Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 140 6/5/17 3:03 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 141 5/24/17 12:12 PM

140 chapter 3

Liquid kelp or seaweed is created by

processing sea kelp at cool temperatures. It’s rich

in many trace minerals and amino acids and is

a source of several plant hormones known to aid

in shoot and root growth, improve soil structure,

and increase hardiness and fruit development.

Research has shown that liquid kelp is adept at

increasing yields and drought resistance. It’s one

of the least expensive yet most highly beneficial

liquid fertilizers. Liquid kelp can also be applied in

combination with any of the other products listed

below, with very little chance of fertilizer burn.

Fish emulsion is made when whole fish is

cooked and filtered. Before the finished fertilizer

emulsion is created, the oils and proteins are

removed for use in other products, leaving the

resulting fertilizer bereft of many of the amino

acids, vitamins, and hormones most beneficial to

plant growth. Still, fish emulsion is a good natural

alternative to chemical water-soluble fertilizers,

albeit a smelly one. Because the aroma of fish

emulsion is so strong, it’s wise to use it only in the

mornings, so the odor has time to dissipate before

nightfall. Otherwise, every raccoon and cat in the

neighborhood will happily dig up your containers

in search of dead fish.

Fish hydroslate (or liquid fish) is another, less

odorous form of fish-based fertilizer. Instead of

cooking the fish, they’re digested with enzymes

at cooler temperatures to make hydroslate

products. Then, the partially dissolved fish are

ground up and liquefied, resulting in a nutrient-

rich fertilizer containing many trace minerals.

The fish used in hydroslate products come

from either commercial fishing by-catch, or are

the byproducts of the fish-farming industry.

The enzymes used in the creation process

also help break down the fishy odor and some

manufacturers even add mint and other essential

oils to help mask the smell, but it’s still a good

idea to use fish hydroslates in

the morning.

Compost tea is getting a lot

of attention these days for its

ability to nurture beneficial soil

life, suppress certain diseases,

and stimulate optimum plant

growth. But the compost

tea of old, created simply by

steeping some compost in

water for a few days, isn’t

what it’s cracked up to be. The

anaerobic conditions of bucket

steeping can lead to some

pretty funky concoctions.

Today’s compost tea is

aerated. Air is pumped through

the water as a blend of quality

compost and a microbial food

Liquid kelp or seaweed is an

excellent fertilizer for container-

grown plants.

Fish emulsions and fish hydroslate

products are nutrient-rich, but

they often have a bad odor.

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Caring for Your Containers 141

source (often unsulphured molasses) brews to

perfection. The tea is finished and ready to use a

few days later. High-quality compost tea is teeming

with beneficial microbes, adept at boosting soil and

plant health and fighting off foliar diseases. Making

compost tea is an involved process, but it’s not a

difficult one. You’ll find plenty of information and

how-to instructions on various websites devoted to

the topic.

Companies that brew compost tea for purchase

are popping up in cities across the country, but

because the tea needs to be used a few hours after

the brewing process is complete, this may prove to

be a difficult business model.

Worm tea is a variation of compost tea. It is

created in the same way, using a homemade or

commercial brewing system. But instead of using

regular compost, this tea is made from worm

castings. The resulting liquid is nearly odorless,

rich in a diversity of beneficial microbial life, and

perfect for watering containers and houseplants.

Worm tea is especially good if you have your own

worm bin and have a regular source of castings.

The above products are useful on their own,

but they’re also quite valuable when combined

with other ingredients. Natural liquid fertilizer

combination products blend the products

described above with ingredients such as liquid

bone meal, blood meal, feather meal, and rock

phosphate to create a well-rounded fertilizer and

growth stimulant.

When using any natural liquid fertilizer, follow

label instructions for mixing rates and application

instructions. Generally, most liquid fertilizers are

applied either by mixing the product in a watering

can and watering by hand, or by using a hose-end

fertilizer distribution system to automatically

deliver the fertilizer with the irrigation water.

Liquid fertilizers are best absorbed when the

plants growing in your containers are not under

stress. Do not fertilize your plants when they’re

wilting or suffering from heat stress. Water

them first, a few hours before fertilizing them, to

maximize their absorption of nutrients.

Though overdoing natural liquid fertilizers

is seldom possible in terms of plant health,

overdoing it can be hard on the budget. Don’t use

more than you need. Most liquid fertilizers should

be applied every 2 to 4 weeks throughout the

growing season.

Hose-end sprayers are a great way to deliver liquid

fertilizers with irrigation water. Some brands, such as

this one, come with the hose-end sprayer attached to a

siphon bottle, but reusable hose-end sprayers are also

available at most garden centers and hardware stores.

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