"Organic" Fertillizer
 

Hey Guys I wanted to know if you guys use any type of natural fertillizer. Im currelty putting compost on all my plants naners and other fruit trees. I would like to stick to "organic" natural" fertillizers that will still help the trees to grow big and strong.

I have a few fruit trees that I've had for 2-3 yrs but they are scrawny, maybe Im being impatient but what can I use to help them grow alittle thicker.

The reason I would preffer to use "natural" fertillizers is because I am going to eat their fruits. (I was traumatized by Micheal Pollans book "the Omnivores Dilema")

Any suggestions will be appreccieated.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

you can use free nitrogen method ..urinate in your flowering can and mix it with 8 to 10 parts water to dilute it..dont flush down all of that free fetilizer.dont store urine use it right away. the fresher the better. urine contains other minerals good for plants also.
for potassium if you have a fire place use the ashes collect them and use them around your plants only once a year because alkalinity can build up and remain long after the potassium has diluted. dont use this stuff around acid loving plants like azealias because it contains lots of lime.it contains phoshorus too
you can use the stalks of the bananas itself once the season is done cut up some of the stalks and leaves. its easier done while the stuff is still green.try to turn a lot of the garden greenage into compost.use any greenage from table scraps..avoid using meat products unless you want dogs and other carnivores in your yard.. remember the urine formula for every part urine use 8-10 parts water try pouring a little urine over your compost to speed up the decomposition...good luck going green.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

Or you can use horse manure. I do and it never disappoints me. 10 litres of water to a small plate of horse excrements... Enjoy... I'm disgusting :D

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

Just out of curiosity what type of Fertillizers would you guys recommend? I have different types Fruit Trees, I have Citrus, pear,Peach,mango,apple Trees and Naners.

i know they each require something different.

Does every one use Synthetic Fertillizers?

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

I go organic too, with all of my vegetable and fruit crops. I use composting, urine method already mentioned, and rock minerals, powdered.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

You know I have never heard of the Urine method Thats interesting .. Its crazy enough I just might try it.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

I don't, I'm using coffee grounds, oak leaves, manure ,and molasses.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

I just happened to drive by the closest nursery just to look and see what they had, and saw somethings that I think are natural fertillizers:

Bone Meal
Blood Meal,
Fish Fertillizer
Bat guano.

However I dont know what work best for either of the trees. Any Suggestions?

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

Actually human urine has uses other than fertilizer. Many people use it to 'mark off' and area that they want wildlife to stay out of. I.E.: Animals such as deer, rabbits or squirrels tend to stay away from the gardens marked off in such a way :) I have trouble with squirrels munching on some of my newer, (or even certain species) of plants, and it seems to work if replaced every couple of weeks or more often it we get a good rain...

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

I've found with Organic Commercial Fertilizers one formulated for Citrus is usually good enough for Fruit-bearing plants...

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

How much coffee grounds can you use on your garden? I have a pot of coffee
every day and spread the spent coffee in my flower beds . But I don't know if
you can put much in. I have noticed a lot more worms, which is good.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

I thought this would be helpful. Besides I was curious .
Instructions

1.
Step 1

Collect urine daily. Keep a tight-lidded plastic container in the bathroom and use instead of flushing urine down the toilet. Fresh urine does not smell and does not carry bacteria. In fact, it is almost sterile. Keep the urine lidded tightly and change out containers frequently.
2.
Step 2

Use urine daily. As urine ages (more than about 24 hours), it begins to break down and create higher ammonia levels which are not good for plants and which make the urine smell bad. Fresh urine generally does not smell. Any odors from strong foods like garlic or asparagus will not harm the plants. Take the collected urine out of the house at least once per day to fertilize plants.
3.
Step 3

Mix urine in the ratio of one part urine to ten parts water. This dilutes the urine's nitrogen content enough to use on tender plants. Using urine full strength will burn tender plant leaves. Use the diluted urine on plants immediately and do not store, either full strength or diluted.
4.
Step 4

