Plants use a lot of nutrients when they’re growing, putting out flowers, or producing fruit. For many gardeners, the solution is to get a bag or bottle of plant food from the local garden store, but is that really the best option? In this simple guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about making your own plant food, including a simple recipe, why making your own plant food is a good idea, and when it’s a better option to use store-bought plant food.
For the best plant food, you’ll need to cover a few key nutritional needs. Plants use a range of nutrients in a myriad of different ways. If you know your soil is deficient in something, or that the plants you’re going to be feeding use a particular nutrient more than others, then this is a good place to customize your plant food. You may want to test your soil before starting, especially if you plan on adding any micronutrients to your food.
Plant food is typically used to help developing and maturing plants, which means you’ll need nitrogen, magnesium, and sulfur. The easiest way to make plant food is to use sources of these nutrients that are either liquids or water-soluble solids. Solids that can’t be dissolved in water are much harder to dilute, meaning you have to be really careful when using your food. Liquids and water-soluble solids, however, can be mixed with and stored in water for easier and safer use.
The best way to get water-soluble magnesium and sulfur is Epsom salt. Epsom salt sees a fair amount of garden use in fertilizers and pest control home remedies, and it’s useful for this, as well. Be sure your Epsom salt is unscented. Although lavender scented Epsom salt is great for soothing baths, your plants will find it less relaxing.
Nitrogen is a little more difficult to find in a water-soluble form. Coffee grounds, grass clippings, and manure are all great sources of nitrogen but don’t dissolve in water very well. One easy way to add nitrogen to your plant food is plain, unscented, household ammonia.
There are variations of the same recipe found across the internet, but here are the key facts. It takes only a very small amount of each ingredient to make a safe and effective plant food. Having too much of any nutrient is just as bad as having a deficiency, and, in some cases, worse. You can always add more, but it’s difficult to remove excess from the soil. This is especially true of ammonia. Here’s the basic recipe:
- 1 gallon of water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Epsom salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ammonia
Some variations of the recipe also include 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda, which can help keep fungal infections at bay. Be careful when measuring your ammonia; it’s far better to add slightly less than 1/2 teaspoon than it is to add slightly more. Pay close attention to the difference between tablespoons and teaspoons, as well.
Mix your carefully measured ingredients into the gallon of water and let it sit. Once everything is fully dissolved, it’s ready for use. Mix your plant food in a sealable container and store it as is. Be sure to keep your plant food away from children and pets, as ammonia is not safe for consumption. Simply water your plants with the solution once every two to three weeks or as needed.
Homemade plant food contains all the nutrients your plants need, but so do store-bought ones. So what does homemade plant food offer that store-bought doesn’t? In short, control. You can tailor your plant food to your garden’s specific needs. You know with 100 percent certainty what is in it and what isn’t — meaning no harsh chemicals or fillers — and it can be made fully organic if you so choose. Additionally, you control the size, and large portions can be made quickly and inexpensively.
Sometimes, yes, store-bought is a better option. If you have plants that are particularly delicate or sensitive to changes in the soil, or plants that are sickly and may need a special food blend, then getting plant food that is professionally made is a good idea. Store-bought plant food has the added bonus of consistency and guaranteed safety. Plant food made at home has a slight risk of user error when measuring ingredients, which can lead to an incorrect ratio of nutrients.
Using this simple recipe and the instruction we’ve provided, any gardener can make their own plant food at home. You may already have the ingredients you need! If not, they’re fairly easy to find. Remember to use unscented ingredients, measure carefully, and keep it away from children. If your plants are delicate or sick, it’s safer to use store-bought plant food. Otherwise, enjoy your control and the peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly what you’re giving your plants!
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