiency in Flowers

It is not easy to detect cal mag deficiency in the early stages of a plant. Thus, it is important to act as soon as you detect the first sign. First signs appear in the lower leaves of the plant. The tips of the leaves curl upwards and turn brown. The brown spots increase in size and number starting from the lower to the top part of the plant. The youngest leaves on the top part of the plant also get brown spots with discoloration of veins.

Botanicare HGC732110 Cal-Mag Plus

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Read about What is Azomite and How to use it in Gardening

How to Supplement Cal Mag Deficiency in Flowers

Water is one of the essential requirements for all plants. Did you know water is one of the supplements for these secondary nutrients – calcium, and magnesium? Natural water contains abundant calcium and magnesium as dissolved minerals. Plants should be able to get these two nutrients in plenty from the soil/water itself. Tap water also contains these two secondary minerals. You don’t have to worry about using natural water only. Soft water has a low pH with minimal minerals in it.

If you live in an area with low pH, you will have to look for cal-mag supplements for your plants. Hard water contains high concentrations of calcium and magnesium. Using this water means you don’t need to add any Calcium or Magnesium supplements. Treated water requires Cal and Mag supplements addition. Because the distillation process removes the good minerals from the water.

How Much Calcium and Magnesium Should You Use?

You can make a homemade cal-mag supplement using Epsom salts (Magnesium sulfate) and Calcium nitrate. Mix 2 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium. You will need 6g Calcium Nitrate and 4.5g Epsom salts per gallon of water. In specific situations, you might need to adjust the nutrient levels to fit your type of deficiency. If you buy a pre-mixed cal-mag supplement, you will get the right recommended mixture. Stick to those levels for the best results. Remember, excess use of these supplements can be bad for your plants!

When to Stop Cal-Mag in Flowering?

While adding cal-mag to your plants is important, it’s also just as important not to add too much cal-mag. Cal mag usually comes pre-mixed in either a supplement or liquid. When purchasing it like this, it will usually come with instructions on how to apply and how much you should be using. Even if you feel as though your plants are struggling, do not use more than the specified amount and look for potential other issues instead.

The best time to start using cal-mag is when your plants are small. It should be done gradually, in stages, building up the amount as your plant grows. Usually, it’s best to stop as the plant starts to flower, but you don’t have to do this. When it begins to flower after 4-6 weeks, you can simply lower the dosage you’re giving your plants. However, we would recommend sticking to the instructions provided on your supplements.

Can I Use Magnesium Tablets for Plants?

Unfortunately, it’s not recommended to use magnesium tables for plants. When it comes to adding magnesium, it’s best to use a supplement that has been designed specifically for gardening. This will ensure your plants receive the correct amount required to thrive.

Can You Use CalMag Foliar Spray During Flowering?

While CalMag foliar spray is great at many points throughout the cycle of your plant growth, it is not recommended when flowering. Unfortunately, if you use too much when flowering, this can lead to too much moisture in your plants. This can then lead to mold and rot.

Will Cal Mag Tighten Buds?

No. If growing tight flowers, if you use too much cal mag, it can lead to too much moisture and eventually cause mold. If you’re looking to tighten your buds, it’s best to use a bud hardener. Bud hardener is simply a product to add to your flowers when they’re almost finished growing to tighten them. It’s typically used nearer the end of the growth cycle to help them put on weight.

How Do I Know If My Plants Are Lacking Cal-Mag?

You may be wondering how best to tell if your plants are lacking in cal mag. If so, you may want to check for one of the following signs.

color change. If you become aware that your plants are turning yellow or brown at the tips, this likely means that your plant isn’t receiving enough calcium. However, it’s best to do a soil test to confirm this before you take action.
slow growth. If you’ve noticed that your plant is growing slower than it should, it may be because it doesn’t have enough calcium or magnesium.
floppy stems. Your stems may become limp and lifeless if your plant is deficient in magnesium or calcium.
curly leaves. If you notice that your leaves are curling inwards, it’s likely because they’re not receiving enough calcium.
rotting. If you notice that your flowers are rotting or becoming smelly, it likely means that your plant is experiencing a lack of calcium.

Conclusion: Cal Mag Deficiency in Flowers

In most cases, these two supplements can be easily available in water and soil. But in exceptional cases, supplements are required. Cal mag supplements are available to buy. But you need to pay attention to the labels. Get something that consists of cal and mag only. Be sure to get a supplement that does not contain other nutrients. Supplements that contain nitrogen and other nutrients bring a risk of over-feeding. This is dangerous to your plants!

Do you have any tips or tricks for helping cal mag deficiency in flowers? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!

FAQs

How do you fix Cal-Mag deficiency in flowers?

Calcium is important for the development of new flower buds. Magnesium is also needed to make a healthy flower. If you don’t correct it, you will get sickly flowers.

Calcium is one of the most important minerals for plant growth. Calcium helps the plant to grow and bloom. Calcium deficiency will affect the formation of cell walls and cause the flowers to be weak and deformed and cause the plant to grow slowly and may even die. The easiest way to correct Calcium deficiency is to use a Calcium rich fertilizer. You can find Calcium enriched fertilizers at any local nursery or garden center.

Magnesium is an important element for the development of new flower buds. Magnesium deficiency will cause the blooms to have a pale, sickly appearance. Magnesium deficiency will also cause the plant to grow slowly and may even die. The easiest way to correct Magnesium deficiency is to use a Magnesium enriched fertilizer. This will help the plant to get the Magnesium it needs. You can find Magnesium enriched fertilizers at any local nursery or garden center.

How do you add Cal-Mag to plants?

Cal-Mag is a liquid that will raise the pH of your soil. To apply Cal-Mag to your plants, mist them thoroughly with water. Apply 1/4 teaspoon of Cal-Mag per gallon of water. Mist again after 24 hours.
Repeat this process once a week for a month. Cal-Mag is a combination of calcium and magnesium. It can be used on any type of plant except some species of mint. Cal-Mag is particularly useful in preventing stress and disease and in improving the health of plants. The amount of Cal-Mag used should not be more than 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water. If you use too much, it will cause burns or discoloration.

Can I mix Cal-Mag with nutrients?

You can add nutrients (Vitamin D, Iron, etc.) to a pre-made calcium-magnesium supplement.

Can you use too much Cal-Mag?

Yes, it’s possible to over apply. I don’t know the exact amount that’s bad but it’s definitely possible. It won’t hurt plants as long as they’re not in a nutrient-poor soil or a high pH soil. The more Cal-Mag you use the more of the other nutrients will be left in the soil. If you use Cal-Mag and then fertilizer, it’s recommended to add fertilizer at least 24 hours after applying Cal-Mag.

What are the symptoms of calcium deficiency in plants?

Calcium is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. It is involved in a number of physiological processes including cell division, wall construction, seed germination and fruit ripening. Plants can also acquire calcium from the soil, but most of it is absorbed by the root system. Calcium is stored in the leaves and stems as chlorophyll helps to bind calcium to photosynthetic pigments.

The symptoms of calcium deficiency vary depending on the species of plant. Some plants will show no visible symptoms of calcium deficiency while others may display stunted growth and reduced biomass. In some plants, the leaves may appear yellow or have a bronze coloration. This is due to the loss of chlorophyll which binds calcium to photosynthetic pigments. The roots may also appear yellow. In other plants, the leaves may appear withered, curling at the edges. In some cases, calcium deficiency may cause the plant to produce abnormal growths, such as leaf or flower buds, or the formation of leafy shoots.

March 6, 2023

Organic Source of Silica for Plants: Best Sources
Today, we’re going to be looking at an organic source of silica for plants and the best sources. Although not a major plant nutrient, silica is still considered to be important in any grow room. One of the most abundant components in the earth’s crust, silicon is a major contributor to the plant kingdom.
It comprises about 55-70% of soil mass and just happens that some plants can gather high levels of silica in their tissue. These plants have high levels of silica compared to minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.
In the past, agronomists ignored the use of silicon as fertilizer but lately, due to its benefits to the growth of a plant and its ability to improve plants’ resistance to disease, it is becoming more popular with many plant growers who apply silica to their gardens for a wide range of plants.
The use of silica is common among hydroponic farmers who add it directly to the reservoir away from other nutrients since the mineral becomes sticky when added together with other concentrated salts.
In this article, I will be sharing with you a little detail about silica for plants, including plant sources and the benefits they add when they are included in fertilizer in the garden.
What is Silica?
Silica is what is commonly used to refer to the compound silicon dioxide. It is a major component of plant tissue and is formed when oxygen and silicon come in contact. A lot of plant growers believe that silicon doesn’t have any benefits when added to their garden since it isn’t part of the essential nutrients required for plant growth. But this certainly isn’t true.

Silicon health benefits
Silicon is needed as part of a balanced diet for every healthy individual. It plays a major contribution to bone and teeth development and as such should be included in our diet. The ligaments, joints, tendons, and tissues in the body require silica for strong and healthy development. The mineral also helps to balance the release of insulin by the pancreas. The skin, hair, and nails are not left out as they require essential minerals to be able to develop properly, and apart from calcium, silicon also helps out in that department.
Now that I have mentioned some of the health benefits of silica, you should begin to see the reason why most plant growers add silica to their gardens to improve their plant yield. The next question you will be asking will be where these growers find the silica they add to their garden.
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Organic Source of Silica for Plants
For you to consider a quality silicon source, it needs to contain high levels of soluble silica, has physical properties that are safe for machine applications, readily available, and shouldn’t be expensive to purchase or apply to plants. Although silicon is the second most available element in the earth’s crust, it is usually in combination with other elements. The best sources of silica for plants are the ones that are highly soluble but since most sources are insoluble, you may have to do a bit of work and research in finding a good source of plant silica for your garden.
Some of the available sources of silica for plant growers include:
- Slag
A by-product from the industrial processing of iron and other alloys, slag is used as a source of plant silica due to its high solubility and concentration. It is usually a combination of silicon dioxide and metal oxides, but it can also contain metal sulfides and other metals depending on the refining process. When making use of slag as a source of silicon for your rice or sugar cane farm you should ensure that it has a high silicon dioxide content so as not to expose your plant to other toxic metals that are not beneficial to its yield.
- Calcium silicates
This is by far the most important source of silicon for plants and is best for soil application. Wallosonite (calcium metasilicate) is the most effective source in places where the soil is low in soluble silicon concentration. Another by-product of slag, gotten from the production of phosphorus in an electric furnace can be applied to soils with low silica contents in the cultivation of watermelon, sugarcane, rice, and other crops.
- Sodium silicate
Another good source of silicon for plants, sodium silicate often referred to as water glass has many industrial applications including textiles, ceramics, cement, silica gel, and adhesives. It is produced by the treatment of quartz sand, caustic soda, and water in a hot steam reactor.
- Thermo-phosphate fertilizers
A common fertilizer used in Brazil, thermo-phosphate is also a good source of plant silica. Although it might be difficult to come by and expensive to purchase, it is highly effective in increasing the plant yield in gardens where there isn’t much silicon content in the soil.

