Thinking green gives your soul room to live in and improves your mood. Plants help filter toxins in the air that you breathe. Also, they help you reduce kitchen waste when you apply kitchen waste fertilizer.
You don’t need synthetic materials or fertilizers to help your plants grow. Rather, you have everything at home to make homemade fertilizer for your small garden.
Wondering how to make zero waste fertilizer?
Read on to find out.
Benefits of Using Natural Fertilizers in Your Garden
Here are the benefits of kitchen waste fertilizer.
- Zero environmental impact from fertilizers and chemicals
- 100% organic
- Eco-friendly ingredients
- No cost and no packaging
- The task of creating a self-sufficient garden becomes easy
- Homemade fertilizer have soil organisms that get lost during the processing of commercial fertilizers
- Nutrients are provided to the plants directly or through microbial activities in the soil
- Zero waste fertilizer can absorb high moisture
- Neutral odor due to composting
- Can apply anywhere and anytime
- Helps in preventing plant and soil diseases
- Kitchen waste fertilizers are easy to use
22 ingredients you can use to make Homemade Zero Waste Plant Fertilizer
1. Eggshells
Don’t discard those eggshells after breakfast!
Crushed eggshells are an excellent source of calcium, which promotes strong root development and helps prevent blossom-end rot in plants.
Moreover, eggshells deter slugs and snails due to their sharp edges, acting as a natural pest control method.
Use the water that you boiled your eggs into and water the plants after cooling it.
To add more nutrients to the soil, crush the eggshells, pour some boiling water, and leave it for about 24 hours.
Also, you can crush the clean eggshells into fine powder and mix them with the soil.
Note : Sundried l or bake eggshell before using to eliminate any potential bacteria including salmonella
2. Coffee Grounds
Before you toss your used coffee grounds into the trash, consider repurposing them in your garden.
Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, essential nutrients that facilitate plant growth. Additionally, they improve soil structure and attract earthworms, which aid in soil aeration.
Simply sprinkling them over the soil.
Coffee grounds, when combined with dry materials or used in smaller quantities, release nitrogen, a valuable nutrient that benefits your plants.
3. Banana Peels
Next time you enjoy a banana, hold onto the peel!
Banana peels are an excellent source of potassium, an essential nutrient for plant growth, flowering, and fruit development.
Even the process is straightforward.
All you have to do is , keep banana peels inside a jar with water and allow it to sit for about 2 weeks.
Use the water on your plants. However, don’t use this homemade fertilizer in the summer season because it attracts fruit flies.
OR
By burying or composting banana peels, you can provide a natural and slow-release potassium boost to your plants.
4. Vegetable Scraps
Instead of discarding vegetable scraps, transform them into nutrient-rich compost. Carrot tops, onion skins, and other vegetable scraps contain valuable minerals and organic matter that enhance soil fertility.
Simply bury all your vegetable Scraps in garden and cover them with soil completely , then let’s the nature do the works
Composting vegetable scraps not only reduces waste but also enhances the health and productivity of your garden.
5. Grass Clippings
After mowing your lawn, save the grass clippings for an organic nitrogen source.
Dry grass clippings can be used as a natural mulch, helping to retain moisture in the soil while suppressing weed growth.
They also provide a slow-release nitrogen supply, nourishing your plants over time.
6. Wood Ash
Wood ash from your fireplace or bonfire can be repurposed in your garden. It is an excellent source of potassium and contains small amounts of other essential nutrients.
However, use wood ash sparingly and avoid using it on acid-loving plants as it can increase the pH level of the soil.
Discover more valuable insights by checking this article about Using Wood Ash in your garden as a great soil booster
7. Cooking Water (Rice Water + Boil Pasta Water + Vegetable Water)
Turn your kitchen into a wellspring of garden nourishment by repurposing cooking water.
Rice water, pasta water, and vegetable water are teeming with vital nutrients that would otherwise go to waste.
