Our 10 Top Fertilising Recipes for a Blooming Garden

Natural fertilisers are needed for all plants. Why? Because Soil requires a good amount of nutrients to keep a natural cycle going. Habits like home composting, dry leaf composting add to humus content of soil which stimulates constant functioning of soil that results in healthy plants. This process naturally takes place in forests with leaf shedding, animals decomposing, change in weather etc which heaps of nutrient content to the constant churning of soil. So when we do not have this available, adding a good natural fertiliser every few weeks boosts plants to grow, leaf, flower and fruit better and works for the overall health of soil.

We have a w

hole bunch of handy homemade tips to share, which are easy, with a bit of planning make your garden grow green, healthy and glowy!

1. BANANA PEELS

Rich in Nitrogen and Potassium, Banana peels are a powerhouse of nutrients and tremendously beneficial for gardening and boosting Nitrogen levels naturally and all through the year

How to use:

Take your banana peels (large or small) soak in water overnight/1 day, 3 parts in 10 parts of water (3:10) water into pots directly. Add weekly for best results

2. RINSED WATER AFTER WASHING LENTILS AND RICE

Rich in proteins and starch, this water is precious and can be directly used into all

your garden pots.

How to use: Keep a bucket below while washing grains in a bowl so all water can be collected, use immediately into you garden or within a few hours. Add weekly for best results

3. STANDING WATER LEFT FOR 1-2 DAYS

Much of the tap water/ RO water that comes to us is devoid of essential minerals that get stripped during filtration. The best way to get some of this back is leaving water to stand 1-2 days, this way you can fix days of watering your garden and you have a constant supply. Plus pat yourself on the back for being an eco warrior

How to use: Open the rice/ lentils from their covers, using a strainer and a bucket below to catch all the water, wash under a running tap and water your plants regularly with this

CITRUS BIOENZYME SOLUTION

Called the magic elixir by many growers, this aromatic concoction of citrus peels/ rinds, jaggery and water needs to be combined and left to stand for about 30-40 days till all the gas is released and your left with a microbe rich agent that activates soil nutrients, even works as a pest repellent AND a superb cleaning agent for the house. Many solutions in just one bottle. Use to grow your foliage, cuttings, boost flowering and fruiting. Plants love this, they tell you right away.

How to use: Take 3 parts of all citrus rinds, 1 part jaggery and 10 parts of water. Combine all 3 in a closed lid container, open every week and stir. In a month’s time this citrusy preparation is ready. Strain, peels can be whizzed in the mixie to extract all the goldy goodness. Store in plastic bottles, dilute with water and use when required.

5. GARBAGE BIOENZYME SOLUTION

The same process for citrus bio-enzyme to be followed except replacing citrus with vegetable and fruit peels. Let the mixture stand for 4-50 days, drain out the liquid which can be diluted with water and added to all plants. The leftover peels can be composted. This pungent solution is loved by plants, make sure you warn family members in advance before proceeding with the watering process.

How to use: Place all leftover peels of vegetables and fruits (3 parts) in water (10 parts), add jaggery powder (1 part), open the container every few days and stir. After 30 days strain the solution and store in bottles. When using, dilute with water 1:10 and water all pots

6. BUTTERMILK SOLUTION DILUTED IN WATER

Microbes in buttermilk increase soil substantially, resulting in better nutrition to plants, boosting leaf, flower and fruit growth and keeps the cycle of soil nutrients intact. This is works as a superb natural pest controller and can be sprayed on affected parts.

How to use: Dilute Buttermilk in water 1 part to 8 parts (20 ml with 350 ml water) and water all your plants with this solution on a weekly or fortnightly basis

7. CROWD YOUR INDOOR PLANTS TOGETHER

Indoor plants do well when they stick together; this creates warmth, humidity and hastens new leaves to shoot quickly. Much like the way large leaves in deep jungles grow well on branches under trees because of humidity levels. Mimic the wild here we say!

How to: Place indoor plants close together, you can place them in early morning sun space avoid mid-day sun as their leaves tend to get burnt. Water and care together

8. COMPOST LEAVES, WEEDS, DRY PARTS OF PLANT ETC

Collect all dry leaves, rotten ones, pest infected, dead twigs, branches, fallen flowers, buds etc and compost them together, you can hasten the compost process by adding sour curd, in about 4-5 week’s time this breaks down and forms a rich leaf compost that can be added straight to your plants and does excellently for sustaining soil health

9. SEAWEED SOLUTION

Seaweed is a natural growth stimulant and contains important minerals hormones. ‘Cytokinins’ are natural plant hormones that increases sugar levels in plants thereby resulting in sweeter fruit and output. It also contains acids which allow for better nutrient absorption by plant roots

How to: Dilute 2 capfulls in 10 litres of water and water your garden

10. LIQUID COW MANURE SOLUTION

Known as ‘liquid gold’ by many grower, gardeners etc cow manure solutions contains rich and useful microbes that revive old soil and bring back nutrients through fresh microbes, a vital environment for earthworms and other useful soil insects

How to: Dilute 20 ml with 400 ml of water and water garden every 3 weeks-months, recommended for vegetables and flowering varieties. Also works well as a pest repellent.