Types of Organic Fertilizers

Landscaping and gardening are enjoyable hobbies for many people. There are many ways to making a wonderland out of your backyard and all you need for this are some good seeds, a spade, and the ever dependable fertilizer.

Talking about fertilizers, many people seem to prefer the organic kind as opposed to the chemical-laden artificial ones that can be quite harmful to the environment. Organic fertilizers have two types. One kind is synthetic, which means that it is an organic compound artificially produced. The perfect example of this is Urea, a common organic fertilizer which promotes blooming.

The other type is known as natural organic fertilizers for obvious reasons. A hundred percent of the ingredients come from nature, like fish extract, seaweed, and manure, guano, and compost materials.

Natural organic fertilizers are traditionally applied like tea to the soil.   This means they are allowed to slowly “steep” or percolate into the soil. But with new developments, they can now also be applied through different means. Natural organic fertilizers can be applied through spray canisters or by pouring (for liquid natural organic fertilizers.)

Perhaps the most common type of natural organic fertilizer is fish emulsion. This fertilizer is made entirely from finely ground fish parts which are rich in trace elements that are very valuable to plants. Trace elements found in this organic fertilizer are all or more of the following: boron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.

Some companies have added other ingredients into their brand of fish emulsions to enhance the benefits of this type of natural organic fertilizer. The added “enhancers” in these products include vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, growth hormones, nitrogen, as well as all the other micro and macro nutrients found naturally in fish but which may be lost during the grinding process.

Seaweed is another sea-product that is a source of natural organic fertilizer. Seaweed extract is an organic storehouse of over 60 nutrients and amino acids. This fertilizer also contains Auxims, Cytokinins, and Gibberellins, which are substances that promote growth and plant development and improve color and bloom.

Natural organic fertilizers may also come from crab shells. This type of organic fertilizer, unlike fish and seaweed extract, is applied dry. Crab shell is an extremely helpful plant food since it also acts as an effective pest-control. Crab shell contains Chitin, the food source of chitin-eating bacteria that kills fungus and nematodes.

Natural organic fertilizers are largely preferred by most home gardeners for their environmental benefits. They are 100% natural and risk-free, not harmful to children and pets. And in many situations, natural organic fertilizers can outperform chemical fertilizers.