Category: Organic fertilizers

A 2021 study revealed that interest in organic soil amendments like calcified seaweed has increased by nearly 30% among home gardeners. This natural, coral-like soil conditioner works to balance pH, improve structure, and supply vital trace elements for better plant health.

Over 85% of a plant's phosphorus is located in its skeletal system, but plants cannot absorb this mineral directly from the air. Finding the most suitable natural form of phosphorus for your soil is key to promoting robust root development, abundant flowering, and high-quality fruit production.

Gaia Green Organics has several products that contain silica, most notably their Diatomaceous Earth and Glacial Rock Dust. This essential mineral is known to strengthen plant cell walls, leading to increased resistance to environmental stresses like drought and pests.

Recent research indicates that while coffee grounds contain potassium, the concentration is relatively low compared to commercial fertilizers. This challenges the popular gardening myth that they are a potent source of this essential plant nutrient, but they offer numerous other benefits as a soil amendment.

According to agricultural studies, seaweed extracts like liquid kelp can significantly increase crop yields by stimulating plant growth and enhancing stress tolerance. But what does liquid kelp do, specifically, to achieve these impressive results in gardens and on a larger scale?

Despite its reputation as a well-rounded plant food, dried comfrey leaves have an NPK ratio typically around 1.8-0.5-5.3, indicating that comfrey tea is not particularly high in phosphorus compared to its potassium content. The plant, known as a dynamic accumulator, is especially adept at pulling minerals from deep in the soil to concentrate them in its foliage.

A key nutritional fact is that typical garden bone meal is overwhelmingly rich in phosphorus and calcium, not protein, making it essential for strong roots and blooms rather than nitrogen-heavy vegetative growth. This distinction is crucial for gardeners and pet owners alike.

Eggshells are approximately 95% calcium carbonate, a compound that is not easily soluble in water. The time it takes for eggshells to release calcium to plants depends heavily on preparation, from several years for large pieces to just a few weeks for a vinegar solution.