As you pour this liquid gold into your garden, you infuse your plants with a rich blend of minerals, vitamins, and organic matter, amplifying their vitality and fostering their resilience.
8. Animal Manures
Like Chicken, Rabbit dropping , Cow , Sheep , Coat and Horse Manure
Animal manure is a treasure trove of life, packed with an abundance of nutrients, enzymes, and beneficial bacteria that work wonders in fortifying the soil.
However, it’s essential to understand that not all animal manures are equal in terms of nutrient content.
By discerning which manures offer the highest nutrient value, you can make a significant impact on the health and vitality of your soil and plants.
Harness the power of carefully selected animal manures to nourish your garden, fostering a thriving ecosystem that promotes robust plant growth and ensures the long-term strength and resilience of your soil.
Remember, when using animal manure as fertilizer, it’s essential to compost or age it properly to avoid any potential issues with pathogens.
Composting allows the manure to break down and become a safe and beneficial addition to your garden.
But,
Avoid family pets manure like dogs and cats due to the potential presence of harmful pathogens that home composting processes may not effectively eliminate.
Similarly, human feces should never be included in compost piles or garden areas,
including Manure from Large Commercial Farms as these operations often administer various supplements, additives, and antibiotics to their animals.
The composition of these substances and their potential impact on soil health remain unknown.
Safeguard your garden by making informed choices and prioritizing the use of safe and reliable sources of manure.
9. Aquarium Water
If you own a fish tank in your home, you can use the water to benefit your house plants.
Aquarium water has an abundance of ammonia, potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Moreover, the micro-organisms from fish waste can be utilized by the plants.
But if your aquarium has saltwater and added chemicals in it, it may harm the plants by hindering their growth.
As long as the water is changed regularly or filtered, you can use it on your house plants.
10. Bokashi Composting Juice
A Bokashi Bin is used for composting efficiently. It was invented in Japan. Bokashi is a composting bin where you can add your kitchen waste.
And, that includes carbs, vegetables, bones, meat, and so on.
Furthermore, you can buy Bokashi Bran and add it to your Bokashi Bin. This item allows the food waste to ferment.
You can add this to your soil directly. Or, add it to the compost bin where it breaks down within a few weeks.
The Bokashi juice (bin juice) is highly concentrated.
So, when you take out the juice from the bin you have to dilute it, which is 1 part of the juice to 100 parts of water. Then you can water your plants.
11. Used Green Tea Bags
The habit of not throwing used tea bags is favored by many people as they are well aware that it is a great homemade fertilizer.
And, if you do the same with your green tea bags, you should know about that.
Green tea is best suited for plants that thrive in acidic soil.
Green tea improves the quality of soil and aids oxygenation so that your house plants can grow effectively.
Soak the used tea bag in hot water and allow it to cool. Pout the water directly on the plants.
12. Weed Tea
Not many people know but you can make homemade fertilizer by using unseeded weeds. Furthermore, you can add grass clippings to make it rich.
Weeds and grass contain nitrogen in great quantity.
And, the water helps to break down the nutrients present in them.
You can put weed clippings in a big container and fill it with water.
Make sure that the water goes slightly over the clippings and allow it to sit for about three days.
Dilute the water after draining it in the ratio of 1: 10 before serving them to your house plants.
This process extracts the beneficial nutrients from the weeds, transforming them into a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your plants.
13. Tree Leaves
There is no denying that fallen tree leaves annoy everyone.
So, instead of bagging them out, collect and make good use of your house plants.
Tree leaves have traces of certain minerals, they retain moisture, make heavy soils lighter, and attract earthworms.
You can mix the tree leaves with the soil or use them as mulch.
14. Blackstrap Molasses
Molasses ensures the speedy growth of your plants and keep pests away.
In short, molasses are rich in nutrients and act as a natural pesticide.
Molasses are always treated as one of the best forms of organic fertilizer.