Water around the roots of plants with the diluted urine fertilizer. Fertilizer in general may burn tender plant leaves so try not to splash on leaves or fruits. The dilution will allow you to water daily and it can be used in container plants and hanging baskets as well. Water until the soil surrounding the plants' roots is saturated but do not allow plant roots to sit in puddled water.
5.
Step 5

Check the growth of the fertilized plants regularly. If the leaves begin to take on a yellowish tinge and the plant looks like it is struggling, dilute the urine fertilizer further to prevent the plant from receiving more nitrogen than it needs. If fruiting plants grow lush vegetation but no fruit, cut back on the amount of urine fertilizer they are receiving.
6.
Step 6

Use any leftover urine to keep predators out of your garden. This works especially well with male urine, which contains hormones that other animals take as being a signal to stay away. Pour small amounts of undiluted urine around the perimeter of the area to be protected. This will have to be repeated after every rain shower as the rain will dilute the urine.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

I also found this for house plants.
How to use urine as fertilizer | Wonder How To

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

I'm sorry but I've got two things going on. First my gag reflex is kicking in and second I have visions of the marking thing. :ha: Won't the wild animals just come along and mark right after you, rendering your mark invalid?

I know people who will plant their gardens over their leach lines (my mother inlaw included) but I won't do it as I'm too afraid of contaminents with low lying things like melons. But I understand that you're only talking about urine so that is different I guess ... I'm just a gaggy person, I have trouble with the toothbrush too early in the morning. LOL

Am editing this as I forgot to mention what we use for fertilizer. We are on a farm so we use composted cow/horse manure and pond water. I'll add non organic fertilizer off and on as needed with the tropicals and flowers though.

Deb

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

I use both. Organic fertilizer isn't any safer than chemical fertilizer. Placing organic material into the soil provides slow release fertilizer and also improves the soil while chemical fertilizers will provide a significant amount of nutrients when you feed the plants.

Plants can only take up non-organic forms of nutrients (with the exception of urea - only a small amount - urea also breaks down into ammonium and nitrate).
For example, ammonium nitrate has both plant available forms of nitrogen. If you provide horse manure, the nitrogen will break down into ammonium and nitrate.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

give this man an award.....i dont know why i forgot about the leaves..oak leaves and pecan leaves .those leaves are high in acid..bananas and azaleas love acid.. before i forget lay down a thin layer of newspaper between your banana stems like you would do with the landscaping fabric and pin it down..to a degree this prevents weeds from popping so fast and helps retain moisture,you can cut down on mulch and will be eventually broken down and become food too. i try to use a lot of organic fertilizer but i do use high potassium commercial fertilizer sparingly...this is the second year on the same small bag and im not half way thru it..also if you are adding worms to the soil to help you out..dont use so much of that commercial fert..it will prolly kill them.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

Can you crush potassium pills up and put around your plants someone told me to use around my tomatoes, If so how much and what plants can I do this to?
Thanks Paula

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

You could but you would be wasting your money. My multivitamins have potassium chloride in them which is the cheapest and most common form of potassium fertilizer used for plants.

I use potassium sulfate on my plants which contains both potassium and sulfur. Tomato plants need much more sulfur than chlorine. If you apply either potassium sulfate or potassium chloride on your tomatoes, you should apply an equal amount of magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salts) as the high potassium can cause a magnesium deficiency in the plants.

Also remember to apply calcium which is very important to prevent blossom end-rot. Gypsum is a good fertilizer to use. It must be incorporated into the soil since it doesn't move around much in the soil. Only the calcium present right around the root will be taken up. High nitrogen fertilizer should never be used while the plants are flower/fruiting.

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

Ok , can you tell me how much of each and how often?
Thank you

Re: "Organic" Fertillizer
 

I use horse manure, urine, mollasses, walnut leaves to inhibit weed growth, my own compost (from kitchen wastes), and once a year I go to Volcan Tungurahua, pick up a couple of buckets full of ash, and turn that into my soils before replanting. I also occasionally turn sardines or fish waste into the banana patch. Then again, I'm working with insanely rich soils to begin with; I've found that in some cases I don't have to do anything at all (as with my Papayas and Walnuts).

In serious situations with my oranges and limes I use a commercial citrus fert.