#kri's mediocre adivce

[botany-and-zoology-rants]

Fertilizers

Here is a small list of somewhat-easy-to-get, and natural fertilizers for your plants (in this post I am mainly referring to plants that are mainly grown for food):

(DISCLAIMER: Most of the info I have gathered is from my own rather strange gardening experiences, so it might not work the same way for you as it does for me. However, that is also unlikely as I have double-checked my methods with other sources)

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-Coffee grounds : They contain nitrogen, which is very important for a plant’s growth. It helps the foliage of the plant grow, and it gives it the energy to help it grow the fruit or vegetables well. Some plants do not require too much nitrogen, as they may either produce their own nitrogen, or, for some plants, too much nitrogen will not help them grow as you desire them to.  Nevertheless, all plants require at least some nitrogen, which you can give them through coffee grounds. When putting coffee grounds into the soil, you can either just scratch it into the first couple inches/ centimetres of soil, or you can just sprinkle it on top of the soil.

-Eggshells : They contain calcium, which is quite essential for a lot of plants’ growth. Calcium is essential for the plant cell walls’ developement and growth. If a plant has weak cell walls, then pathogens can easily invade and harm the plant. Strong cell walls prevent this.  Plants also need calcium for enzyme activity, for metabolism, and for other functions too. Eggshells are an easy source of calcium.  Before you put them in the soil of the plant you wish to fertilize with them, make sure to wash and clean the shells well and gently, and then crush them into tiny bits and pieces before you put them in the soil. 

Banana peels : These contain potassium and phosphorus , which helps play an important role in increasing crop yields and overall quality of the plant. Banana peels also contain magnesium, which is the central atom in a chlorophyll molecule. Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives plants their green color and it carries out the process of photosynthesis. Magnesium also helps in the activation of many plant enzymes needed for the growth of the plant and contributes to protein synthesis. The peels also contain some calcium, which I already spoke about in the previous part about eggshells. Before you put the peels in the soil, dry them, or preferably cut them up into small pieces and then dry them. This helps them dry more quickly. If you cut them up into more smaller pieces or blend them, they have a lower chance of attracting pests.

Onion skins : These are rich in potassium and calcium. To use them, you can either: a) Simply use the leftover, dry onion skins for mulching. The dry peels will decompose soon and enrich your soil with potassium and calcium. OR b) You can make fertilizer. Use the onion peels to create organic potassium-rich fertilizer for your plants. This will increase their disease resistance, their growth, and for strong stems. This fertilizer will be rich in potassium, calcium, and other nutrients.  To make the fertilizer: Take 2-3 handfuls or a bowl of onion skins and soak them in 1-liter water for the next 24 hours. The water will be colored and thick, strain it in a jar. Your onion peel fertilizer is ready. Give it to your plants about 3-4 times a month. !![DISCLAIMER : I have not yet tested out the above fertilizer, but I intend on doing so soon. I will share the results with y’all later] !!

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These are all the suggestions for you guys that I’ve got for now, I’ll come back later with more tips and info later. If you are curious or have any questions for me, feel free to ask!

If you felt this was helpful, please please reblog!! <3

#kri's mediocre adivce #kri's infodumping #fertilizer #fertilizing tips #nitrogen #calcium #potassium #gardening #gardenblr #plantblr #gardening tips #suggestions #magnesium #phosphorus

[botany-and-zoology-rants]

Advice

So in this post, I was talking about what natural, easy-to-get fertilizers you can use for your plants (THAT YOU GROW FOR FOOD. However, these also may work with plants you don’t grow for food too). If you want to read about the fertilizers, go to the post I linked previously! :D In this post, I am going to give you some mediocre advice on how much of each nutrient to use for 2 plants, carrots and tomatoes. 

(DISCLAIMER: If you have any questions about the needs of a certain plant, please feel free to ask<3 !) 

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HOW MUCH NITROGEN THEY NEED:

Carrots: Like all plants, these require some nitrogen. However, you should not give too much nitrogen to them. If you give too much nitrogen for them, they will have more foliage than actual root. Speaking from experience. One time, I tried growing carrots and I put in too many coffee grounds, and the carrot only grew a lot of leaves. The actual root was tiny, shriveled, and white. Another possibility of what could happen, is that the roots will be all bushy and cause split roots, and the taproot (the primary root) wouldn’t have grown as much. 

Tomatoes: (NOTICE: I may edit this part later)  They require around the same amount of nitrogen as carrots, because too much nitrogen will result in the plant producing more foliage than blossoms and fruit/veggies (whatever you consider tomatoes as). But make sure to give the plants some nitrogen, just not too much. 

HOW MUCH POTASSIUM THEY NEED:

Carrots: Like all root vegetables, they need a lot of potassium, so make sure that they get more potassium than they get nitrogen. (I may add on with more info and reasoning later)

Tomatoes: These also require a lot of potassium, because potassium helps blossoms and fruit grow well. Like the carrots, make sure to give tomatoes more potassium than nitrogen, so that they blossom and fruit well.

HOW MUCH PHOSPHORUS THEY NEED:

Carrots: They do require a good amount of phosphorus, like any other root vegetable, in order to do their best in growing. (DISCLAIMER: I will edit this part later once I get more info on this)

Tomatoes: They also require some phosphorus. They need more of that than nitrogen, but less than how much potassium they need. Phosphorus is quite important for tomatoes for their photosynthesis, respiration, and for bringing water to the cells of the developing fruit. 

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This is all I’ve got for now, but if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask me, and I’ll try to give you the best answer I can! <3

#kri's mediocre adivce #kri's infodumping #tomatoes #carrots #gardenblr #plantblr #plants #gardening #gardening tips #nitrogen #phosphorus #potassium #fertilizing tips #semi-long post #??? #I guess?