It is high in iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium.
For plant use, molasses are added with sulfur dioxide and sprayed to plants.
15. Corn Gluten Meal
As a natural fertilizer, corn gluten meal has high sources of protein.
Corn gluten meal works as a good fertilizer when you mix them with soil and acts as a weed controller when you use it on garden beds.
Spread it evenly over the soil and water it lightly , Allow the soil to dry out slightly after watering to ensure that the emerging weed seedlings desiccate and perish.
However, corn gluten meal takes some time to show results.
And, it can take about two months to break down completely in the soil.
16. Epsom Salts
Many of you know about the benefits of adding Epsom salt while bathing.
And, the same goes for plants as well.
Epsom Salts also known as Magnesium Sulfate , is one of the most economic and versatile salt-like substances in the world
If you are planning to improve your small garden on the balcony,
Simply, Mix 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts in a gallon of water and apply them to your plants,
Preparing the solution is super easy and it gets done within a few minutes.
Moreover, you don’t have to make large batches whenever you are thinking about giving water to your plants.
Epsom salts have magnesium and sulfur. For one gallon of water, you have to add one teaspoonful of Epson salts.
Next, take the mixture in a sprayer and use it on the plants.
17. Gelatin
Step into a world where gelatin becomes a conduit for garden enchantment.
This unexpected ingredient is a source of nitrogen and protein, providing essential nourishment for plants.
Simply dissolve gelatin in hot water, allowing it to cook.
Adjust the consistency by incorporating additional water.
Once the desired texture is achieved, your nitrogen-rich fertilizer is ready to be applied to both garden beds and container plants, providing them with the essential nutrients they need to thrive
18. Hair
It is surprising to know that human hair can be used as a natural fertilizer for certain plants.
Hair waste from salons provides rich sources of nitrogen for your house plants as it decomposes.
After the degradation starts, the hair waste provides sufficient nutrients to growing plants.
Hair contains keratin, a protein that enriches the soil and promotes healthy plant growth.
19. Powdered Milk
Not only good for human consumption, but powdered milk is also good for your house plants as well.
Powdered milk is rich in calcium and you have to add it to the soil before planting.
Because the milk is in powdered form, it is ready to be used by plants. It is one of the effective homemade fertilizers that you can have at home.
20. Matches
The old-fashioned matches might be no longer in use to light up things.
But they are a great source of magnesium.
Moreover, magnesium is good for your plants and you can use them as a fertilizer.
Place the matches in the hole in line with the plants or soak them in water for some time. Pour the liquid water into the soil for easy application.
21. Horse Feed
Because horse feed contains molasses, you know how excellent fertilizer horse feed can be when it comes to adding nutrients to your house plants.
Using horse feed as a fertilizer is easy and simple.
All you have to do is sprinkle horse feed on top of the soil.
Or, you can dissolve it in water or combine it with other organic fertilizers.
22. Human Urine
You tap into the potential of human urine as a sustainable fertilizer.
Rich in nitrogen and other essential nutrients, urine provides a nourishing elixir for your plants.
Human urine can be utilized as a natural fertilizer in the garden.
Dilute urine with water at a ratio of 1 part urine to 10 parts water. Apply the diluted urine directly to the soil around plants, avoiding contact with the leaves.
The nitrogen and other nutrients present in urine can provide a nutrient boost to plants.
However, it is important to remember that urine should be used on non-edible plants and should be collected from healthy individuals without any medical conditions or medications that may affect its composition.
In conclusion,
Adding natural fertilizers into your garden, such as animal manure, compost, weed tea, and even human urine when used appropriately, can offer numerous benefits.
These organic alternatives provide essential nutrients, improve soil structure, promote sustainable recycling, and can be cost-effective.
By embracing these eco-friendly practices, you contribute to the health and vitality of your plants while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. So, why not harness the power of nature and give your garden the nourishment it deserves?