Organic Nutrients Buying Guide For Plants: Everything You Need To Know
When it comes to providing your plants with the nutrients they need, organic options are often the best choice. But, there are a number of questions that come up when trying to decide what type and how much organic nutrients should be used for your particular needs. This guide is designed to answer many of those questions and provide everything you need to know about organic nutrients for plants.
What Are Organic Nutrients?
Organic nutrients are natural fertilizers made from plant or animal-based materials. They generally do not contain any synthetic chemicals or added minerals such as nitrates, phosphates or sulfates. Examples include composted manure, bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion and seaweed extracts. Many gardeners prefer organic nutrients because they help promote healthier soils, are more eco-friendly and can provide plants with a fuller range of essential macro and micronutrients.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Organic Nutrients?
Organic nutrients offer several benefits over synthetic fertilizers. Firstly, organic materials do not contain any added chemicals or minerals that may damage your soil’s natural balance. Secondly, they provide a slow release of nitrogen which helps to reduce the risk of nutrient burn in plants due to overfeeding. Thirdly, organic materials help improve the structure of your soil by adding much needed organic matter, which helps retain moisture and promote better drainage. Finally, it is believed that plants grown in organically enriched soils tend to be more disease and pest resistant.
What Are The Different Types of Organic Nutrients?
The most commonly used organic nutrients include composted manure, bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion and seaweed extracts. Each type offers different advantages in providing macro and micronutrients for plants. Composted manure is an excellent source of nitrogen as well as other essential minerals such as phosphorous and potassium. Bone meal provides a slow release of phosphorus which helps promote root growth while blood meal adds extra nitrogen to the soil. Fish emulsion supplies both nitrogen and phosphorous in addition to trace elements like magnesium, calcium and iron. Seaweed extract contains all three major macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) plus several important trace elements.
What Are The Best Organic Nutrients For My Plants?
The best type of organic nutrient to use for your plants depends on the requirements and needs of both you and your plants. If you are looking for a general purpose fertilizer, then composted manure is an excellent choice as it contains all three major macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) plus several important trace elements. If you need to add extra nitrogen or phosphorous to the soil, then blood meal and bone meal respectively are great options. Finally, if you want to provide your plants with additional minerals in addition to NPK, then fish emulsion or seaweed extract might be a better option.
How Much Organic Nutrients Should I Use?
The amount of organic nutrients you use will depend on the type of plant and soil that you are working with. For example, if you have a heavy clay soil then it is best to use less organic material as too much can lead to waterlogging or nutrient run off. Generally speaking, most plants need an average of 10-15 lbs of organic matter per 100 square feet of soil. As with any fertilizer, it is important to follow the label instructions carefully when using any type of organic nutrient.
How Often Should I Apply Organic Nutrients?
Organic nutrients should be applied on a regular basis in order to maintain healthy soils and promote vigorous plant growth. The frequency will depend on both your plants and soil conditions. For instance, if you have sandy soils then it may be necessary to apply organic nutrients more often than those with heavier clay soils. Generally speaking, adding organic matter every 3-4 months should be sufficient for most plants.
What Are The Risks Of Using Organic Nutrients?
The main risks associated with using organic nutrients are nutrient runoff or leaching from heavy rains as well as overfertilization due to the slow release of nitrogen in some types of organic materials. To reduce these risks it is important to apply the right amount of fertilizer according to your soil type and plant needs as well as making sure that any excess water is able to drain away easily.
Organic nutrients are an excellent way to naturally improve the structure and fertility of your soil while also providing essential macro and micronutrients for your plants. There are several different types available including composted manure, bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion and seaweed extract each offering different advantages according to your needs. When using organic fertilizers, it is important to follow label instructions carefully as well as making sure that any excess water can easily drain away from the roots of your plants.