Benefits of Silica in Plant
The addition of silicon to plant soil either in hydroponics or traditional gardening has a lot of numerous benefits and they include the:
- Helps to Strengthen Plant Cell Walls
Silica helps to provide the plant with a stronger cell wall, and this makes it possible for the plant to develop strong stems and branches that are capable of supporting fruit production when the plant reaches maturity.
- Strengthen Plant Immune System
Unlike animals, plants lack an immune system that can help them to resist the effect of environmental factors on plant growth. Adding silica to plants helps them to withstand the effect of climate and drought throughout the plant’s life.
- Improves Plant Metabolic Function
The addition of soluble silica to plants provides them with a higher chlorophyll concentration where it is needed. This helps to reduce wilting in the leaves and improves leaf production. Also, there is a noticeable improvement in the health of the foliage when silica is added to plant soil.
- Increased Resistance to Pests and Pathogens
Feeding your plant with soluble silica helps to improve its resistance to pests and pathogens. It helps to fortify areas around the cell wall of the leaves making it difficult for diseases to get into the plant. It also makes it harder for bugs to bite and suck the plant thereby reducing plant damage.
Natural Silica for Plants
The truth is there are many natural sources of silica to help your plants thrive. While silica isn’t listed as an essential nutrient for your plants, I’ve found that it helps your plants to thrive in a way that they don’t without it. One of my personal favorites is diatomaceous earth. You may know it better as diatomite.
While it does contain other parts, it is predominantly made of silica; which is why it’s perfect for your plants – and all-natural! Diatomaceous earth is essentially algae. It helps your plants to thrive as it’s absorbed into your plant and helps to strengthen both the root system and structure.
As well as this, it also can provide other positive effects on your garden environment. For example, it’s great at retaining moisture, so works well against any drought issues your plants may be having. As well as this, it can even work as a pH buffer.
Best Organic Silica for Plants
You may be wondering how to make silica for plants and the best organic silica source for plants. Some other options we’ve not yet looked at are potassium silicate and mono-silicic acid. Let’s take a closer look.
Potassium silicate
This is often the easiest type of silica you can get your hands on; meaning that it’s easily accessible. Unfortunately, it’s not entirely bioavailable, which is what may veer you away from choosing this type of silica. This means that if you add a certain amount to your plants, you can never be sure how much of the silica they have received. Over time, it may also not be as effective, which is another downside to this type of silica. However, in terms of price and ease of usage, we would highly recommend it. It’s quite basic, which is great for gardening beginners
Mono silicic acid
You may know it better as orthosilicic acid. This is my favorite choice of organic silica because however much you feed to your plants, you can be sure that they’ll be receiving every last amount. It will offer a flow of silica to your plants, which they can use to flourish and grow. This time of silica is versatile and doesn’t degrade as quickly as other types of silica.
Best Silica for Variegated Plants
When it comes to silica for variegated plants, the truth is, you can use whichever silica you’d like. You simply have to find out what works best for your plants and garden; as this will be different for everyone. However, I’ve found that well-rounded silica is Alchemist Stout MSA. While the price tag of this supplement may deter you, you don’t need to use much of this supplement at all. For this reason, it’s likely to last longer than other silica supplements you may use.
All of the supplements will feed into your plant and this silica source is as pure as they come. Whether you’re a new gardener or an expert, I would highly recommend this silica.
How to Add Silica to Your Plants
Depending on the product you are using, you need to follow the dosage prescribed. During the early stages of plant development, it is advisable to feed them soluble silica at a slow rate and then up the application as plants increase in size and maturity.
You can apply silica to your plant either as a foliar spray or to the roots; but for maximum absorption, you should apply minerals with the aid of a foliar spray. Remember to dilute the silica and add the solution to the reservoir to avoid contamination with other elements.
When purchasing soluble silica for your farm, you should buy from trusted brands that sell grower feeds and tools so that you can be certain of the quality of the mineral your plant is receiving.
If you want to know more about silica, watch this video.
If you have any questions about using silica for your farm or garden, let us know in the comment section and we will be glad to be of assistance. We encourage you to share this article if you find it helpful. Do you have any tips or tricks for using an organic source of silica for plants in your garden? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below.
FAQs
Why is silica good for the soil?
Silica is used to enrich the soil and protect it from water loss. A) help plants grow B) prevent plant disease C) hold moisture in soil D) allow moisture to evaporate from soil E) store nutrients
A silica particle is a mineral composed of silicon, oxygen, and other elements. It is used in many products that we use everyday. A) sand B) glass C) soap D) mortar E) clay
Silica is needed for healthy roots and leaves, but can be found in soil or rocks. You may also find it in your tap water. Silt is a finely divided sediment consisting chiefly of clay particles. It is found in streams, rivers and lakes.
If you’re looking for a silica supplement for your soil, then look for a product that has silica as its primary ingredient. There are many that do. They are often marketed as “plant food,” but I wouldn’t recommend using them. Instead, just add a small amount to your soil and let it work its magic.
What is a good source of silica for plants?
I’ve heard a lot of different sources of silica: A) Silica is found in the soil naturally, but not in large amounts.
B) Silica is found in sand, which is usually sold for landscaping purposes. C) Silica can be purchased in bags and comes in various sizes and shapes. D) Silica can also be purchased in liquid form and sprayed on plants.
How much do you need for a large tree?
This depends on what kind of tree you have and how big it is. I use about 1 tablespoon per gallon of water, and that should be enough for most trees.
What’s a good brand of silica that anyone can use?
I use the mineral brand “Silica” from Amazon. It’s just a powder, so it’s easy to measure out. You could try other brands, but I’ve had great results with this one. I’ve used it in my own garden and in others’ gardens, and it seems to work well.
How is silica added to the soil?
This is a good question and one that I have also asked myself. Silica is added to soils by chemical companies as a fertilizer. It is added to soil as an inert filler, or it may be used in the form of an inert dust. Inert means that it does not affect the chemistry of the soil. It is inert because it is not chemically active in the soil.
How does silica form on earth?
Silica, like all minerals, is part of the earth’s crust and thus it’s always there. The mineral silica SiO2 is present in the soil as a result of weathering and erosion processes. The most important sources of silica for plants are the soils that were formed by sedimentary rocks, such as shale or sandstone.
March 5, 2023
Best Fertilizer for Green Beans: Updated for 2023
Using the best fertilizer for green beans when growing the plant will no doubt greatly improve the yield.
The importance of fertilizers in the place of plant growth cannot be emphasized enough. These supplemental nutrients help plant yield. This is why we would be looking into some fertilizers needed by your green bean to thrive.
Green beans are one loved vegetable amongst other plants. They are very nutritious and easy to grow if you gain the right knowledge about them.
In this post, we will be looking at some of the best fertilizers for green beans. So, continue reading to gain some knowledge about this.
Brief About Green Beans Vegetable
Before we delve into fertilizers for green beans, let’s discuss some things that you should know about green beans and the nutrient requirement of green beans.
Green beans which are also known as string beans or snap beans are green vegetables with huge nutritional benefits. There are over 130 varieties of green beans in the world presently.
Green beans are of two varieties namely bush bean and pole bean. This variety majorly distinguishes them based on their growing styles.
Bush beans are inclined to grow compactly and usually don’t require support. They are therefore perfect to be grown in raised beds as well as in a garden with little space. Their growth height is usually around 12 to 24 inches tall.
Pole beans on the other hand are inclined to grow in a vining manner and will usually require support such as a trellis or cage. The growing height of pole beans can be as tall as 6 feet or more.
Green beans are also loaded with great nutrients. It has a high amount of Chlorophyll, which can greatly help reduce the chances of having cancer. For women of childbearing age, green beans are a great method of improving fertility.
Apart from the above, green beans have some other wonderful health benefits such as reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mortality generally. Green beans contain calories, fat, carbohydrate, sugar, protein, calcium, iron, etc.
Fertilizer for Beans
Generally, bean plants are not so demanding when it comes to fertilization requirements. This is because they are legumes and they basically fix nutrients such as nitrogen. Therefore, they are capable of supplying some of their nitrogen usually. So, all you need may just be a 3 to 4 inches layer of work in compost.
However, if you have less fertile soil or they lack just one crucial nutrient, your green bean plant may not flourish well.
Do a soil test to determine the status so you can know if there are any deficiencies in essential nutrients.
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Homemade fertilizer for green beans
Homemade fertilization of green beans can be derived using organic materials such as fish emulsion, compost tea, as well as other organic fertilizers.
Bean Fertilizer
Here are some major fertilizers that tend to increase the growth rate of beans:
Phosphorous – Best fertilizer for green beans
Phosphorus is one essential nutrient bean plants need to majorly develop a good root system. But as we have mentioned earlier, beans are not heavily nutrient-requiring. Therefore, you can simply use a 3 inches layer of compost to enhance the growth of your green bean plant.
But in the case where your garden soil test result shows that phosphorous is insufficient or lacking, you can use a 5-10-10 fertilizer. You can optionally make use of 1 pound of bone meal per 100 square feet to achieve moderate nutrient feeding.
Potassium
Potassium is another nutrient that can help green beans to grow efficiently. It is like a supporting nutrient in the growth of beans.
Although potassium doesn’t really offer a major effect on the stem or growth like nitrogen and phosphorus would, potassium will still help in keeping beans healthy. This will therefore encourage or support the growth of the green beans.
A moderate supply or feeding of compost is fine to supply the needed potassium for green beans.
However, if the soil tests in your garden show very low or infertile potassium, you should make use of 5-10-10 fertilizers. Alternatively, you can make use of 10 pounds of ground granite or 10 pounds of greensand per square foot.
Is nitrogen needed in beans?
The very first fertilizers any gardener would think of when it comes to the growth of the plant is nitrogen fertilizers. However, when it comes to legumes such as beans, these plants are nitrogen fixers.
Hence, they are capable of fixing nitrogen into the soil and this nitrogen is gotten from the air.
Therefore, avoid supplying your green beans with fertilizer rich in nitrogen because this can hurt your plant. Excess nitrogen can result in excess stem and leaf growth and offer you little or small beans.
Growing Green Beans
Green beans are very easy to grow. They are warm-loving crops that should be planted when the danger of frost has elapsed in your zone.
The ideal growing temperatures for green beans range from 65 degrees Fahrenheit to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. For that successful seed germination, the temperature of your soil should be around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
So, once you’ve planted your green beans, monitor your beans to notice any signs of nutrient deficiencies.
One sign of low nitrogen level is expressed by slow growth and pale green or yellow leaves. You can help the plant by spraying a balanced liquid spray on the green bean plant. This will supply direct nutrients to the plants rather than the soil first.
Best Branded Fertilizers for Green Beans
There are many branded fertilizers you can use for your green beans, but I’ve found that some are far better than others. Let’s take a closer look at some of our personal favorites.
- Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food. This is usually the most popular fertilizer to use on your green beans. It’s an all-around favorite and Miracle-Gro is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to gardening. You can use this fertilizer every few weeks on your green beans and you’ll quickly see the effect. This fertilizer is 24-8-16.
- Old Farmer’s Almanac Fertilizer. This fertilizer is completely organic and made just for veggies, such as green beans. It helps both growth and root structure. This fertilizer is 8-4-8.
- Osmocote Vegetable Plant Food. Easy to use and can be used for both perennials and veggies, such as green beans. It helps both root structure and plant growth. This fertilizer is 15-9-12.
- Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n’ Feed. As mentioned, you can’t go wrong with Miracle-Gro, as it’s such a well-trusted and loved brand. It contains a range of micronutrients, as well as calcium. This fertilizer is 8-2-12.
- Jobe’s Organic Vegetable Fertilizer. This product is absolutely ideal for green beans. It has a range of benefits besides producing tasty green beans, such as helping the soil and warding away any unwanted pests and diseases. As well as this, it’s also organic. This fertilizer is 2-7-4.
- Dr. Earth Organic Fertilizer. Another great choice for any green bean enthusiast. It’s non-GMO, bursting with goodness and microbes, and even pro-biotics. This fertilizer is 4-6-3.
Best Fertilizer Without Nitrogen
Low nitrogen or nitrogen-free options are important when working with green beans. Some of the best options to use are:
- bone meal
- wood chips
- potash
- wood ash
- cow manure
- kelp meal
- seaweed fertilizer
Best Liquid Fertilizer for Beans
The best liquid fertilizer for green beans is without a doubt Miracle-Gro All Purpose Plant Food. It’s a 24-8-16 fertilizer and is a multi-use fertilizer that can be used for any of your gardening needs. Just simply use your liquid fertilizer every few weeks to start seeing top results.
pH for Green Beans
The soil pH when growing green beans is very important. It should be kept anywhere from 6-6.5. This means that the soil should just be a little acidic. If this need isn’t met, it’s unlikely that your green beans will thrive and will likely have stunted growth.
If you test your soil and notice your soil is too acidic, you’ll need to add something alkaline, such as powdered lime to neutralize the soil. The more acidic your soil is, the more powdered lime you’ll have to add to reach the correct pH of 6-6.5.
If you test your soil and notice your soil is too alkaline, you’ll need to add something acidic, such as sulfur. The more alkaline your soil is, the more sulfur you’ll have to add to reach the correct pH of 6-6.5.
Conclusion on Best Fertilizer for Green Beans
The basis of what you need to know about the best fertilizer for growing green beans has been covered in this guide. To attain the best possible result, ensure you first test your soil to determine any nutrient deficiency. Then supply your green beans plant with the appropriate fertilizer.
So, anytime you need to grow green beans, consider any of the above fertilizers mentioned to help boost your plant yield. Be careful when applying to make sure you are applying the proper way.
Do you have any tips or tricks for choosing the best fertilizer for green beans? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!
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FAQs
What is a good fertilizer for green beans?
I’ve grown green beans successfully in the past using the following mix: 20-30% Nitrogen (N) 40-50% Phosphorus (P) 10-15% Potassium (K) The only thing I can think of that would help is to add some sulfur. If you have any, use it, as sulfur is an essential nutrient for plants. The best time to plant green beans is from mid-May to early June. You can start seeds indoors or buy plants ready to be transplanted.
How often do you fertilize green beans?
You should fertilize your green beans when they are 4 to 6 inches tall, because that’s when they start to produce seeds. Use a fertilizer that has a low phosphorus-to-nitrogen ratio. This will allow your plants to focus on making seeds instead of growing roots. You should also try to keep the phosphorus-to-nitrogen ratio around 1:3 or 1:5. If you live in an area where your soil is acidic, then you should fertilize your green beans with a compound called lime. Lime is a form of limestone that has been treated with sulfur.
In general, fertilize our beans once a week.
What nutrients do green beans need to grow?
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the three main nutrients for growth of plants.
Green beans are easy to grow, and they grow well even in average soil. They prefer full sun, but will tolerate partial shade.
They can be grown year-round in most climates, but if you live in a cold climate, it is best to start them indoors in late winter or early spring.
How do I grow green beans?
Seeding green beans is easy. They like to be planted about one inch deep and three inches apart. They also like to be fertilized at planting time with compost, manure or a general purpose fertilizer. As soon as they have sprouted, thin the plants to two inches apart. Water them frequently, especially during the first few weeks. If you are growing green beans in containers, keep them watered until they are tall enough to handle their own weight. In the fall, you can harvest your beans and store them for winter eating.
How can I increase the yield of my green beans?
The yield of your green bean crop is directly related to the amount of sunlight that reaches the plant during its growth period. During the early stages of growth, the plant needs to grow quickly, and therefore must be able to capture as much light as possible. The more light it can capture, the bigger it will get. As a result, your plants will be larger and the yields will be greater.
