Fertilizers – Which is best - Organic or Synthetic?
Recently I have received a few queries regarding fertilizers, how to use them and which ones are the best to use? The topic of fertilizing plants is quite complex, as different plants and soils have different sensitivities. My advice is that organic is always best!
A primary component of fertilizer is nitrogen, which is responsible for advancing green leafy growth. Organic sources of nitrogen interact with the soil and plants in a different way than those from a synthetic source, which can make too much nitrogen available at any one time. Organic forms of nitrogen will release over a longer time period providing for a more stable growth for your plants throughout the year.
The primary elements in organic and synthetic fertilizers are the same, being nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, but they do not act in the same way, depending on their source. A problem with synthetic fertilizers is that it is easy to over fertilize. If you apply too much fertilizer to a garden, the roots of the plants can be burnt, or there could be too much new growth, which can attract many types of garden pest. Synthetic fertilizers are absorbed by the plants, but provide no positive effect on the soil. These fertilizers create imbalances and destroy beneficial organisms in the soil. They also pollute the groundwater that runs from your garden back into the river system, resulting in high nitrate and phosphate residues, which can cause excessive algal growth and choke entire river systems.
In contrast organic fertilizers feed the soil, the bacteria and other micro-flora that plants have evolved to depend on. Chemical fertilizers do not provide this important aspect. Organic fertilizer improves the soil over time and synthetic ones have been shown to deplete soil over time. Synthetic fertilizer can make soil toxic after continuous use and will affect plant health. For example, citrus trees generally produce fruits that are lower in vitamin C when treated with high nitrogen fertilizer. Fungus and bacterial disease resulting from the lack of trace elements in soil saturated with synthetic fertilizers is also quite common. In the long term healthy soil is the key factor in a healthy garden!
The best natural organic fertilizers in my opinion are fish emulsion, kelp meal, chicken manure and blood and bone. If you are a garden novice and you would like to use chicken manure, I would advise to buy the pre-packaged manure, such as ‘dynamic lifter’, which you can buy at the garden center or hardware store. Fresh chicken manure needs to aged otherwise it could burn the root system of your plants, because it has such a high nitrogen content. Follow the instructions on the package, and I would advise that it is best to apply too little, rather than too much.
If you over fertilize you can easily destroy your garden. Or you may end up having plants with an over-production of leafy growth, and you will have no flowers or fruits. Too much nitrogen will cause thick leafy growth to the detriment of flower and fruit production. Chicken manure will also smell for a few days after you apply it to your garden. Blood and bone, is another great organic fertilizer. It is a blend of organic meat, bone meal and cow manure and is used in a similar way to chicken manure, it is high in nitrogen, so use sparingly, always follow the instructions and mix less rather than more.
Personally I prefer the kelp meal or fish emulsion fertilizer because of the many trace elements, and I have always had success with these products. Products that are based on materials from the sea such as kelp or fish emulsion are consistently rich in trace elements, not contained in synthetic applications.
Fish emulsion or kelp meal can be bought at most large garden centers. Fish emulsion is a liquid fertilizer made from the byproducts of the fish oil industry. Fish emulsion is appropriate for many uses in the garden. Fish emulsion is a concentrate, which you dilute with water and apply to your lawn or garden. Usually it comes in a litre bottle. Always follow the instructions on the label of any fertilizer, and never add more than advised. Usually you mix about one capful per litre of water, and then apply direct to the garden with a watering can. This is the easiest and most effective way to fertilize in my opinion. It is especially useful for growing vegetables, great for tomatoes, and using on lawns.
My number one favorite fertilizer is a homemade liquid kelp or seaweed solution. Plant foods from the ocean are the healthiest and have the most minerals. Typical Kelp provides 70 elements, and a wide variety of plant growth hormones. Kelp makes plants healthier and stronger, with increased disease resistance.
Kelp (left) and Seaweed are among the most
beneficial of fertilizers for your garden.
You could make the kelp fertilizer quite easily by yourself, and this is what I do. Sometimes you see kelp and seaweed washed up on the beach. I usually get mine from Nusa Dua and Sanur. Take about one kilo of seaweed material home and wash it thoroughly to remove the sea salt. Then place the material in a small bin or bucket, with about 20 litres of water. Put a lid on top and leave it for 3-4 weeks in a shady spot. As the kelp leaches out into the water, the water should become dark brown and resemble the colour of a strong tea. When that has occurred then it is ready for use.
Do not apply the undiluted mixture, it would be too strong and could damage your garden. Mix the kelp solution in a watering can so that it resembles a weak tea. Mix 1 cup of the kelp solution per 5 litres of water. The mixture should be transparent. Use it on your garden, and lawn. If you have some leftover give some to your friends to use on their own gardens or pot plants. I normally make a 40 litre bin of this and it would easily last 6 months on a large house garden. As long as you dilute it to resemble weak tea, you could apply monthly throughout the year. Alternatively you could take large amounts of kelp or seaweed, and dig it directly into your soil. As it decomposes over months it will release rich organic material into your garden soil. This is a good slow release way to fertilize your garden. However you use it, natural kelp or seaweed is a really good fertilizer for your garden.
Try not to use synthetic fertilizers. Remember that slow and steady wins the race. I think that it is much easier to get into trouble with too much fertilizer than it is with too little, and that this is particularly true in relation to synthetic based fertilizers. Always water the garden 30 minutes before and after you fertilize and remember that organic is best for you and the environment.
Good luck and if you have any further questions about this topic or any other gardening matters please send me an email.
