DIY Fertilizers to Use This Spring

Watermaster Irrigation Supply - Lubbock, TX

It’s springtime, which means it’s also time to get your hands dirty with yard work. You’ll likely need fertilizer for your plants and flowers to bloom. Did you know that you can DIY without using expensive and harsh fertilizers? Homemade fertilizer tends to be cheaper and safer than store-bought brands. 

What’s in a healthy plant diet?

Plants, like humans, need a wide variety of nutrients to thrive. They need their non-mineral and mineral nutrients. Also, like humans, they’ll become unhealthy if you give them too much or too little nutrients. So, here’s an easy breakdown of what plants in your yard need. Then, we have fertilizer recipes that you can try at home.

Non-mineral Nutrients: Hydrogen-Oxygen-Carbon

Do you remember learning about photosynthesis? It’s the process of how plants make their food. They take water (H2O) and sunlight to create carbohydrates that they eat. Then, they release oxygen back into the air.

The non-mineral nutrient intake of plants is only impacted by watering and sunlight, not fertilizers. We’re about to talk about all the mineral nutrients plants also need to thrive, where fertilizers are, and how they’re made of matter.

The Big Three Macronutrients: Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium

Every plant needs a regular dose of N-P-K to grow. But, the soil usually lacks N-P-K because plants use it all up. All fertilizers must have the N-P-K trio, or there’s no point.

The Small Three Macronutrients: Calcium-Magnesium-Sulfur

The secondary trio of macronutrients doesn’t always need to be added to fertilizer because the soil tends to have sufficient amounts of all three. If you don’t routinely throw out decaying plant matter (like dead leaves), your soil should have plenty of sulfur. All you have to do to get magnesium and calcium to the soil is add lime to your fertilizer.

The Micronutrients

Luckily, plants only need trace amounts of micronutrients. The easiest way to make sure your plants get micronutrients is to recycle organic matter.

  • Boron
  • Copper
  • Iron
  • Chloride
  • Manganese
  • Molybdenum
  • Zinc

Recipes

Vinegar Fertilizer: Rose Bushes

Combine one tablespoon of white vinegar with one gallon of water.

Water your plants and repeat every three months.

Epsom Salt Fertilizer: tomatoes, potatoes, roses, peppers

Combine one tablespoon of Epsom salt and one gallon of water.

Water your plants with this mixture once a month.

Eggshell Fertilizer: flower beds

After cooking, save your eggshells and set aside to dry.

Once dried, blend shells to a powder consistency.

Sprinkle in your garden every two to three weeks.

Fish Tank Water Fertilizer: all plants

Save the dirty water from your fish tank to reuse to water your plants. The water is packed full of nutrients like nitrogen, a plant superfood. Repeat as often as you would like.

Coffee Grind Fertilizer: acid-loving plants (azaleas, roses)

Line a cookie sheet with newspaper and place used coffee grinds on top. Set aside and allow to air dry. Once dried, sprinkle at the roots of plants. Tip: Starbucks will save you FREE bags of used coffee grounds if you call ahead.

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