Also, the quality of your green bean crop is directly related to the soil conditions in which the plants are growing. The more nutrients that are available to the plant, the better the quality will be.
March 5, 2023
Simple Super Soil Recipe: Updated for 2023
Learn what a simple super soil recipe is and grow your plants like a pro with super soil. A simple super soil recipe is the combination of soil in addition to some amendments used to supply optimal nutrients throughout the entire life cycle of a plant.
There are great benefits of using simple super soil such as long-lasting, nutrient availability, it can be recycled, and so on. We will teach you how to make this amazing simple super soil recipe.
Know What a Super Soil Recipe Is
A super soil recipe is a mixture of various soil and amendments that contains adequate nutrients for all the life cycles of a plant. The mixture of super soil requires composting or a cooking process that can last around 1 to 3 months.
The cooking process breaks down minerals and amends the soil from the beneficial bacteria this process produces. These beneficial bacteria create an ecosystem that will coexist with the root of your plant root system.
How to Make Simple Super Soil Recipe
Making simple super soil recipes is pretty easy. Just follow our guidelines and make yourself an amazing super soil.
Ingredients
Below are the recipes required for making a simple super soil recipe for a 90-gallon soil:
- 6 by 8 tarp to hold soil
- 5-gallon bucket
- Shovel
- Grow green filter water
- 2 bags of base soil, root organic which contains lots of beneficial ingredients
- Half a cup of dolomite
- A quarter cup of azomite for trace elements
- Half a cup of Epsom salt
- 1 bag of coco coir
- 5lbs bone meal or fish meal for phosphorous
- 3 cups of kelp meal for feeding the microbes
- 15 to 20lbs of organic earthworm castings
- 2 bags of regular potting soil
- 1 bag of perlite to help with soil aeration
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Steps to making a simple super soil recipe
Go ahead and set up all your ingredients and let’s begin.
Step 1
Get your 5-gallon bucket and pour in the bone or fish meal, azomite, Epsom salt, dolomite, and kelp meal and mix them all up. Set the mixture aside. Now, get your tarp and spread it on the floor and pour out your organic base soil and add the earthworm casting. Add some perlite to help with soil aeration and mix them nicely and evenly.
Step 2
Get the mixed ingredients in the 5-gallon bucket and spread them on top of the mixture of earthworm casting and root organic. Add the regular potting soil and coco coir. Next, go ahead and mix with a shovel.
Step 3
Grab your hose and sprinkle about 2 gallons of water. Make sure not to saturate the mixture, just wet it. Grab your shovel and mix.
Cooking process
Once you’re done mixing, you can transfer the mixture into 3 different 30 gallons buckets and allow it to cook. In this cooking process, the bacteria and fungi start breaking down amendments of the super soil. This process allows the nutrients in the soil to mix readily available for your plants.
Depending on how long you wish to grow your super soil, the cooking process can take around 1 to 3 months.
If you’re looking at growing just flowers, you can simply cook your soil for about a month. However, if you want to grow an entire seasonal crop, we recommend composting or cooking your super soil recipe for the full 3 months.
When the process is completed, the final product is available to be used for outdoor or indoor cultivation.
Benefits of Using Super Soil
The benefits of using super soil include:
1. No extra maintenance, all you need do is water your plant weekly.
2. No stress of continually adding nutrients because super soil already contains all growing nutrients required throughout the life cycle of your plant.
3. Super soil is great for both indoor and outdoor growing use.
4. Super soil can be reused and reconditioned every season. Thus it saves you the cost of buying or building new soil from the scratch.
5. You will enjoy a long-lasting garden effect.
Organic Super Soil Recipe
If you’re looking to make your own organic super soil, then look no further. It doesn’t require too many ingredients and it’s super easy to make. For this organic super soil, you’ll need the following products:
- 8 bags of organic potting soil
- 3lbs rock phosphate
- 3/4 cup of Epsom salts
- 25-50lbs of organic worm castings
- 5lbs of bone meal
- 5lbs of bat guano
- 5 lbs blood meal
- 1/2 cup azomite
- 1/2 cup dolomite
- 2 tablespoons of humic acid
Then all you need to do is add all the ingredients together and leave it for at least a month, for the best results. Once you’re ready to use, be sure to use this soil at the bottom. And watch the magic happen to your plants.
How to Make Your Own Living Soil
Making your own living soil doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re unsure what living soil is, it’s simply soil that’s full of life. For example, you’ll usually find earthworms, fungi, arthropods, and many more within the soil and they make the nutrients that will help your plants to thrive. So how do you go about making it? Let’s take a closer look.
The first thing you need to do is have a solid starting base. The best way to do this is with 1/3 aeration, 1/3 peat, and 1/3 compost. Once you have your base mix, you can begin adding the nutrients that will help your plants to thrive, these are very important.
You should use around 1/2 per cubic foot of soil of whatever nutrients you’d like to add. I find that either a fish meal or crustacean meal works best, or you can use a mixture of both. As well as this, you may want to add micronutrients too; such as worm castings and kelp meal.
Taking a look deeper into your living soil, you’ll also need to provide a calcium-rich environment. While it’ll already contain some calcium, I’ve found that it simply isn’t enough. Adding ingredients such as lime and rock phosphate can be really beneficial to your soil.
For your living soil, that’s all you really need. However, for the most important part, you’ll need to leave your soil to sit for at least a month. It should be kept moist during this time. This gives the soil time to optimize and will allow for best results.
The best thing about this soil is that you can use it again and again. However, every time you harvest, be sure to add extra compost of worm castings. This is so the soil can be renourished and will be just as effective as it once was.
It’s also worth mentioning that minerals are important to add to your soil, I typically use equal parts rock dust, basalt, and gypsum for best results.
There are many recipes you can follow, but this is one of my personal favorites:
- 1/3 peat
- 1/3 aeration
- 1/3 compost
And then for every cubic feet of your soil, you’ll need the following:
- 1/2 cup of kelp meal
- 1/2 cup of crustacean meal
- 1/2 cup of neem meal
- 4 cups of minerals, using the guide above
Bottom Line: Simple Super Soil Recipe
The bottom line is making a simple super soil recipe is a great thing if you want long-lasting nutrient availability for your plants. Your plants will enjoy a lifetime nutrient supply and you won’t have to worry about adding extra nutrients.
Follow our guidelines and make yourself an amazing super soil recipe. We hope you found our post on the simple super soil recipe helpful. Happy growing! Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to making your own simple super soil? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!
March 4, 2023
Can You Compost Shrimp Shells: Best Wastage Uses
Today, we’re going to be answering the question: can you compost shrimp shells? There is a standard procedure for composting shrimp shells. Shrimp shells are fully compostable. This means that shrimp shells can be turned to compost whether they are raw or cooked.
The shells will ordinarily decompose when they are allowed to be broken down by microorganisms into organic compost.
Composting shrimp shells is important as the compounds got from this process are highly beneficial to the soil. This article gives you an idea of what to do when composting shrimp shells.
How to go about the composting process and the best temperature for this are also discussed herein. Before we go into the composting process for shrimp shells, let’s understand what composting means.
Thereafter, this question will be answered: can you compost shrimp shells?
Meaning of Composting
Composting is the process of collecting and storing plant material so it can decay. This decayed substance is known as compost. When added to the soil, it helps to greatly improve soil quality.
Composting is therefore a process of utilizing plant material that ordinarily would have been considered waste.
Items Required to Compost Shrimp Shells
For the composting process to be successfully carried out, the following items are required: shrimp shells, compost piles, compost bucket, shovel, green yard waste, brown yard waste, and kitchen scraps. All of these items can be turned into compost and added to the soil to improve the quality.
Shrimp shells are useful when making compost because they contain relevant compounds to the composting process. These compounds feed bacteria and fungi in the soil, which in turn, helps break down the soil.
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Steps on Composting Shrimp Shells
If you are interested in making compost from shrimp shells, you must endeavor to follow the following steps:
Step 1. Collect shrimp shells
If you are interested in making compost from shrimp shells, then do the following. Shrimp shells can be collected from peeled shrimp in a compost bucket or bowl. You can include the tails and heads of the shells collected. This bucket should have an air-tight lid. Shrimp shells should be simmered in boiling water for 20 to 30 minutes and oven-dried to remove fat from the shells. Too much fat will result in a serious smell of the compost.
Step 2. Digging
The second step in the process involves digging a 12-inch hole in your existing compost pile. A shovel should be used when doing this to ensure that the hole is deep as possible to contain the shells.
Step 3. Put the shrimp shells in a hole
After digging the required hole, you should place the collected shrimp shells in the hole. After doing this, the hole should be covered with some of the compost you removed while making the hole.
Step 4. Continuous addition of green and brown waste
You should continue to add both green and brown waste alongside kitchen waste to the pile.
Step 5. Turning of compost
For the best possible result to be achieved, the shrimp compost should be turned every month with a shovel. This should be done to allow for sufficient oxygen to the microbes.
The decomposition usually produces heat and turning will help reduce this. You can use a compost thermometer to measure the internal temperature and regulate the same. It should be from 140 to 160 degrees.
Step 6. Add water to compost
Microbes usually need water to survive. Failure to add sufficient water to the pile may lead to the death of microbes. This will ultimately result in the compost pile heating up. Be careful however not to add too much water. This will likely turn your compost into a slimy mess and decomposition will halt. It shouldn’t thus be too wet or too dry.
Step 7. Allow the compost to season
You should allow the shrimp compost to remain in the hole for at least a year. After a year has elapsed, you may then use the compost in your garden or farm.
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Reasons for Composting Shrimp Shells
You already understand that composting is the method of adding organic material to a compost pile. Composting, therefore, is one way of saving organic waste from reaching landfills.
Asides from this, composting is a method of creating rich organic materials which are useful to your farm or garden.
One advantage of using shrimp shells for composting is that they break down fast. This is so because they are very thin, unlike other shell animals.
Material to Exclude From Your Compost
There are a few materials that should not be added to your compost pile. These items should be excluded as they can easily attract unwanted pests and animals to the pile. These items may also be very toxic. Some toxic materials that should not be included include wood chips coated with paint, ink, chemicals, and fecal matter.
Also, you should not include plants that were likely infected with pests or diseases in the pile. Furthermore, weeds pulled out from the ground should not be included in the compost pile. These infected plants and weeds may be very toxic to the composting process. It is, therefore, best for you to avoid including them.
Using Shrimp Shells Compost as Fertilizers
Because shrimp shells are good for preparing compost, you may wonder if they can be used as fertilizers. The answer is in the affirmative.
Shrimp shells can be used as fertilizers because they contain chitin compounds. This compound slowly adds nitrogen to your soil in a very non-toxic method.
So if you are interested in growing a plant that has a huge nitrogen requirement, shrimp shells may be used as fertilizers.
In addition, shrimp shells usually contain a sufficient amount of calcium carbonate. They can therefore be a good source of calcium for the soil. This means that plants like pear, citrus, lettuce, apple, etc. will benefit from this.
When shrimp shells are used as fertilizers, they get grounded or crushed before being applied to the soil. By doing so, the nutrients contained in the shell are easily absorbed by the soil.
How to Stop Your Shrimp Shells From Smelling?
One thing’s for sure – shrimp shells can smell. And it’s not the kind of smell that you want lingering in your garden, so it’s understanding why you’re worrying about the smell of decomposing shrimp in your garden! This is why you must manage the smell before you even start to compost it. Let’s take a closer look at some tips to stop that awful odor.
While it’s tempting to just add the shrimp shells as they are, we would highly recommend not doing this. When you’re ready to compost your shells, simply place them in boiling water. Boil for around 20 minutes. Then remove them from the water, strain them, and leave them to dry until ready to use.
Another method you can use is to bake your shrimp shells in the oven. After time in the oven, it’ll be easy to grind down your shrimp shells in a blender or food processor (or simply in a bag with a rolling pin!). Once your ground shrimp shells are ready, you can add them to your compost and they’ll definitely be no lingering odor from this method!
Shrimp Shell Nutrition
Shrimp shells are often overlooked and underrated. While they may not seem appealing, they can be full of protein and minerals. You may be wondering what the nutrition is of a shell on shrimp. One serving of shell-on shrimp contains the following:
- calories: 80
- protein: 16g
- fat: 1.5g
- cholesterol: 165mg
- iron: 0.4mg
- calcium: 100mg
- sodium: 840mg
Shrimp Shell Waste Uses
There are many uses for your shrimp shell waste. In fact, in recent years, shrimp waste has been used for several reasons. This is because shrimp shell waste contains many compounds which are useful to many aspects of our lives. The compounds include chitin and pigments. Such compounds are used in a range of areas, such as medical, cosmetics, biotech, and even textiles!
While you’ll be unable to do any of those things from the comfort of your home, you can obviously also use your shrimp shell waste for compost, or one of my other favorite uses is making shrimp stock. They’re typically full of flavor and whatever seafood course you’re making, the shrimp shell waste will complement.
To make a shrimp shell stock, all you need to do is add the shells to a pan of cold water and add some seasoning of your choice, if preferred; such as herbs or peppercorns. Heat over medium heat and leave to boil uncovered for around 15 minutes. At this point, the stock should have changed color and you can simply strain the shells away and add the stock, as needed, to your seafood dishes.
There are many uses of shrimp shell waste in everyday life; even in your kitchen and garden!
Final Note: Can You Compost Shrimp Shells?
I hope this post has helped to answer the question: can you compost shrimp shells? Shrimp shells as we have seen above are great for preparing compost. The right procedure must however be followed by you in composting shrimp shells. Following the above will definitely help you attain your desired goal of preparing shrimp compost.
Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to composting shrimp shells? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!
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FAQs
Can I put shrimp shells in my compost pile?
Shrimp shells are a valuable resource. They’re an excellent source of calcium and phosphorous, which are both needed for plant growth. You can use them to fertilize your garden or plant them in a flower bed. But if you’re adding them to your compost bin, you’ll need to do a little pre-composting first. The first step is to remove the hard outer shell. You can do this with a hammer and chisel, but a more convenient method is to use an electric grinder. This method will make sure you get every last bit of the shell out of the shrimp. Next, shred the soft parts of the shrimp by hand. You don’t have to be too careful here, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t forget to save the shells for the next step! You can now put the shrimp shells into a compost bin or pile, where they will decompose over time. Make sure to check on the progress regularly, as the process can take up to 6 months to complete. 1. Mix the Shrimp Shells with the Other Ingredients You’ll want to add the shrimp shells to your soil at a rate of about 25% of the total amount of other ingredients. If you don’t have any extra, you can also buy a bag of pre-mixed organic compost. 2. Add the Compost to Your Garden Once you have the shrimp shells mixed in with the other ingredients, you’ll want to start adding them to your garden. You can start by spreading them out on a flat surface, then adding more to the center of your garden. This is because the bacteria in the compost will quickly work to break down the shell particles, which will help it be easier for you to add it to your garden. 3. Monitor Your Garden When it comes to composting, it’s important to keep an eye on it to make sure the process continues to run smoothly. The best way to do this is to check on it regularly, as you’ll want to see if there’s any noticeable change in color or smell. If there is, you may want to take a closer look at the reason why. For example, if the compost has become very dark or wet, this could mean that the worms have died or that the process has stopped altogether. Either way, you’ll want to take steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
How long does shrimp shell take to decompose?
The answer depends on the amount of calcium carbonate present in the shell, as well as the temperature. If there is little calcium carbonate in the shell, then it can be broken down within a few weeks. However, if there is more calcium carbonate in the shell, then it takes much longer.
Is it OK to put prawn shells in compost?
Yes, this is fine.
You can use them in your compost bin. They will not harm your plants, but will break down over time, adding nutrients to the soil. It will take longer than other materials such as straw or wood chips.
March 4, 2023

