So, you have finally decided to try to get some soil to your computer hands and plant a garden in your backyard or balcony. You also heard that organic liquid fertilizer is not only cool but actually better than the synthetic stuff. The trouble is, you don’t have the slightest clue how to use organic liquid fertilizer; your plants will probably die quickly if you don’t learn soon.
Not to worry, organic liquid fertilizer is actually relatively easy to use and safe. You won’t need any special “agricultural” equipment like saws (just kidding, saws are actually used in plumbing), and certainly don’t need training. Here are the basic things you need to know about using organic liquid fertilizer for your garden:
Making Sure It’s Organic
The first thing you’ll want to do is get your hands on some good-quality and genuine organic liquid fertilizer. There is this annoying tendency to label products as organic even when they only have a pinch of previously living matter in them. Make sure you go through the labeled ingredients and ascertain that the liquid fertilizer is made from organic material. Don’t worry if you see things like potassium or nitrates if they have indicated that those chemicals were extracted from organic material.
How to Dilute Organic Liquid Fertilizer
Before you start spraying or putting the fertilizer in the soil, you should first dilute it. Most liquid fertilizers (both inorganic and organic) are sold in concentrated form. To use them safely, you’ll need to dilute them with pure water on a ratio of 1:2 or according to the directions on the bottle. Don’t worry if you can’t get it right the first time as organic fertilizer is safe to you and the plants even when used in concentrated form.
Again, refer to the mixing instructions that come with the liquid fertilizer if you are not sure about the dilution ratio. This will not only save you money but make sure that you are getting the best results with the fertilizer.
Applying Organic Liquid Fertilizer
If you are using the fertilizer on small house plants or indoor gardens, then all you need is a simple spray bottle. You can either spray the plants directly or use a drip system to add the liquid fertilizer to the roots for slow absorption. This type of application is called foliar feeding and quite effective for indoor plants as they can absorb the nutrients directly when conditions are right.
The second method you can use to apply organic liquid fertilizer is fertigation. Fertigation is a precision agriculture technology heavily used in urban gardens and controlled environments such as greenhouses. You can install a custom fertigation system using a series of underground pipes or have a factory-made system installed for more precise irrigation and fertilizer application.
Benefits of Using A Fertigation System with Organic liquid Fertilizer
Timed application– Once installed, you can create an application schedule that will take care of irrigation and fertilizer application without your input. This will save your plants from dying off should you travel or forget to irrigate them.
Precision– A fertigation system can be used for precise irrigation and fertilizer application. The system can be programmed to release exact amounts of water mixed with fertilizer to your plants.
Easier and more precise distribution– Fertigation enables you to create precise drip systems that deliver the right amount of water and liquid organic fertilizer to each plant in your garden. You don’t have to worry about some plants dying off as a result of under-fertilization and lack of water.
Better nutrient availability– Mixing the liquid fertilizer with irrigation water and delivering it directly to plant roots obviously leads to better absorption of nutrients. This is important since organic fertilizers do take a bit more time to affect plant health if delivered in granular or solid form.
Final Remarks
Liquid organic fertilizer is quite effective if used correctly and in the right system. Ensure you purchase the right organic fertilizer and maintain a schedule if you choose manual application. You will start seeing results in a matter of weeks. Happy gardening!