Organic Fertilizers in the Home

Fertilizers are essential to a successful garden, but it is not essential to buy your garden fertilizer from a garden supply or home improvement store. There are plenty of items around your housethat make great organic fertilizers.

Fertilizers are essential to a successful garden, but it is not essential to buy your garden fertilizer from a garden supply or home improvement store. There are plenty of items around your housethat make great organic fertilizers.

The top two places to find fertilizers in your house are the medicine cabinet and the kitchen. Depending on your household, your pets may even be able to share fertilizers with you.

From the kitchen:

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• Coffee grounds are high in nitrogen and lower soil pH. Spread in soil around plants.

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• Garlic adds trace elements to soil. Blend a few cloves with water and spread the paste around the garden. (It will help repel insects too!)

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• Corn meal provides phosphorous.

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• Vinegar lowers pH levels and can revive wilted plants. Mix 1 tablespoon per gallon of water and spray soil and foliage.

From the bathroom:

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• Epsom salts are basically magnesium sulfate. Create a solution of 1 tablespoon epsom salts per gallon of water and drench garden soil.

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• Hydrogen peroxide is a great folar fertilizer. For one gallon of water, dilute 1/2 cup of 3 % hydrogen peroxide or 2 teaspoons of 35% hydrogen peroxide. Mist leaves to fertilize, and the solution will also kill mold or bacterial infections.

From the pets:

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• Chicken manure is an excellent source of nutrition for plants, as are the droppings from indoor pet birds.

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• Alfalfa meal or rabbit food made from alfalfa meal contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous–all the main ingredients in complete fertilizers.

Outside of these household fertilizers, don’t forget compost—the king of organic fertilizers.