Kelp vs Seaweed: Best Uses and Differences

What is the difference between kelp vs seaweed? And why are they used as fertilizer? Isn’t kelp seaweed? What form should I pick (seaweed powder or liquid extract)? I ask myself all those questions when I look at the different organic and/or natural fertilizers available in the gardening market.

I’ll try to answer all those questions in the next lines in the hopes you may choose better about kelp and seaweed with information on your side.

Kelp vs Seaweed – Is There Any Difference?

Seaweed is a word used to name many species of aquatic plants, specifically oceanic ones (hence the sea- prefix). Seaweeds can grow like underwater forests, kelp beds (a type of brown seaweed) cover up to 25% of the world’s coastlines. Seaweeds create ecosystems that can host thousands of other sea creatures such as plankton, seals, fish, jellyfish, and more. Phytoplankton is also considered seaweed because of its immense growth potential.

Seaweed is a term that includes many types of algae, including kelp. Seaweeds grow in many marine environments (oceans, rivers, or lakes), but especially kelp, grows in shallow and cool saltwater along rocky coastlines.

Some of these seaweeds are even called sea vegetables because they’re edible to humans. For example, nori algae (used by the Japanese in sushi and other traditional dishes), dulse, kombu, and wakame. Some seaweeds are medicinal and used mostly to treat skin problems. For more info on seaweeds and kelp, click here to open the National Ocean Service.

Seaweed	Kelp
Include many types of algae red, brown, and green.	Brown type of seaweed
Grown in many marine environments	Only grows in saltwater, along rocky coastlines in depts of 6 to 90 ft. deep
Many different sizes, some of which are microscopic	Large size
Used as a liquid fertilizer from natural seaweed sources	Used as a natural fertilizer and source of trace minerals and usually mixed with fish meal
	Can be found in powder or liquid kelp

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Kelp as a Garden Fertilizer

But how does kelp or seaweed help my garden soil and veggies? On the beaches, these plants prevent sand erosion and maintain the ecosystem healthy by feeding animals, as well as providing shelter.

In the garden, kelp and seaweed turned out to be great fertilizers for any kind of plant/soil nutrition deficiencies. Seaweed is not particularly high in nitrogen or phosphorous, but they contain up to 60 different minerals which are micronutrients (trace elements) for plant health promotion. It also has pest-deterring properties. Pets don’t like the smell of it, which results in keeping them away from the garden.

Seaweeds, including kelp, certainly amend nutrient-depleted soils and improves structure, and water retention rates ultimately end up decomposing, and in the process, they add organic matter to your garden beds, pots, composts, or other fermented fertilizers.

Learn more about How To Use Kelp Meal Fertilizer

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Foraging Seaweed for Fertilizer

If you forage kelp or other seaweeds for fertilizers, follow these tips for better results.

Collect only from the coastlines below the high tide mark, in small quantities, and only what you need.
Know that there’s no need to wash the salt away, it contains minerals and nutrients.
Cut the plants by hand or with grass scissors. Sometimes they hide small stones, sand, or even shells.
Use fresh or dry, both ways are equally nutritious to the soil.
Apply over your garden beds, under the mulch, and in your compost.
If you buy it, it comes available in powder and liquid extracts, and different concentrations. Choose the best suitable for your project. Liquid extract for hydroponic systems seems like a great idea. Seaweed powder is more suitable for growing beds, and pots, and as a compost improver.

For more useful tips and info regarding seaweeds as fertilizers, I recommend the article Seaweed Fertilizer — Using and Composting Seaweed for Your Garden.

