With more and more people turning natural in various ways, organic gardening too is fast gaining momentum. Fertilizer, organic or synthetic, is a substance that provides specific nutrients plants need to grow. What differentiates an organic fertilizer from a synthetic or inorganic fertilizer is where the nutrients come from. Synthetic fertilizers are usually made by chemical reactions that produce ammonia, the basic building block used for the synthesis of other needed compounds. Inorganic fertilizers can also be made from natural sources, like rocks and minerals.
Most of the organic products are found to be expensive, as compared to synthetic ones. You may also opt for some organic fertilizers that can be made at home. Rose is one such plant that needs additional nutrients and organic fertilizers are the best choice! Here are some natural fertilizer options for rose soil:
BANANAS
When planting roses, bury a banana (or just the peel) in the hole alongside the rose. As the rose grows, bury bananas or banana peels into the top layer of the soil. Both of these approaches will provide the much needed potassium that plants need for proper growth.
SEAWEED
Add 8 cups of chopped seaweed to a five gallon bucket and fill halfway with water. Loosely cover the container, and let the seaweed steep for about three weeks. After steeping, strain the seaweed and transfer the liquid to a container to store it for up to 3 weeks. To use, mix half water and half seaweed tea into your favourite watering can and apply it to the soil around your rose plants.
COFFEE GROUNDS+ WHITE VINEGAR
Coffee grounds and white vinegar, when added to soil, give roses the acidic conditions they need to thrive. Coffee grounds also provide roses with small amounts of potassium, nitrogen and magnesium. White vinegar adds acid to the soil. Spray the rose soil with vinegar solution diluted 50% and sprinkle coffee grounds on it.
EGG SHELLS
Egg shells contain large amounts of calcium carbonate, an ingredient found in agricultural lime. They make an excellent addition to compost, and when crumbled into tiny pieces, they can be applied directly to the soil around roses. Pulverizing egg shells in a blender turns them into a fine powder for easy application.
FISH TANK WATER
It is very useful of all natural fertilizers for rose soil. If you’ve a fish bowl or an aquarium, you will need to clean it regularly. Instead of draining it, pour it out at the base of your rose plants. The nitrogen in this water is helpful for flowers’ growth. Although don’t use extremely dirty water.
EPSOM SALTS
Epsom salts is one of the most important organic fertilizers you can use for roses. It is full of magnesium and sulphate which helps the functioning of the plants. Magnesium aids in photosynthesis while sulphate boosts the plant’s power to intake nutrients.