Blog B2BIO - The 5 most used organic fertilizers

If you have an organic garden, you should know that there is no need to use chemical fertilizers for pest control (organic fertilizers vs chemical fertilizers). Then you will know that there is a good amount of natural fertilizers that we can use for this purpose. Today we show you the five most used organic fertilizers and its benefits for our trees:

COMPOST as an organic fertilizer

Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming.

At the simplest level, the process of composting simply requires making a heap of wetted organic matter known as green waste (leaves, food waste) and waiting for the materials to break down into humus after a period of weeks or months. Modern, methodical composting is a multi-step, closely monitored process with measured inputs of water, air, and carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials.

Compost is rich in nutrients. It is used in gardens, landscaping, horticulture, and agriculture. The compost itself is beneficial for the land in many ways, including as a soil conditioner, a fertilizer, addition of vital humus or humic acids, and as a natural pesticide for soil.

COFFEE as an organic fertilizer

Coffee used as a fertilizer is not exactly a new idea. Many gardeners add coffee grounds to compost piles where it decomposes and mixes with other organic matter to create some fantastic nourishing soil. 

Advertisement Coffee grounds are about 2 percent nitrogen by volume, nitrogen being an important component for growing plants. Composting grounds introduces microorganisms that break down and release the nitrogen as it raises the temperature of the pile and aids in killing weed seeds and pathogens. Brewed coffee also contains measurable amounts of magnesium and potassium, which are building blocks for plant growth as well.

WOOD ASH as an organic fertilizer

Wood ash is an excellent source of lime and potassium for your garden. Not only that, using ashes in the garden also provides many of the trace elements that plants need to thrive. But wood ash fertilizer is best used either lightly scattered or by first being composted along with the rest of your compost. This is because wood ash will produce lye and salts if it gets wet. In small quantities, the lye and salt will not cause problems, but in larger amounts, the lye and salt may burn your plants.

VERMICOMPOST as an organic fertilizer

Vermicompost is the product or process of composting using various worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms, to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast, also called worm castings, worm humus or worm manure, is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by an earthworm. These castings have been shown to contain reduced levels of contaminants and a higher saturation of nutrients than do organic materials before vermicomposting.

Containing water-soluble nutrients, vermicompost is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.

¿Would you like to make your own Vermicompost? Check this video from foodieMDHill

EGG SHELL as an organic fertilizer

The next time you crack a few eggs to make breakfast or a baked good, don't toss away the shells. If you garden, the nutrients found in eggshells provide a decent and inexpensive source of fertilizer for your plants. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, when you use eggshells in your garden, you do not have to worry about going overboard. Keep in mind that eggshells alone won't provide adequate nutrition for plants.

Plants need calcium to thrive. Calcium helps the plants develop a strong cellular structure. Calcium deficiency is visible in young plants, because the leaves are twisted or have black spots. In fruiting plants, such as tomatoes, a lack of calcium is evident when the fruits develop blossom end rot, or a thin, dark spot on the bottom of the fruit. An additional benefit of eggshells in the garden is that larger shell pieces help deter slugs.