Kelp Nutrition Data

When it comes to kelp, you may be wondering what the nutrition data is like. In every two tablespoons of kelp, it contains the following:

calories: 43
fat: 1g
sodium: 233mg
carbohydrate: 10g
dietary fiber: 1g
sugar: 1g
protein: 2g

The following percentages are how much it’ll be as part of your daily recommended intake:

vitamin C: 3%
iron: 17%
calcium: 13%
vitamin A: 2%

The following are all 0%: magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin B6, and cobalamin

Nutrition Value of Seaweed

You may also be curious about the nutritional value of seaweed. Every cup of seaweed (which is around 15g), contains the following:

calories: 45
fat: 1g
carbohydrate: 8g
dietary fiber: 1g
protein: 5g

The following percentages are how much it’ll be as part of your daily recommended intake:

folate: 13%
copper: 56%
iron: 21%
riboflavin: 22%
thiamin: 15%
magnesium: 17%

All You Need to Know: Kelp

You may be wondering everything you need to know about kelp when it comes to gardening. Let’s take a closer look.

Kelp isn’t usually used on its own as a fertilizer, it’s most often mixed with other ingredients, such as fish, to promote plant growth. Kelp is used because it’s packed full of micronutrients, which make for a great environment for plants to thrive. Kelp fertilizer can usually be found as a liquid or as a powder.

What many gardens love about kelp is that it’s an organic product, that’s packed full of goodness. As well as helping your plants to thrive, it’s also good for the environment.

To use kelp fertilizer, all you need to do is spray it onto the leaves of your plants. Results can be seen fairly quickly; in around a day or two.

All You Need to Know: Seaweed

Now we know all there is to know about kelp, you may be wondering the same for seaweed in gardening. Let’s take a closer look.

To make seaweed fertilizer, the sea water is usually rinsed and then left to ferment with regular water. Over time, the seaweed will decompose and you’ll be left with a fertilizer to use. Seaweed fertilizer most often comes in liquid form.

The benefits of seaweed are much the same as the benefits of kelp. However, as well as this, they can last in extreme environments and are a hardy fertilizer.

To use seaweed fertilizer, simply spread it around your plants – it is that easy!

Health Benefits of Kelp

When it comes to kelp, as well as being good for your plants, it’s also extremely good for your body too! Let’s see some of the health benefits of kelp.

Sea Kelp is Full of Vitamins. Iron, Magnesium, and Vitamin A – sea kelp is bursting with goodness. This goodness can help to keep your eyes, bones, and even your immune system at its best!
Helps with Hair Loss. Kelp is known for containing iodine. And iodine is known for aiding with things like hair loss.
Lower Cholesterol. A study found that kelp can even help your cholesterol levels.

Health Benefits of Seaweed

As well as kelp being good for your body, so is seaweed. Let’s see some of the health benefits seaweed has to offer.

Contains Iodine. Without iodine, thyroid problems may occur – and seaweed is full of iodine!
Good for Gut Health. Seaweed can help replenish the good bacteria your gut needs. And a healthy gut is a happy gut.
Weight Loss Aid. Seaweed can help you feel fuller for longer and doesn’t contain many calories at all.

Conclusion: Kelp vs Seaweed

If you use kelp or any seaweed as fertilizer, there are a few things to consider:

You may forage it in small quantities, always trimming the submerged parts of the seaweed, and avoid collecting it from the beach.
Notice that seaweed foraging may be an illegal practice in your region.

If you liked this post about kelp vs seaweed, and find it useful, please share it with your friends and leave your comments below. We love to read your feedback. And remember, sharing is caring!

FAQs

Is kelp the same as seaweed fertilizer?

No, kelp is not seaweed fertilizer. Kelp is a type of alga (one of the plant kingdom) that can be found in salt water.

It is used for various purposes including fertilizer and food. In fact, it’s one of the most popular seafood supplements out there. Kelp is also commonly known as seaweed because of its similarity to the plant life that grows on land. However, kelp has more in common with plants than seaweed.

It is often referred to as “kelp” or “rockweed” since it is so similar to the plant life on land. There are different types of kelp. One of the most common varieties is Alaria esculenta (macroalgae) which is a type of red algae. This variety is the main source of nutrition for people who consume kelp supplements. Another variety of kelp is Laminaria digitata, which is a type of brown algae. These two types of kelp are found in coastal areas. One of the reasons that people use kelp is because it is a natural source of vitamins and minerals. It’s also a great source of iron and iodine. Kelp contains an abundance of vitamins, minerals and proteins.

Is kelp a good fertilizer?

Yes it is a good fertilizer. It is a very good source of nitrogen (N) which is needed by plants. The nitrogen is released as ammonia.

This is then used by the plant for photosynthesis. It is also a good source of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and phosphorous (P). There are a few problems with kelp though. The biggest problem is that kelp takes a long time to decompose. It can take anywhere from 2 to 10 years. This is because it contains cellulose, which is a natural organic compound.

The cellulose breaks down in soil over time, releasing nutrients. Another problem with kelp is that it tends to build up in rivers and streams.

If you want to use kelp as a fertilizer for your lawn, then it may work well. Kelp contains a lot of nitrogen. However, this nitrogen is locked away inside the plant. You would have to apply the kelp to the soil at least 3 times before the nitrogen gets released into the soil. The other problem is that the kelp is not easy to spread out on the lawn. It needs to be shredded first before it can be applied to the lawn. DKelp is just one more ingredient to add to your fertilizer bag. You should look at what else you can add to your fertilizer to get the most nutrients into your lawn.

Is seaweed the best fertilizer?

Seaweed is the most widely used organic fertilizer. It is used to fertilize the soil, but not the plants. It is used as a source of nitrogen and potassium in the soil. The application rate of seaweed is 1-3% in the soil depending on the type of seaweed. It is very effective for the growth of vegetables because it is rich in potassium and nitrogen, which are very important for plant growth. It is also very effective in controlling the weeds.

March 2, 2023

Disadvantages Worm Castings: Uses, Benefits and Drawbacks
Worms, especially earthworms, have proven to be more useful to human lives when we started acknowledging their contributions through their environmental and commercial applications.
Through time and research, many technologies have been developed involving our humble ally – worms – like vermi meal production, vermiculture, vermicomposting, and more. But one of the most interesting discoveries about worms is worm casting.
To understand it better, we have put together below the definition, uses, and disadvantages of worm castings, along with other useful information related to this topic.
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06/05/2026 01:02 am GMT
What is Worm Casting?
Worm casting is the organic waste that went out the rear end of an earthworm – yes, it’s basically worm poop. But if you want the official scientific jargon, you can refer to it as a “fecal nugget”. It is mostly used as fertilizer because of its rich nutritional content.
Some people call it the multivitamins for plants because worm castings are often described as the most potent manure there ever was. Here are some of the nutrients you can find in worm castings aside from the main nutrients your plants need: phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc, iron, potassium, and concentrated nitrates.
Like in the human body, worm castings consist of good bacteria, and their microbial activity is 20 times greater than their digested soil which effectively supports plant growth.
With its remarkable versatility in vitamins and minerals, you can substitute any nutritional gap you would have in growing any kind of plant you want. The best part is, all the nutrients your plant needs will be consumed immediately as it is water-soluble.
If you have a business that would require a lot of worm castings, there is no need to fret as there are already worm castings out in the market because people actually thought they could grow a business using worms, and they’re absolutely right!
Read more about Worms in Compost: Are they a Friend or a Foe?
Worm Casting vs. Vermicomposting
Worm casting and vermicomposting are often confused as one thing, but technically speaking, they are two related, but different things.
Vermicomposting is how worms help in reducing waste along with other organic wastes (leftover food and composted bedding) and vermicompost is the product of this worm compost system. You know you’ve found high-quality vermicompost when it contains a high percentage of worm castings.
This particular way of composting is very trendy in urban areas these days as it can easily be done even in the comfort of your own home. You can even find a composting bin just big enough to fit under your kitchen sink.
To cut it short, worm castings are pure worm poop while vermicompost cannot exist without worm castings and contains other composted materials. They are both very rich in nutrients and are used to help your plants grow healthy.

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Uses of Worm Casting
We have listed below some of the most known common uses of worm casting:
- Seed germination
When you mix worm castings with your seed starter it provides the nutrients for new seedlings that boost growth. The new soil mix will hold moisture around the young seedlings providing added protection.
When it’s time to transplant your plants, you may add a cup of worm casting into the soil which would protect them from different diseases for a long time.
- Side dressing
You can choose to either dig deeper or sprinkle this natural fertilizer around your plant. You don’t have to worry about the exact amount because your plant won’t suffer even if you use too much.
If you’re planning on using it for outdoor plants, we suggest putting a handful on all sides of the base and then watering it. This would greatly prevent pests from bringing trouble to your plants. Now for indoor plants, you can use 2-3 tablespoons, depending on size.
- Lawn conditioning
When you use soil for so long, it tends to lose its potency and become barren and it’s your responsibility to rejuvenate it. Adding worm castings is the finest choice as it would greatly help bring back the previous health of your soil.
Worm castings prevent soil from drying out as it makes your soil more absorbent, consistently making moisture available to your plants.
- Liquid fertilizer
Commonly known as “worm-casting tea” but this is definitely not for human consumption. This tea can be diluted with water and you can use it as an alternative for watering your plants. Just steep some worm castings in water like you would when making your own tea to drink.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Worm Casting
As we all know, “there’s always two sides to a coin” so if there are advantages to using worm castings, there are also disadvantages and we have listed both below for you.
Advantages
- Plant superfood – the most obvious advantage of worm casting is its nutrient-packed quality.
- Neutral level of pH – this controls your soil’s acidic condition.
- Protection – worm castings extract harmful toxins, bad bacteria, and fungi; at the same time containing good bacteria and beneficial microbes which help prevent diseases for your plant.
- Natural pest repellent – some pests such as scale insects, aphids, spider mites, and the like do not like the fecal nugget of worms so they avoid it.
- Additional worms for your soil – some worm eggs may be left in your castings, so when those eggs hatch, they will be a great addition to your garden. Worms help break down even heavy metal deposits in your soil making it metal-free and healthy!
Read more about Organic Solution Premium Worm Castings: Natural Nutrient for Plants
Disadvantages
- You will need more fertilizers – worm casting is not enough fertilizer for other plants, especially for some that require macronutrients.
- Not suitable for acid-loving plants – acidic plants would not do well in a neutral pH range.
- It takes time – some casting may take months before it can be used because as we all know, worms are not that big so it takes them a while to produce enough casting.
How Long Does it Take For Worm Castings to Work?
Several factors influence how long it takes for worm castings to work. This includes the type of plants you grow, the soil condition, the application rate, and the method you follow. It can take a few weeks to months before worm castings begin to work.
How Often Should I Harvest Worm Castings?
If you have a worm bin or compost bin where you raise worms, you can harvest their castings on an ongoing basis as needed.
To harvest worm castings, remove the top layer of bedding and compost material from the bin and set it aside. The castings will be in the lower layers. You can then mix the castings into your soil or use them as a top dressing on top of the soil around your plants.
You should try to harvest worm castings every few weeks. As the worms consume the organic matter in the bin, they produce more castings. You’ll have castings available every month.
What is the Ph Level Of Worm Castings?
The pH. of worm castings varies. How acidic they depend on the type of organic materials the worms feed on and the conditions in the worm bin. Generally, worm castings have a neutral to slightly alkaline pH, typically in the range of 6.5-7.5.
It is important to note that the pH of worm castings can be affected by the pH of the materials that the worms were fed, as well as the pH of the water used to moisten the bedding in the worm bin. The pH of worm castings can also be affected by the conditions in the worm bin, including the temperature, moisture level, and ventilation. If the conditions in the worm bin are not optimal, the pH of the castings may be lower or higher than the typical range.
Worm casting is a good source of nutrients for plants. They can also help improve the structure and fertility of the soil. However, if the pH of the worm castings is significantly different from the optimal pH of your plants, you might have to adjust the pH of your soil before using the castings. You can add sulfur or lime to lower or raise the Ph.
Are There Nematodes in Worm Castings?
Nematodes are tiny, thread-like worms found in soil and can be beneficial or harmful to plants, depending on the species. Some nematodes are predatory and can help control pest populations, while others are plant-parasitic and can cause damage to plants.
Worm castings may contain nematodes. These are common in soil and can be present in the organic materials fed to worms. If your worm castings include nematodes, it is unlikely that you have reason to worry.
What Vegetables Like Worm Castings?
Worm castings are a rich source of nutrients and beneficial microbes that can help improve soil health and plant growth. Many veggies will benefit if you add worm castings to their growing environment. These include:
- Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale
- Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cabbage, and brussels sprouts
- Root vegetables, like carrots, beets, and radishes
- Solanaceous vegetables, like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants
- Legumes, like beans and peas
You should use worm castings in moderation. They can be high in nutrients and may cause damage when applied in excess. I recommend not using more than 10-20% worm castings by volume in your soil mix.
Worm Casting Benefits
When it comes to worm castings, there are many benefits to using them at any point during the growing season. In simple terms, it can help your plants to grow better, improve the retention of water to keep your plants moist, and also protect your plants from any unwanted diseases. Let’s take a more in-depth look at just a few benefits of worm castings.
- Helps Water Retention. Think of worm castings like a sponge. If you’re looking for an easy way to keep your plants and soil moist, worm castings are the way.
- Helps to Reduce Erosion. As worm castings are so great at holding water, this also significantly lowers the chances of soil erosion.
- Improves the CEC. The higher this is, the higher the fertility of your soil.
- Easy Way to Give Nutrients. It can be tricky to ensure your plants receive the correct amount of nutrients, in an accessible way; but worm castings provide just that.
- Helps pH Levels. As their pH level is neutral, they can help to make your soil either more neutral or more acidic; depending on what you’re looking for.
- Aids Structure. Helps to strengthen soils that can be tricky to work with, such as clay or sand.
This is only a small selection of ways worm castings can help your plants and soil, but the list is endless!
Worm Casting Sifter – Which Size is Best?
One of the handiest tools when working with worm castings is a worm-casting sifter. As well as worm castings, it can work with other things in your garden, such as compost. Just like a sieve, it helps to separate products. The size of your sifter depends on what size worms you’re working with. For example, adult worms will need a sifter that’s at least 1/4 inch. However, if you’re using baby worms, you’ll only need around 1/8 inch sifter.
What Color Should Castings Be: Black Worm Castings
You may be wondering what the optimal color of your worm castings should be. The truth is, they should be small, and resemble small footballs. The color should be a deep black. The darker the castings are, the richer the nutrients will be for your plants and soil.
Can You Use Worm Castings and Fertilizer Together?
Of course! It’s suggested that you use them together. They are two different products, that provide different benefits to your plants and soil. Worm castings are mainly used to benefit your soil, while the fertilizer is mainly used on your plants themselves to ensure they have the nutrients they need.
Are Worm Castings Good For Succulents?
Worm castings are perfect for many plants; one of which being succulents. They are very versatile and can be used for many plants. They’re filled with goodness that will aid your succulent plants to grow.
Can I Use Worm Castings During Flowering?
As mentioned, worm castings are extremely versatile. For this reason, they can be used at any point of growth. Whether you want to use them before flowering, or during; you can do so with ease. Whatever the season, whatever the time of year, you can add worm castings to your plants and soil.
How Do You Start a Worm Casting Farm?
Starting a worm-casting farm can be a fun way to produce a valuable soil amendment and reduce waste simultaneously. Here are the basic steps for creating a worm-casting farm:
Materials you’ll need:
- Worms
- Worm or compost bins
- Bedding materials (shredded newspaper, straw, coconut coir)
- Worm food (kitchen scraps)
Follow these steps:
1. Set up your worm bin in a cool location that’s out of direct sunlight.
2. Place a layer of bedding material in the bottom container and add your worms.
3. Add a layer of food on top of the bedding and cover it with another layer of bedding. Keep the bedding moist.
4. Ensure the temperature in your worm bin is between 55-77°F (13-25°C). This will keep the worms healthy.
5. Add food to the bin as needed. You should also turn the bedding and food once or twice a week to provide oxygen to the materials.
6. In a few weeks, there will be worm castings to harvest. You can harvest the castings by scooping them out of the bin.
You can use the worm castings in your garden or sell them to others.
Conclusion: Advantages and Disadvantages Worm Castings
To wrap this up, worm casting truly is one of the most amazing products of nature. It has very easy procedures that produce excellent results. Though there are a few drawbacks when it comes to worm casting, there are more than enough benefits to balance it out.
With that, we hope you have a finer understanding regarding worm casting through this article, enough to help you start your next gardening project. Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to working with worm castings? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!
FAQs
How often should I use worm castings?
You can use worm casting on the top of your soil every month and all through the growing season. Reapplying worm casting monthly to your topsoil will keep your plants looking healthy and exceptional.
Use 0.6ml per 6 inches of worm casting of the container diameter and mix the casting inside your potted plants’ soil. Or you can simply sprinkle 1, 2, or 3 tablespoons of worm casting all over the stem of your potted plants. Water them well after doing this. If you unknowingly applied a bit of extra worm casting, do not worry. It won’t burn or distress your plant.
Is worm casting better than compost?
There is not much difference between worm casting and composting. However, worm casting has more nutrients than compost coupled with a refined and enhanced profile that aids aeration and soil moisture.
Therefore, they are a great option for small-scale vegetable gardens because of their high-level nutrient contents. Also, worm compost is pretty expensive to buy in comparison to compost and several soil additives. In addition, it is not so easy making worm casting by oneself, unlike compost.
On the other hand, compost as well contains organic matter that has decomposed into rich humus. But its nutrients are not as rich as worm casting. Compost is affordable and easy to make by yourself therefore you can get compost for free.
Can you use too many worm castings?
You should not use too much worm casting, always use the right amount. This way, the nutrient levels provided by worm casting will not be too much. However, using a little extra worm casting will not harm or burn your plants, unlike chemical fertilizers. This is because worm casting is mainly organic.
How long do worm castings last?
Although most potting soil nutrient life is about 2 to 5 days. Worm casting can last 6 times longer than most potting soil.
Also, worm casting can be stored for up to 6 months or even longer and it depends on how you store them. Storing worm casting away from ultraviolet light and a constant temperature will make them last longer.
What is the NPK of worm castings?
A survey done on worm casting shows that they are abundant in over 60 micronutrients including calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, potash, magnesium, sulfur, and iron. Also, the NPK ratio for worm casting is 5:5:3.
The worm-casting nutrient content is higher than compost. For this reason, the rate at which worm compost is applied is lower and a single application works wonders. The worm-casting nutrient contains microbes that aid in plant disease resistance and deter harmful insects.
Worm casting is water-soluble and makes vital nutrients and trace minerals readily accessible to plants. They are purely organic making them essentially safe than chemical fertilizers.
Another great thing apart from the rich nutrient they provide, worm casting also retains moisture which is vital for plants to successfully pass through drought periods. They will as well enhance your soil structure and aeration.
March 2, 2023
Scoria vs Pumice: Pros and Cons for Growing
Today we are going to discuss scoria vs pumice for soil amendment in succulents. They are both minerals that are widely used in gardening, but for different things. Some people argue if they are good for succulents and why. Let us discuss their pros and cons.
Growing succulents is very popular, and I have a soft spot in my heart for them. They are so easy to keep, as they usually prefer negligence rather than constant attention, and they look so nice when correctly displayed. This, though, can be intimidating for an avid gardener, as one may think that it is outrageous to leave the plants be and not care for them that much. But that is exactly what succulents need. The best way to make sure succulents can thrive in your garden is to choose the right soil for them.
What Type of Soil Do Succulents Need?
Growing succulents in areas where the soil is not their preferred type to grow in can be challenging if you do not know what they need to thrive. The main issue you may run into is overwatering.
What happens is that not any soil will work with these plants. They are a type of cactus, so they do not need much water at all to live. If you plant them in moist soil, they will die, although that may seem counterintuitive to some gardeners.

The first thing to know is that you need a well-draining potting mix. That means, it needs to be a porous type of soil and it needs to drain water really well. If it traps water, you will drown the plants.
You can buy a pre-packaged succulent soil mix or a porous soil mix, but it is cheaper to make your own. This way you can also control all the ingredients that go in it and assure yourself you will not overwater the plants.
What is Scoria?
Scoria is a small grain of red lava. It can be found coarsely or finely milled, like sand. It is formed in basaltic magma, which means that it comes from lava that is flowing. It is a type of rock that has many air bubbles trapped in it and that is why, when milled, it remains porous.
Its color makes it very beautiful and it is usually used in landscaping. Many people prefer the flashy red look of it to decorate their gardens.
Is scoria good for planting succulents?
As a soil alternative, 100% scoria is not the greatest idea for succulents. It has higher-than-expected water retention which is associated with the high surface area and little holes that the rocks have. This makes it heavy and can lead to succulents dying from overwatering.
If you are going to add scoria to your planting mix, we recommend using a larger ground and washing all the dust before mixing it into the soil. The dust can prevent airflow and trap too much-unwanted moisture next to the roots.
This could also be detrimental, though, because the larger it is, the more chance it has of damaging the roots of your succulents. It has sharp edges and a heavy root.
What is Pumice?
Pumice is the preferred type of lava rock that is used as a soil amendment for succulents. It is different from scoria in that this rock is formed from the actual eruption of a volcano. Its reaction to air and extreme heat then creates a froth that then becomes a felsic rock. That is pumice.
Felsic means that it is composed of light minerals, so it is lighter than scoria. It is white and that is why many landscapers prefer scoria to finish up their garden look. But this color difference means that it is composed of different minerals and has different, although similar, properties.
Is pumice good for succulents?
Pumice has 70 or more trace minerals that are readily accessible to plants because of its thin layers. It is volcanic glass and not rock. This is why it is lighter than scoria, which is a rock. Pumice will float when first dropped into water, for example.
After a while, it will sink, though. This is because all of its little nooks and crannies will hold water. This is also what happens when you water pumice-rich soil. Pumice will hold water and slowly release it as the plant needs it.
It will seem bone dry to the touch but it’s holding moisture, just not right next to the roots, which can lead to rotting.

What is Scoria and How Does it Differ From Pumice: Scoria vs Pumice
As mentioned, both scoria and pumice are types of volcanic rock. However, scoria is much darker in color and is usually red, black, or brown. The comparison between the two is that while pumice is light in color, scoria is dark in color. While pumice is low in density, scoria is high in density. While pumice has small vesicles, scoria has large vesicles. And while pumice has thin vesicle walls, scoria has thick vesicle walls. However, their similarities are that they’re both volcanic rocks and they both may contain crystals.
Scoria Texture – What is it Like?
You may be wondering what the texture of scoria is like. Both scoria and pumice rock have a vesicular texture. This simply means that it contains holes.
Pumice and Scoria Rock Type – Are Pumice & Scoria Igneous Rock?
There are many types of rock and you may be wondering what types of both pumice and scoria are. Both pumice and scoria are types of igneous rock; which simply means they’re made from molten lava. They’re both vesicular in texture and come from volcanoes. While scoria is usually red, pumice is most often white.
What Plants to Use Scoria For?
You can use scoria in your soil for many plants. However, I’ve found that it works best for garden beds and plants such as tomatoes, flowers, and herbs.
What Plants to Use Pumice For?
You can use pumice in your soil for plants such as succulents and cacti. If a plant needs good drainage, then pumice is sure to help. You can also use pumice for flower beds, vegetable gardens, and flower pots. However, for smaller plants, it’s best to use finely crushed pumice.
Benefits of Using Pumice
There are many benefits when it comes to using pumice in your gardening. Let’s take a closer look at why you should add this rock to your list of gardening essentials.
- Pumice is Heavy. While this may seem like a drawback, it’s absolutely not when you’re working with plants that are top-heavy and need that support and structure to thrive.
- Helps Waterlogging. As pumice is often recommended for plants that require good drainage, they’re great at ensuring your plants aren’t drowning and potentially rotting. Pumice’s main function is that it retains any water your plants do not need to thrive.
- Versatile. Pumice can be used in any type of soil, so is a staple for your gardening needs. As well as this can also be used as mulch, as it’s hardy and can last for long periods.
Benefits of Using Scoria
There are also many benefits of using scoria in your gardening. Let’s take a closer look.
- - Great Water Retention. Much like pumice, it can be helpful for plants that require good drainage. This is an ideal environment for many plants to thrive; particularly if you have a lot of rainfall or waterlogging issues.
  - Protection. As scoria is a hardy rock, it works great as mulch and provides a protective barrier to your plants, from issues such as erosion.
  - Less Care. To keep maintenance of some soil can be hard work, but this is not the case for scoria. It requires little effort at all as it’s so long-lasting.
Conclusion: Scoria vs Pumice
Both of these ingredients will lighten the soil, but pumice will hold more air and water than scoria does, while at the same time providing lightness to the soil and not damaging any roots or leaving the plants open to infections.
Another thing is that scoria is rich in fluoride. Succulents do not like this component in their soil, they are really sensitive to it. This is why it is not recommended to water succulents with tap water, especially if you live in a city.
Scoria is great to use as a topper. It looks amazing and prevents pests, insects, and rodents from coming near your plants -to an extent. Pumice is best to add to your soil because of its many benefits.
Scoria is still going to be a better option to add to your soil than aquarium gravel or pea gravel because it is going to be a lot more porous. These are more space fillers and do not provide aeration.
If scoria is more readily available to you, try it out! Bear in mind that, as it is heavier, if you use it in bigger pots they are going to be more difficult to move around. It should be fine to try in smaller pots. Do not try it with young plants, though, as they need to keep moistened for the first year.
What is your favorite type of additive to grow your succulents or other plants? Leave a comment below with your tips and tricks, we would love to know and share them with the community!
FAQs
Is Perlite or Pumice Better For Succulents?
Both perlite and pumice are great for succulents. However, pumice may a better option only if they are meant for taller plants. Pumice weight will provide an anchor that will prevent your pot or container from being overturned or capsized. Pumice is also durable and heavier material than perlite.
However, pumice may be difficult to purchase and they are higher in price than perlite.
Succulents require adequate drainage; this is where perlite and pumice come in. Both perlite and pumice are soil amendments for succulents mixed with potting soil to enhance soil aeration and excellent water drainage.
Where Can I Buy Pumice Plants?
Here are the following places you can buy pumice for your plants from:
-You can find a vast variety of pumice for your gardening needs from the Amazon online shopping store.
-You can also buy pumice from stores like Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.
-Hess pumice offers various grades of pumice products that you can also buy in various garden centers closer to you.
How Do You Apply Pumice to Plants?
You can notice enough soil improvements by combining as little as 10% pumice with your garden soil mix. To enhance the porosity of plants such as succulents, apply 25% pumice mixed with 25% soil. You should also mix 25% compost and 25% large-grain soil. To improve soil drainage for plants that are susceptible to root rot such as euphorbia, mix 50% pumice with potting soil. Ideally, the general rule is to combine an equal amount of pumice with potting soil for potted succulents. For cacti plants, you can mix 60% pumice with 40% potting soil. You can also use pumice as a top dresser to mop up stagnant rainwater around plants.
Is Lava Rock the Same as Pumice?
Lava and pumice are of both volcanic origins. They are however slightly different. They differ by color, density, element composition, vesicle size, and water retention capacity.
Pumice is lighter because of the air mixed in it, while lava rock is denser. Lava rock also has bigger vesicles and thicker vesicle walls than pumice.
Lava is a type of scoria rock and it is a molten rock released from a volcano during an eruption. The subsequent rock solidifies and cools to result in lava rock, while pumice is a mixture of volcanic ash and rock.
Lava rock, just like pumice, is great for enhancing drainage and they are great for succulents. However, pumice comes in a better size and structure for your plant use.
What Causes the Frothy Appearance of Pumice and Scoria?
The frothy appearance of pumice and scoria is caused by the aggressive eruption from volcanic which shoots the lava out filling it with gas.
Both pumice and scoria are extrusive rocks. They are usually molded outwards of the volcano, especially at the upper part of the lava flow. The upper part of the scoria turns extremely frothy and after they must have cooled down. The air in the lava then expands and breaks free creating an air hole in the rock.
March 2, 2023
How to Make Potash (Best Step-by-Step Guide)
Potash is derived from the word potassium and it is also referred to as fertilizer potassium. Potash is a natural element or a natural nutrient for both plants as well as human beings. How to make potash is what we would like to talk about.
This natural element is essential for plants as well as humans to get adequate nutrition to grow properly. Historically, potash has been used to make soap and glass. It has also been used as a drying agent in food and as an animal feed ingredient.
Even though potash is fairly easy to make, it can still require a little effort to know how to go about it. Now, in this article, we will give you a step-by-step guide on how to make potash, so keep on reading for some insight on this.
But before we look into how to make potash, let’s quickly look into some information on potash.
About Potash
Potash is also known as the potassium salt. It comes from an early production technique whereby potassium was leached from wood ashes. Then the resulting substance was then concentrated by evaporating the leachate in big iron pots (“pot-ash”).
So, in those days, potassium is usually extracted from the ashes of burnt wood. However, this practice is no longer used due to several environmental issues.
The very first patent in the US is potash. It was first patented in 1790 and it still remains an essential product today.
Potash is primarily used as an agricultural fertilizer and this is mainly because it is a great source of soluble potassium. This potassium is one of the main plant macronutrients alongside nitrogen and phosphorus (i.e. NPK).
This potash can be used in making soap and textiles softer. Potash can be used as a fertilizer to improve your garden soil nutrient. It can also be used in the prevention of plant diseases or you can use them as an insecticide by applying them to bugs directly.
Sources Where Potash Are Derived From
Since the old way of deriving potash is not safe and unreliable, where then does today’s potash come from? Here are two ways potash is sourced:
1. From Ancient Sea
A time came when an ancient sea dried up. Then the marine salt concentration on the resulting dry land left an abundant residue of minerals and this mineral included potash. This residue is found in the dead sea of Israel and it has produced valuable sources of potash with ICL. They are one of the world’s top producers of potash that sells over 4.5 million tons yearly.
1. Mining
Another source of potash fertilizer is from mining a variety of geological potassium salt deposits around the world. Now, these are then processed to take out impurities and then converted into a variety of fertilizers.
There is also another mining operation that occurs in Catalonia, Spain through its subsidiary, ICL Iberia Suria and Sallent (IBP).
How to Make Potash: Guide to Follow
Follow this procedure to learn how to make potash:
Step 1: Addition of water and nitrate
Use a measuring cup of 100 milliliters to measure water, then use another measuring cup to measure 40mg of nitrate. Then pour it into the cup.
Step 2: Stir completely
Pour the mixed solution above into a beaker and begin to stir slowly until it mixes completely.
Step 3: Get a hot pan to pour into
Use filter paper to sieve the solution and ensure there are no insoluble particles left. Then get a saucepan and pour the solution into it (water and nitrate). Then begin to heat it.
Step 4: Potassium chloride addition
Get 37 gms of potassium chloride and slowly pour it into the saucepan and begin stirring the solution until all is mixed. Make sure you maintain the heat at a medium temperature range and avoid boiling the solution. Then keep on stirring.
Step 5: Filter then freeze
After properly mixing the solution, get another filter paper and filter the solution into a freezer-safe container. Again, make sure no solid particles are left out.
Step 6: Crystallization
Once you’ve placed the solution into the freezer, crystallization will begin to form. Then you can take out the container from the freezer once you’ve noticed the total solution has turned completely crystal.
Step 7: Excess liquid should be drained out
You should drain out the extra liquid. So, in case you see some liquid residue at the bottom of the container, you should just drain out the extra liquid. This is to further ensure that no liquid is left and all you’ve got is crystal.
Step 8: Dry the crystal
Next, allow the crystal to dry for a while. Then once they are finally dried, the dried crystal can be applied to your plant as a potash fertilizer.
So, there you go. You can see how easy it can be to make potash fertilizer with the right knowledge.

Sources of Potash From Nature
There are some excellent sources of potash from nature, and they include:
- Potassium sulfate (K2SO4)- Sulfate of potash
- Potassium Chloride(KCl)- Muriate of Potash
- Potassium thiosulfate (K2S2O3)
- Potassium-magnesium sulphate(K2SO4-2MgSO4)
- Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
The potash or potassium content present in each of the fertilizers mentioned above is pretty nutritious for plants no matter the source. However, the only difference between each of the fertilizers listed above is the element that follows the potassium compound.
You should also note that each of the added elements has its own function and acts differently when supplied to crops as fertilizers.
How to Make Potash From Wood Ashes
You can make your own potash in a range of ways. While you can buy it, it’s super easy to make yourself and you need very few products to make it happen. While wood ash is the most common type of ash to use, you can also use other plant ashes, such as ashes from vines, bean stalks, ferns, and thistles. For wood ash, the best wood ash to use is either from coniferous or deciduous trees.
This guide will make around 60g of potash. For this, you’ll need the following products:
- 400g of wood ash (either from coniferous or deciduous trees)
- 4L of drinking water
Now all you need to do is:
1. Add both the wood ash and drinking water to a pot and leave for around 10-12 hours. After this time, stir.
2. Next, you’ll need to use filter paper to filter the mixture. Alternatively, you can bring it to a boil in the pot it’s in.
3. Once you have a clear mixture, boil on medium heat and heat until the water has completely evaporated. You should stir often throughout. At this point, a powder should be left behind. This is your potash!
4. Store your potash in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for the best results.
What is the Ash Composition of Potassium Hydroxide?
This is simply the fancy name for potash. Wood ashes contain both potassium hydroxide and potassium carbonate. Because of the high amount of potassium and the use of ashes, this is how it gets the name potash.
Advantages of Potash
When it comes to potash, there are many advantages and reasons why you’ll want to add it to your garden. Let’s take a closer look.
- Potash is a natural resource, as opposed to chemical fertilizers, which is one of the main appeals of the product
- You can easily make this natural fertilizer yourself at home
- If you do buy it, it’s much more affordable than other fertilizers
- It’s easy to use on your plants
- It’s considered a nontoxic product
- It’s renewable, which means that it’s much better for the environment than say chemical fertilizers
Disadvantages of Potash
While there are many advantages of potash, like most things in life, it does come with some disadvantages and negative effects too. It can cause problems for both animals and people. Let’s take a closer look.
As the name suggests, it has a high amount of potassium. Unfortunately, if not used correctly, potassium can cause hyperkalemia. This simply means an abundance of potassium in your body. This can cause a range of problems to your body, and in the most extreme cases, can even cause death.
In terms of the problems it can cause with your plants, potash can either make your soil too alkaline or too acidic – yes, it can cause either! If you have too much acid in your soil, it may mean your plants don’t grow as well as they should. And if you have too much alkaline in your soil, they may simply cease to grow, period!
While there are a few disadvantages of potash, I believe the advantages far outweigh the negatives. Just be sure to use your potash correctly.
Final Thoughts: How to Make Potash
Potash is a type of fertilizer that is very useful when added to our garden crops and it can also be referred to as potassium.
Apart from adding them to our plants as fertilizers, there are also other uses for this substance. For instance, it can be used as a drying agent for food, it can be used for making soaps or glass, and you can also use it as animal feed.
In this article, we have given you a step-by-step guide on how you can make potash. So, we do hope we have been able to enlighten you on the question: of how to make potash.
Do you have any tips and tricks when it comes to making potash? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!
FAQs
How to make potash fertilizer?
As of today, potash fertilizer comes from either underground or solution mining. Using mining method, a variety of geological potassium salt deposits around the world is mined to derive potash fertilizer. Then from the bottom of the sea when dried up, the residue minerals left from the dried sea contains also potash.
How to make liquid potash fertilizer?
Banana peels with 3 eggshells should be dried. Then combine them with Epsom salt and grind the mixture into powder form. Add water into the powder. Shake and water your plants with this liquid potash.
How to make potash from wood ashes?
Burn some woods in an enclosed area. An extra tip is not making use of any tree branch as this will leave to become black ashes. Then make sure the woods burn to about 2 hours and you can have your potash.
How to make organic potash fertilizer?
You can make organic potash fertilizer from hardwood ashes, kelp meal, and green-sand. Making a homemade organic potash fertilizer reduces wastage and the best part is that it does not require measuring or mixing ingredients.
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March 2, 2023
DIY Hydroponics Nutrients [The Best Recipe]
Let’s guide you on how to make the best DIY hydroponics nutrients recipe. The nutrient solution is an essential component in hydroponic farming. Providing the appropriate nutrient mixture in the right proportion will enhance the growth and yield of your crops.
Usually, most hydroponic growers purchase nutrient solutions from commercial sellers. It will interest you to know that making your homemade hydroponics nutrients recipe is affordable and possible to make with the right knowledge.
Why Make Your Own DIY Hydroponics Nutrients Recipe?
Even though most growers prefer to buy premixed nutrients because they don’t want the stress of calculating the ratios of nutrients required, there are benefits to making your nutrient solution.
The most rewarding advantage you get from making your hydroponics nutrients recipe is that you get to cut down on your expenses. Making your own nutrients can also be a fun thing to do. You would be amazed to know you’ve been buying these commercially made nutrients at high prices when most of the ingredients used are very affordable and easily obtainable.
Now if it interests you to grow plants for a long duration or you’re growing on a large scale, commercial nutrient purchase may not be beneficial to you. Preparing your own formula may be the best way to go. So, if you’re wondering how best to make a DIY hydroponics nutrients recipe, we will guide you into this.
DIY Hydroponic Nutrient Solution Recipe Guidelines
The combination of nutrients and water makes up a hydroponic nutrient solution. Before we look into the nutrient recipe, let us look at the important nutrient elements hydroponic plants require to grow successfully.
Nutrient elements required for making hydroponic nutrients solution
For hydroponic plants to grow adequately, they require both macronutrients and micronutrients present in their nutrient solutions.
- Macronutrients
Macronutrients are higher concentrated elements required by plants to grow appropriately. They include magnesium, carbon, calcium, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, phosphorous, and potassium.
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Nitrogen and sulfur nutrient elements will assist in the production of protein and amino acids for your plant. Potassium and magnesium will produce sugar and starch. While phosphorus is required for plant growth and photosynthesis, and calcium is also required for growth. The production of chlorophyll requires magnesium and nitrogen.
All these elements must be contained in your hydroponic nutrients solution or else it will be rendered futile.
- Micronutrients
Plants also need micronutrients or trace elements in small amounts to develop. Ensure they are present in your homemade hydroponics nutrients recipe so your plants can thrive well. Micronutrients required by hydroponic plants are zinc, boron, cobalt, copper, manganese, iron, chlorine, and molybdenum.
Recipe On How to Make Hydroponic Solution at Home
All types of plants flourish with the presence of both macronutrients and micronutrients. However, the concentrations of these nutrients will vary depending on the type of plants and growth stages. They can be in vegetative, flowering, or fruiting stages.
Guidelines for making macronutrients recipe
Obtain the base of your fertilizer. The base includes nutrient elements such as sulfur, calcium, phosphorous, nitrogen, and so on. They usually come in form of salts and they are mixed with water to form a solution.
These are the amounts of salts you should use for your homemade hydroponics nutrient recipe:
- 4.5 tablespoons of calcium nitrate
- 4 tablespoons of potassium nitrate
- 4 tablespoons of magnesium sulfate, calcium carbonate, and magnesium carbonate
- 10 gallons of water
Instructions:
1. Ensure you use clean or filtered water.
2. To your 10 gallons of water, add two tablespoons of salt to each gallon of water.
3. Ensure you mix or add one tablespoon of salt at a time.
4. As you mix the solution, the salts will break down their nutrient elements to make them available to your plants.
Guidelines for adding/preparing micronutrients recipe
Instructions:
1. Using a different container, measure 1 quart of water and add 0.25 tablespoons of boric acid as well as 0.1 tablespoons of manganese chloride. Ensure you stir the mixture adequately.
2. After mixing, pour half a cup of this mixture and add it into the macronutrient solution.
3. Now get a different container and add 1 quart of water and mix 0.5 tablespoons of chelated iron.
4. Then add 3/5 cups of this mixture into the already made macronutrient solutions.
Tips for DIY Organic Hydroponic Nutrients Solution
One of the biggest reasons why people are intimidated by hydroponics is because of the daunting task of having to deal with nutrients. Getting the balance of nutrient balance may seem like a monumental task that can only be done by experts or robots. Store-bought hydroponic nutrients can also be quite pricey. This leaves people wondering if they can be able to sustain nutrient provision to their systems.
There is however a way to avoid all these issues. Here, we are going to show you how you can make your own DIY hydroponic nutrients.
Hydroponics can be organic as well. If you want to have an organic hydroponics system, you can achieve it as long as you refrain from using any chemicals, pesticides, and artificial fertilizers. You can obtain all-natural products from things like manure and plant matter.
The advantage of having an organic system is that you produce better-looking crops, the crops taste and smell better, as well as have better nutritional value.
Some of the most common organic fertilizers that are used for hydroponic nutrients include:
1. Manure based
2. Fish meal
3. Gypsum based
4. Bone meal
5. Guano
6. Blood meal
7. Compost based
8. Plant-based
These materials can be mixed and matched depending on the system that you are using and the requirements of the crops that you are growing.
A basic NPK proportion of 15-15-15 is mostly used by many hydroponic gardeners. Many other macronutrients and micronutrients such as calcium, sulfur, copper, boron, zinc, iron, and manganese are also necessary.
While there are all these options available to make hydroponic nutrients, in some cases it might be best to avoid substances like manure because of the risk of bacterial contamination. Another issue with these kinds of substances is that they can cause other problems such as clogging of pipes.
The best organic fertilizer for your hydroponics system ultimately depends on the system and crops you are growing. With that said, there are many possibilities once you get the hang of it.
Once you have decided on the materials you are going to use for your DIY hydroponic nutrient solution, these are the materials you will need to mix everything all together before incorporating it into your hydroponics system:
- Bucket, tub, or another container
- Accurate scale
- Jug or large measuring cup
- pH test and adjustment kit
- Teaspoon
- Stirring rod or spoon
- An electrical conductivity (EC) meter to measure the total dissolved solutes in the solution
- Gloves
When making your nutrient solution, it is important to monitor the EC and pH as they are essential to water quality parameters. The pH affects the ability of the plants to absorb essential elements from the nutrient solution. Most plants prefer acidic conditions in the pH range between 5.8 and 6.5, you should ensure that you’re solution stays within this range. Make pH adjustments to your system as necessary during the growth of your plants. You can make use of pH up and down to adjust the pH accordingly.
Simple Hydroponics Nutrients
It is easy to make your own, natural fertilizer for hydroponics as we have demonstrated above. It is also possible to make your formula with readily available components. You can do this by using normal hydroponics fertilizer or making your own.
A simple way to make hydroponic nutrients is to purchase some water-soluble fertilizer. Good ones are 20-20-20 or 24-8-16 (NPK), which are available from nurseries, garden supply stores, and even online stores such as Amazon. When purchasing these commercial nutrients, make sure you get the ones that have micronutrients included.
Add two teaspoons of this fertilizer per gallon of water and mix very well. Add one teaspoon of magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) per gallon. After mixing these, thoroughly stir the mixture and ensure that everything is well incorporated. And then it is ready for use.
Cheap Hydroponics Nutrients
If you have ever owned a hydroponics system or looking into having and running one, you will know how expensive pre-made hydroponic nutrient mixes are very expensive. If you are running a small system that has not yet reached optimum production, you may find yourself making a loss from having to purchase nutrients.
Here are some cheap hydroponics nutrients for you to try out:
Formula #1
This formula will work for a 5-gallon container of nutrient solution. This solution works best for non-recirculating and small systems, such as DWC and raft systems:
- Masterblend Tomato 4-18-38: 10 g
- Calcium Nitrate 15.5-0-0: 10 g
- Epsom Salt: 5 g
While using this formula, if you notice any deficiencies in your plants, you should use a supplementary formula for extra nutrition.
Formula #2
This nutrient mix needs a few more components but it is a very easy mix. Once mixed, add 10 g of the mixture for each gallon of water in your system:
- Potassium nitrate: 255g
- Calcium Phosphate: 198g
- Magnesium Sulfate: 170g
- Powdered Ammonium Sulfate: 43g
- Monocalcium Phosphate: 113g
- Iron Sulfate: 1/2 teaspoon
This mixture is highly concentrated, so make sure to wear protective clothing to avoid skin and eye irritations.
Formula #3
This 2 ingredient solution is quite cheap and very easy to make:
- Seaweed (Kelp): 6oz
- Epsom Salts: 5 teaspoons – 1 teaspoon per gallon of water
Wrap your seaweed in cheesecloth and tie it with twine. Add 5 gallons of water into a bucket and add the seaweed bag. Leave this mix outside in the sun for 5 days. Afterward, add 5 teaspoons of Epsom salts. You can either add this entire mixture into your hydroponics tank or in small increments.
DIY Hydroponic Nutrients From Compost
These are the steps to follow if you want to make your own nutrients from compost:
1. Place a gallon of compost into a 5-gallon bucket
2. Fill the bucket with water and stir well
3. Continuously aerate the mixture with an aquarium air pump
4. Let the mixture sit out of direct sunlight for up to 3 days. Make sure to stir the mixture every day
5. Pour the liquid through a strainer to filter out the solids. The resulting liquid can then be used as fertilizer
Conclusion
We hope this article has provided you with all you needed to know about DIY hydroponics nutrients. There are many different components you can use to make your hydroponics nutrients, depending on your system and the plant species in the system. We hope the information in this article will help you to become more confident with your next DIY hydroponics nutrient solution.
FAQs
What’s a decent
In the process of making the solution, there are many different methods and processes that can be used to make the solution. The solution can either be made with or without the use of nutrients. If you want to make a nutrient-free solution, it is important to know the amount of water that your plants need to survive.
To make an organic hydroponic solution, you will need some nutrients. You can use a commercial product like Gro-Lite or you can make your own solution. The problem with making the solution is that it requires a lot of time and work. The other problem is that you will end up using a lot of chemicals that will pollute the environment. If you have been growing plants organically for a long time, then you should be familiar with this method. There are many products available on the market that are designed to be used as organic fertilizers. When making the solution, you need to add the fertilizer into the distilled water.
You can use a regular 5 gallon bucket for your hydroponic system. Next, you will need something to use as a nutrient solution. This could be a combination of water, water soluble fertilizer, and some Epsom salt. I usually use 1/4 cup of Epsom salt, 1/2 cup of water soluble fertilizer, and 1 quart of water.
What are the common nutrients for hydroponics?
There are a lot of different types of nutrients available, but I’ve found that the most commonly used ones are:
Nitrogen: N-P-K Phosphorus: P-S-B Potassium: K-Mg-Fe Sulfur: N-P-S Magnesium: Mg-Ca-K Manganese: Mn-Cu-Mn Calcium: Ca-Mg-K Copper: Cu-Mn Zinc: Zn-Fe Boron: B-Mn-Co-Ni Chromium: Cr-Cu-Mn Iron: Fe-Mn-Co-Cu-Zn
There are certain nutrients that will work for all plants, such as nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium. Others are best suited for specific plant families. For example, copper is known to be good for ferns, while manganese is best for flowering plants. Some of these are also more common than others, so it’s important to know what types of nutrients are most commonly used for each plant family. For instance, in a hydroponic system you wouldn’t use manganese for flowering plants because it can have an effect on the colour of the flowers.
There are certain nutrients that will not work for all plants, and will actually have the opposite effect to what you want. For example, sulphur is known to be harmful to ferns and algae, while some flowering plants need potassium in order to flower. Some other nutrients are very specific and can only be used for a certain type of plant, such as calcium, which is only useful for ferns and cacti. Some of these are also more common than others, so it’s important to know what types of nutrients are most commonly used for each plant family.
What type of fertilizer should you use for a hydroponic solution?
Make sure that the fertilizer you use has all of the elements that you want in your solution. When you add too much nitrogen into the solution, you will have more of a root zone which will slow down the growth of the plant. If you want to make your own hydroponic solution, you should know what nutrients to add. When you start growing plants, you will need to fertilize them once every 2 to 3 weeks.
February 25, 2023
Black Light For Plants – Our Best 4 Picks
Wondering if black light for plants works? Plants require light to grow, be it artificial light or natural sunlight. Now, this light comes in various colors of the spectrum. Different light colors are required by your plants at their various stages of growth.
Ultraviolet (UV) light is also emitted in the light spectrum and some forms of it are absorbed by ozone, water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is the black light that emits UV radiation and we will be talking about its effect on plants’ growth.
Ultraviolet Black Light for Plants Growth
As we said, a black light emits UV light. The types of UV light produced by black lights are UVA and UVB. Various light wavelengths are absorbed by chlorophyll and phytopigments known as photosynthetic pigments. The lights are assimilated and help to carry out the process of photosynthesis.
Among all the colors of light, chlorophyll vigorously assimilates the blue region more. However, chlorophyll also has strong assimilation for some ultraviolet spectrum portions. The longest wavelength which is found in UVA is firmly assimilated by plants.
Effect of Black Light (UV Light) on Plant Growth
The effect of UV light varies with different plants. You need to be cautious if you wish to use black lights to help support your plants’ growth. This is because too much UV radiation can cause great harm to phytopigments.
Growing plants under black lights alone in the absence of white light may be damaging. You will be depriving them of benefiting from other colors of light. Your plants may grow with a blacklight but they will start to grow leggy because they are missing other colors.
Also, your plants’ chances of blooming with black lights are very slim. However, in a safe dose, your plants may benefit from ultraviolet black light.
- Effect of UV light on microorganisms
Microorganisms in plants offer both good and bad effects. There are some microorganisms such as bacteria that affect plants negatively by causing rust and wilting, which give rise to diseases. Ultraviolet light can help kill these harmful bacteria, as well as other pathogens.
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However, we also have some beneficial bacteria such as the nitrogen-fixing bacteria present in plants. They help fix the nitrogen used by plants. Ultraviolet light always ends up destroying beneficial microbes which play a vital part in the development of your plants. Thus UV is not ideal for the use of killing microbes.
- Effect of UV light on plant DNA
Generally, it is well known that UV rays are pretty damaging to any life form. Now, UV rays are damaging to proteins, DNA, and lipids. So, if the DNA of a cell gets impaired, the genetic substance depreciates and this may bring about mutations or programmed cell death.
Although the damage done to the DNA may usually not be adverse, it may end up causing mutation in plants. Now, a mutation in plants may give rise to significant diversity which can result in better adaptable plants or even organisms.
But generally, plants don’t really need UV light because it actually brings more harm than good. But in a situation where plants end up getting UV light, it forces a reaction that protects plants and ends up boosting certain properties in them.
- UV resistant crops
The earth continues to experience some climatic crises. This has been causing the ozone layer that protects the earth from the sun’s UV rays to deplete. Our worry is how damaging can this be to both humans and plants.
The good news is that researchers have been working on the effect of UV on crops and how they can be protected. Researchers have conducted laboratory experiments showing that plants are adapting. It shows that outdoor plants exposed to more UV rays have begun generating molecules to obstruct UV lights.
Therefore, plants can now thrive in severe climatic conditions. At the same time, plants can use UV light to their advantage to fight diseases bothering the plant.
However, UV light is generally detrimental to plants and the negative effect of UV black lights outweighs their advantages.
Are Black Lights and Grow Lights The Same?
Grow lights typically contain a good mix of light in different wavelengths that plants need for growth. This is including the black light that emits UV. Some grow lights naturally emit UV through chemical exchange. Grow lights such as HIDs and T5 grow lights. LED grow lights,s on the other hand can be built with specialized UV-B bulbs or diodes to give them the UV (to give off UV-B) they do not naturally come with.
Ultraviolet light is inane wavelengths of between 320 and 400 nanometers. Unlike lights in other wavelengths that are visible to the human eye, many birds and a small number of humans can perceive light in this wavelength.
Do Plants Need UV Light?
There are different perceptions and opinions about the usefulness of UV light for plants.
Plants that are grown with the use of black lights alone usually will suffer from numerous consequences because of being deprived of natural light.
Excessive UV radiation can have negative effects on plant phytopigments. Some studies have found that removing UV light from white light sources would improve plant growth.
Blacklightt emits UV radiation in the UVA and UVB regions. Chlorophyll from plants strongly absorbs long wavelengths in the UVA region. From this perspective, it is safe to assume that black light would not be ideal for any plant. Plants grown under black light tend to grow poorly or fail to grow at all.
There are however certain benefits that have been observed with the use of UV light for plants. Moderate UVC can kill certain plant pathogens. An excess,s however, can kill beneficial microbes that play a positive role in the growth of plants and other important organisms. Some plants have been specifically found to benefit from the use of UV light. One of these plants is Marijuana. In marijuana, UV light increases the production of CBD and THC, as a coping mechanism to protect the plant from harmful UV radiation. CBD and THC are the active ingredients of the plant. Because of this, LED grow lights used by marijuana growers have UV added to them.
Are Black Lights Bad for You?
As we have discusses, there are different types of black lights or UV lights. There is UVA, UV, B, and UVC. Of these three types, the short wavelength UVC is the most damaging to humans. Fortunately, it is filtered by the atmosphere before it reaches the earth’s surface. Medium wavelength UVB is biologically active, but cannot penetrate past the top layers of the skin.
Prolonged exposure to UV light emitted by black light can be harmful. It can potentially be damaging to your eyes and can affect your vision over time, as well as your skin.
For example, long periods spent in direct exposure to UVA light, such as in tanning beds have been found to cause skin damage.
If you have to work with UV lights in enclosed growing spaces, be sure to wear protective clothing or materials to reduce the risk of damage to your skin and eyes.
How Long to Leave UV Light on Plants
All plants differ in the amount of UV that they require, and can cope with. These differences are present even in plants of the same strain.
Because of these differences, the best way to start is to expose your plants to just 2 hours per day of UV light. It might be best to even split these into 2,1-hour stints. You can increase this time by 15 minutes every two days. If you notice that the top smaller leaves are burning a little, reduce the exposure time by about 30 minutes per stint.
Diligently following this procedure will allow you to get the best out of giving your plants UV light, without causing any damage to them.
The Best UV Light for Indoor Plants
If you grow plants indoors, you should be supplementing your plants with some UV light. UV light can help with plant growth in several ways. It can also help with the potency and overall quality of plant flowers.
However, there are only certain types of UV light that are beneficial to plants. Remember, UV is broken down into 3 categories, i.e. UVA, UVB, and UVC. Only UVA and UVB are essential for certain parts of life on earth, but UVC is not.
A bit more about UVA and UVB;
- Ultraviolet A (UVA)
UVA light is in wavelengths between 320 nm and 400 nm. It contains approximately 3% of the photons that are present in natural sunlight that comes through the earth’s atmosphere. This type of UV has no harmful effects on DNA.
- Ultraviolet B (UVB)
This type of UV is in wavelengths between 29 nm and 320 nm. It contains about 1/5 of 1% of natural sunlight. Unlike UVA, UVB can cause damage and can cause cancer in humans and animals.
When it comes to providing your plants with UV light, the best way to do it is to get a high-quality UV-to-grow light. Many full-spectrum LED lights emit just the right amount of UV. They also mimic natural sunlight, so they will be great and make your plants feel as if they are growing outside.
There are other lights that such as ceramic CMH grow lights which emit UV light, this is along with some double-ended bulbs.
With all these options, it can be confusing to know which light to choose. Here are four lights that we recommend for you;
Another factor to consider when using a UV light for your plants is to use it in small doses over the entire life of the plant, instead of using it in high doses. This way, it will be safer and more effective.
Final Note – Black Light For Plants
As you have read from this article, there are specific uses, and ways to use UV light for plants so that it does not lead to damage. It can be beneficial in some cases and detrimental in others. Therefore, before you use any black light on your plants, determine whether or not your plants need it, and how best to expose your plants. If you use black light appropriately, such as in conjunction with other light colors, it has the potential to greatly benefit your plants.
FAQs
Does ultraviolet light help with Plant Growth?
The answer depends on what you are growing. The most common UV wavelengths used for indoor horticulture are 365nm, 390nm and 385nm. If you are growing plants that require a lot of light, such as tomatoes, peppers or cucumbers, then the plant will be able to grow normally with a certain amount of UV light.
However, if you are growing plants like broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, spinach, cabbage, carrots, parsley, basil, lettuce and other leafy greens, then you will need more than the standard UV dose that comes from the sun. If you are growing these plants, you can use an UV lamp, which is available at nurseries and hardware stores. The UV light for horticulture comes in three different wavelengths: 365nm, 390nm and 385nm. These three wavelengths are used for different types of plants. Some plants require UV light at all times while others require it only in the daytime. The most common wavelength used for indoor horticulture is 365nm. This is because the 365nm wavelength has been proven to be the most effective in providing the optimal amount of light for plants.
What’s the relation between UV and plant growth?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes visible light, radio waves and X-rays. It consists of wavelengths shorter than that of visible light, but longer than those of X-rays. Ultraviolet radiation comes from the Sun, and it can also be generated artificially by high-intensity light bulbs. Ultraviolet radiation is important for plant growth and development because it helps in regulating the balance between the processes of photosynthesis and photorespiration.
How sensitive are plants to black lights?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of solar radiation that can cause sunburn, skin cancer and other serious health problems. UV-B radiation causes skin cancer and cataracts; UV-A radiation is responsible for tanning of the skin. Although most plants are sensitive to UV-B radiation, some species have evolved ways to protect themselves against it. The same protective mechanisms apply to UV-A radiation, but they are not as widespread in nature.
Sunlight is composed of visible light, ultraviolet (UV) light and infrared light. The spectrum of UV light is divided into three bands: UVA, UVB and UVC. The UVA band, with wavelengths between 320 and 400 nm, penetrates the atmosphere and reaches the earth’s surface.
Does it affect the DNA od plants?
Not always, but it can cause mutations and damages. You should research which plants are resistant to UV rays and which ones are not.
February 21, 2023
Is Miracle Grow Toxic: Possible Negative Effects
Using the right kinds of feed and fertilizer for your plants is important, but is miracle growth toxic? Can it be used safely within your garden? Let’s take a closer look.
Grasses, plants, trees, flowers, birds, and butterflies. Who doesn’t love gardens? The scent of the lovely flowers, the birds chirping and the butterflies flying around, are all good to look at. But, a fruitful plant cannot be as productive as it could be, if not cared for correctly. Every gardener has their own strategy for growing their plants. One is by using the right kind of plant food.
What is a Plant Food?
Plant food is any substance like animal dung or a combination of nitrates used to make the soil more productive.
What is a Fertilizer?
A fertilizer is a chemical or natural substance added to soil to make it more fertile.
Is Plant Food a Fertilizer?
Plant food and fertilizer are often used interchangeably. Fertilizer indeed helps plants get the needed nutrients to grow and blossom properly. In terms of how they are used, plant food and fertilizer are not the same.
What is Miracle-Gro?
This is a type of plant food by Scott’s Miracle-Gro Company that every gardener knows. It provides readily available materials needed in the production of new cell structures within plants. It quickly feeds through the leaves and roots.
What is it used for?
It is used for flowers, vegetables, trees, and shrubs.
How do you use it?
Miracle-Gro can be used in two different ways:
- Through a feeder- 1 feeder refill packet can cover up to 500 sq. ft.
- Through a watering can- 1 tablespoon mixed with a gallon of water
There is also a suggested quantity that should be used:
- For roses with small bushes, 1/2 gallon should be used while a gallon should be used for big bushes. Feeding should be done every 7-14 days.
- For all flowers and vegetables, 1 gallon should be utilized for every 10 square feet, every 7-14 days.
- For indoor plants, however, only half a teaspoon should be mixed with a gallon of water. Also, leaf feeding for houseplants is not recommended. This mixture should be applied every 2 weeks.
Is Miracle Grow Toxic to Humans?
There are still no studies conducted to rule out its toxicity to humans. However, some of the ingredients of Miracle-Gro have serious effects on the surroundings and humans, too. As with any product, caution is always a great mindset to adopt.
What are the effects of some of the ingredients of Miracle-Gro on the environment?
The accumulation of nitrates in the soil causes water pollution if exposed to a flowing water source. Excessive use of artificial fertilizers can damage the natural composition of soil eventually.
Plants that grow in such soil will not have enough of their ingredients like iron, carotene, zinc, copper, protein, and vitamin C. It can also burn the roots of the plants when excessively given.
What are the effects of some of the ingredients on the garden itself?
It may harm the plant that it is supposed to strengthen if used improperly. One of the ingredients of the fertilizer is nitrogen which, if given in large quantities, can prevent shrubs and trees from blooming the way they used to.
It also contains a high volume of salt which, as time passes by, ransacks the soil of its natural nutrients and prevents plants from absorbing them. Gardeners tend to overfeed their plants, thinking that this will aid in the fast growth of their plants.
Those who apply it too much compromise not only the depletion of their current harvests but also indefinitely damage their spaces.
What are the effects of some of the ingredients on humans?
Excess nitrate levels in the soil create plants that, when eaten, turn to toxic nitrites in the intestines. Miracle-Gro should not be eaten, but if ingested accidentally can irritate the mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach as it contains urea, an irritating ingredient present in plant food.
When irritation occurs, the person will experience nausea and vomiting. In addition, some of its ingredients can harm the soil itself, thus, can contaminate groundwater. Groundwater, as the primary source of potable water in the rural areas of the United States of America, can be greatly affected.
Various adverse health effects on humans can include:
- methemoglobinemia- also known as the blue baby syndrome
- various cancers
- Poor reproductive outcomes- like neural tube defects
- diabetes
- thyroid conditions
Miracle-Gro Came in Contact With My Eyes, What Should I Do?
Immediately flush your eyes with plenty of water and continue flushing for 15 minutes. If irritation further develops, seek medical treatment.
What is Miracle Grow Made of?
If you’re wondering what ingredients are in Miracle-Gro, then look no further. Typically it contains the following derivatives:
- ammonium sulfate
- potassium phosphate
- potassium chloride
- urea
- urea phosphate
- boric acid
- copper sulfate
- iron EDTA
- manganese EDTA
- sodium molybdate
- zinc sulfate
Does Miracle-Gro Have Nitrogen?
Yes, it does. Its high levels of nitrogen are one of the reasons it should not be used in excess for your plants. If used too much, it can cause harm to both your soil and your plants. Miracle-Gro not only contains high levels of nitrogen but also phosphorus and potassium too. This particular type of fertilizer is 15:30:15. This means that it contains 15% nitrogen, 30% phosphorus, and 15% potassium.
Why is Miracle-Gro Blue?
There are two main reasons why Miracle-Gro is blue. The first is because of the use of copper sulfate, which is blue. However, another reason is that synthetic fertilizers are sometimes dyed. This is because it makes it abundantly clear that it should not be consumed and is only to be used for fertilizing. When a fertilizer is darker in color, it usually means it contains more nutrients.
Is Miracle Grow Toxic?
When it comes to Miracle-Gro it is seen as both nontoxic and not hazardous for both humans and dogs. However, this does not mean it’s not harmful to both human and dog health if ingested or if contact is made with your skin. For example, it can irritate if it comes into direct contact with your eyes or skin, and you should contact a vet or doctor for advice, if possible.
If Miracle-Gro is ingested, it can cause gut issues such as sickness and diarrhea. If this happens to you or your dog, you should keep hydrated and seek medical advice from either a vet or a doctor.
Miracle-Gro vs Organic Fertilizer
Miracle-Gro is a type of synthetic fertilizer and there are many differences between organic fertilizers and synthetic fertilizers. Simply put, organic fertilizers are made from natural resources, whereas synthetic fertilizers are man-made in a lab. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between the two.
Synthetic fertilizers feed the plant, whereas organic fertilizers feed the soil and give both the plant and soil nutrition. As well as this, synthetic fertilizers are easy to find and usually cheaper than organic fertilizers. Also, while organic fertilizers are great for the entire ecosystem, synthetic fertilizers usually do little for the surrounding environment or soil; just the plant itself.
It’s also worth mentioning that if used too much, synthetic fertilizers can burn your plants whereas this is unlikely to happen with organic fertilizers. And finally, if you’re looking for exact measurements on nutrients, synthetic fertilizers are precise; whereas organic can vary.
Organic Fertilizers to Use Instead
You may decide that you’d prefer to use organic fertilizers for your garden. If so, you can try one of the following options:
- alfalfa meal
- making your own compost
- leaf mulch
Safety Precautions in Using This Plant Food
Here are some more important reminders when using the Miracle-Gro product:
1. According to its Manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet, when it is accidentally ingested, immediately rinse your mouth with water. Seek medical attention immediately. Call a doctor or poison control center and do not induce vomiting unless instructed to do so.
2. If a person accidentally inhales its powder, take them outside or to a well-ventilated area and monitor for subsequent irritation. If coughing or additional problems persist, call out for medical assistance.
3. If irritation on the skin happens, remove the contaminated clothing. Wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water. If irritation occurs and becomes persistent, ask for help for medical intervention.
4. Always wash your hands after handling the product. Avoid inhaling the specks of dust present in the product. Put it in a tightly sealed container and keep it closed when it is not in use.
5. Using the original packaging of the product is still the best way to store the remaining plant food. By doing this, you can ensure that this will not be mistakenly identified as other products, which, in turn, may present a risk to one’s health.
6. Apply the product properly. Read the instructions very well, even if you already know how to do it. The packaging will show you how, when, and where to apply the product properly.
7. Keep this out of reach of children. Store the product away from your home. It is better to store it in your garden storeroom or maybe in the garage. In this way, you will prevent further accidents from happening inside your household.
8. Keep it away from direct sunlight. Extreme temperatures may damage the composition of the product, thus, altering its effectivity in the growth of your plants.
Conclusion
I hope this post has helped to answer the question: is miracle grow toxic? The truth is, it’s marked as nontoxic. However, it can cause many issues if it is ingested, so it’s important to be extremely cautious with this product when using it; particularly if you have pets. Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to using Miracle-Gro? If so, please feel free to let me know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!
FAQs
What’s a good resource on how to use it?
The Miracle-Gro website provides a lot of information on the product, including how to use it and why it’s so effective. There are also links to other Miracle-Gro products that might be better for your plants. The site also has many helpful tips on how to get the most from your Miracle-Gro products. You can learn about how to get the best results with your plants by reading the Miracle-Gro Tips page.
How toxic is Miracle Grow?
Miracle Grow is probably one of the most popular and well-known plants sold at your local garden center. It is also one of the most controversial and toxic weeds to be found in gardens.
Miracle Grow is a very effective herbicide and can be used as a foliar feeder. Many people believe that Miracle Grow is the only way to control this pesky weed. While Miracle Grow does work, it is not the best choice for every situation. In some cases, you will need to use other methods such as hand pulling, mechanical removal, or even using a herbicide.
The problem with Miracle Grow is that it can cause damage to your lawn and even harm your grass. You may also be at risk of having your lawn become infested with Miracle Grow.
Miracle Grow is the third most toxic pesticide on the market. The top two are Roundup and 2,4-D, both of which have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
EWG’s report found that Miracle Grow contains an ingredient called metolachlor which is classified as a probable human carcinogen. According to the EWG, metolachlor is one of the most heavily used pesticides in the country.
Why you shouldn’t use Miracle-Gro?
Miracle-Gro and other chemical lawn care products are not bad for your lawn, but they can be harmful to the environment and your health.
If you don’t have to, don’t. When it comes to plants, there are many ways to make sure your garden is thriving. The best approach is to start with the basics: healthy soil, well-placed and properly sized plants, and a water supply that keeps your garden well-watered.
Generally speaking, you should stop using Miracle-Gro and go organic.
February 2, 2023
Perlite vs Pumice – Which is The Better Soil Amendment?
Let’s talk about perlite vs pumice. Both perlite and pumice are great soil amendments, especially for succulents and cacti. However, the question on most gardeners’ minds even the experienced ones is, which is the better soil amendment between the two?
There are some factors to consider that will help determine if perlite is better than pumice and vice versa. So, read on to find out more about these two materials.
Perlite & Pumice
Perlite and pumice are both used to enhance soil aeration and help to reduce waterlogging. They don’t retain water, thereby making them an excellent draining soil material. Potted plants such as succulents and cacti cannot do well with just soil. Their soil needs to be amended with coarse pebble materials to better suit their requirements. Thus, soil amendments like perlite and pumice are used.
First things first, let’s take a look at the characteristics and features of both so we can better understand them. It’s good you understand what they are made of and where they came from so you can decide which is better.
Perlite Features & Uses
Perlite is derived from a mined silicon rock that has been crushed, heated, and expanded. It also contains other minerals like iron oxide, potassium oxide, and sodium oxide.
Perlite is light in weight and color. Before the process of heating, perlite can be brown, red, gray, green, or blue. However, after it has been heated, it becomes light gray or white.
Perlite is commonly used in ceiling tiles, roof insulation, and for plastering. In addition to these household and industrial uses, they are also used in gardening and hydroponics. It is also a great choice for seedling starters as well as root cuttings.
Pumice Features & Uses
Pumice is derived from volcanic eruptions or explosions. It comes from the same type of molten rock that would form granite. Pumice requires much less processing than perlite, so its production is more environmentally friendly.
Pumice is quite soft but not as lightweight as perlite. It is usually referred to as solidified rock foam. Pumice rocks are capable of floating in the water as they contain some air that makes them light enough to float.
Pumice is mostly used for construction and horticulture. Unlike regular concrete blocks, the concrete block that has pumice has a lighter weight and enhanced insulating features. They are used in the garden as soil amendments and they can also be used as a growing medium in hydroponic gardening.
Pumice is especially great for plants that are heavy and predisposed to turning over in the water, as it will keep them rooted in one place.
Perlite Vs Pumice
Let’s compare some features between perlite vs pumice to know our best pick:
- The pumice stone comes in various sizes to suit various requirements and they are lightweight but not as lightweight as perlite.
- Pumice is capable of floating but it is still a little heavier than perlite so it can’t be blown away by wind or storm, unlike perlite.
- Heavy potted plants that are prone to tipping over are better off planted in pumice rather than perlite to keep them steady. Thus, your plants are safe from wind, heavy rain, as well as routine watering.
- Unlike perlite, pumice does not decompose easily. This implies it can last you for a long time without the need for replacement thus, reducing running costs.
- Perlite is not as pricey as pumice. It’s easier to purchase them at your local garden center or nursery.
- Perlite is also easy to access, however, pumice might be expensive in your zone and it might be difficult to get the appropriate sizes that you need. Mostly, bigger sizes of pumice are common. However, smaller sizes may not be always available. The good news is that there are various retailers online where you can obtain the appropriate type and size that you want. All you need to do is to pay a bit for the shipping fee and have your pumice delivered comfortably to your doorstep.
USA Pumice – 1.25 Dry Quarts
Check Price on Amazon
Pumice vs Perlite For Indoor Plants
Both pumice and perlite are excellent for improving soil properties such as drainage and water retention. However, pumice has better porosity and therefore offers better drainage potential. But perlite is better at retaining moisture compared to pumice.
Both products are used for different purposes in indoor gardens. Pumice is better suited for tropical plants that need to retain water, while perlite works better for plants like orchids as a soil supplement.
Pumice and perlite will improve the following soil properties when used properly for the appropriate plants;
- soil drainage
- soil aeration
In terms of having particle size options to fit the size of your indoor plant pots or planters, perlite offers more options. Other advantages of perlite include that it is more readily available for purchase, as well as that it is stable and will not disintegrate over time or release any chemicals into the soil.
Unless you absolutely have to use pumice, we would recommend perlite as our amendment of choice due to the many advantages and choices that it offers.
What is Perlite Made Of?
Perlite is a naturally occurring mineral. It exists as a type of glass in nature, that is formed when volcanic obsidian glass is saturated with water, a process that happens over a long period.
Like all other volcanic rock, it is pretty dense and heavy in its natural form. Typical perlite is made up of the following ingredients;
- 70-75% silicon dioxide
- Aluminum oxide
- Sodium oxide
- Potassium oxide
- Iron oxide
- Magnesium oxide
- Calcium oxide
- 3-5% Water
Before the use of pumice in plants, it has to be processed into the light stuff that we see, which looks like styrofoam.
What is Pumice Made Of?
Pumice is also a type of volcanic glass. It is very porous and is formed when there are explosive volcanic eruptions. The high porous nature of the pumice is caused by depressurization and rapid cooling after the lava gets ejected from the volcano.
Pumice in its natural form has colors that range from white to dark grey, depending on the place where it is mined. Some gardeners use pumice as a top dress for their soil to give it a more attractive look than just the soil or dirt.
Pumice Or Perlite For Succulents?
Both pumice and perlite can be used for succulents. However succulents like pumice more. This is because pumice absorbs and releases water slowly while helping aerate the roots through the soil at the same time.
If you are using organic soil to grow your succulents, we would highly recommend that you add some pumice to it, this will greatly help your plants. You can also grow succulents using only pumice, you will however need to be very careful with your watering frequency, as too much may damage your plants.
Pumice is also a bit heavier than perlite. It will work better for top-heavy plants like some succulents by helping to stabilize them. Because it is heavier, it also means that there will be less waste as you will not use much product through wind, rain, and routine watering.
Perlite Vs Pumice: The Option Chosen
Even though the two are great, we still have one clear winner. So, our pick is pumice! Pumice is an excellent option especially in enhancing the soil in your succulent.
Conclusion – Perlite Vs Pumice
Both perlite and pumice are great for soil amendments in your garden. They will both enhance soil aeration and drainage for your succulents, cacti, and other plants.
However, pumice is of greater option because it is long-lasting, doesn’t decompose easily, will hold your heavy plant steady, and so on. The main downside to pumice is that it’s a bit more pricy than perlite, and not as easily accessible.
All in all, you should go for the one that will suit your needs and plants best.
FAQ’s
What’s the difference between pumice stone and perlite?
Pumice is a volcanic rock that contains many small air pockets. It can be used as a light weight, inexpensive, effective insulation material. Perlite is a lightweight, expanded, non-combustible glassy volcanic rock with excellent insulating properties. Both are used for insulation in building construction. Pumice is often used as a form of insulation because it is soft and easy to work with.
The most common use of pumice is in the production of lightweight building materials. These include lightweight concrete blocks and panels. Pumice is also used as an aggregate in asphalt. It is also used for decorative purposes in garden and outdoor applications. When pumice is combined with water, it becomes a hydraulic cement.
Pumice is pretty good but if you get it from the hardware store it’s often dusty and has grit in it. It’s not as fine as perlite.The grit can be dangerous in certain applications so I’d avoid using it unless you have to.
Perlite is much finer than pumice. It is also naturally non-toxic. You’ll need to test it with a magnet and a metal detector. If you find any iron or other metals, then don’t use it. It could give off harmful fumes when burned.
Can I use pumice instead of perlite?
Yes, it is possible. Pumice has a higher water content than perlite, so you may need to increase the amount of fertilizer you use. Pumice has a low level of nutrients, so you will need to fertilize your plants. It also doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals. You can use pumice as a soil conditioner, too. Pumice is one of the best soils for growing plants.
Pumice is used to create a rich, fertile soil by adding it to topsoil. It is said to improve drainage and to prevent the collapse of the soil structure.
It is also used as a mulch for plants that prefer cooler temperatures, such as strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers.
Pumice is a great material for weed prevention. It keeps the soil loose and aerated, which helps to keep weeds from growing. If you are having problems with weed growth, try using pumice.
Is pumice better than perlite?
I have used both, and they work about the same. They both will absorb water, and they both are fine.
The only difference is that perlite absorbs water more quickly than pumice, so if you’re starting a seedling from seed, use pumice instead of perlite. You can also buy hydroponic soil mix. It comes in a bag with nutrients already added. You’ll probably want to add some fertilizer as well, but that’s up to you.
January 31, 2023