20-20-20 balanced fertilizer - Do's and Don'ts - Every gardener must know this.

When it comes to gardening growing a healthy plant is the goal for every gardener. As a result we tend to look out for various fertilizing options. With immense varieties in the market, we are generally left confused as to which one to use. Be it natural or synthetic fertilizer, choosing the right fertilizer with all the essential macronutrients in the right amount is highly essential for healthy plant growth. 

As we are aware, NPK - Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorous are the three most important macronutrients for healthy plant growth. 

Just to recap, nitrogen is that which is essential for green, lush foliage development. 

Phosphorous for flower and fruit production. It also induces healthy root growth. 

Potassium helps in cell development in plants which inturn helps for stress tolerant plant development. 

Now, we will see what is actually a balanced fertilizer: 
A balanced fertilizer is one with equal proportions of all the three macronutrients (NPK). For example 10-10-10. This is the number you see on the fertilizer bag. When you see such identical numbers it means that it is a balanced fertilizer. 

Though this may sound great as a fertilizer to plants, each plant requires different nutrients in various ratios. Not all the plants require equal amount of nutrients in the same quantity.

So, altering the ratio based on the kind of the plant is highly essential for good growth of plants. 

When you add balanced fertilizers on a regular basis, the excess nutrients will harm the plants. 

Now, as we know that balanced fertilizer is not the right option for plants in your garden, what next?

We need to choose the ratio of NPK fertilizer depending on the plant type. 

For example, if you are looking to fertilize plants inorder to produce more fruits, then you need to choose a formula with higher middle number inorder to promote more flowers and fruits. Say, for tomato plants you can either choose 5-10-5 formula of NPK or 10-20-10.
When it comes to plants that are grown for its lush green foliage, such as lettuce, it is advisable to go for higher first number formula. Example, 10-5-5. This is because more nitrogen will promote more foliage. 

Whereas, during the end of season inorder to prepare plants for the winter stress, you can go for higher last number formula of NPK, where Potassium (K) is more. This will slow down the growth of new tender leaves, which will otherwise be affected by harsh weather conditions and inturn promotes healthy cell structure development. These will help the plant to tolerate the winter stress. In this case you can use 3-10-20.

In case if you would like to use a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 formula, do this once a year and water the plants adequately after fertilizing it with a balanced formula, so that the excess macronutrient can diffuse into the soil. 

Finally, always try to figure out the need of the plant and then choose the proportion of NPK fertilizer as per the need of your plants and the soil. 

Use this homemade liquid fertilizer as a rich source of nitrogen and potassium for your plants.

Be it gardening beginners or those who have been into gardening for quite a few years, all of us are constantly looking out for organic homemade fertilizers which can provide rich nutrients to the plants.

Various liquid fertilizers

In this hunt for liquid fertilizers, we would have tried quiet a lot of homemade fertilizers ranging from manure tea, compost tea, banana peel liquid fertilizers, onion skin liquid fertilizer to crushed egg shell liquid fertilizer.

View this video to know in detail about use of coffee grounds for your garden.

This particular fertilizer that we are going to discuss today is quite different from the above ones and it can be easily made from one if the common plants that grows in your garden or backyard itself. But, this plant is considered a waste and commonly thrown away. It is also mostly considered as a hindrance to your other useful for growing vegetable plants or growing ornamental plants.

By this time you should have guessed it, yes it is nothing other than grass. Most of the time, almost in every garden and lawns we have these grasses growing out of control. We just trim of the grasses and throw it away.

What does the usage of grass do for your plants in the garden?

Here is the good news. These grasses when used as a liquid fertilizer will contribute to enhanced growth and development of plants and it also increases the quality of food provided by the plants.

Ok, now before we move onto the actual process of how to make liquid fertilizer using grass, let's see what component in grass actually contributes to this better growth of your plants.

What nutrient does grass have which acts as a fertilizer for plants?

Grass is very high in nitrogen content and this component is the one that actually makes up the plant DNA and chlorophyll, which is necessary for making its own food.

Apart from this, the grass liquid fertilizer is also rich in potassium and this is the component that plays multiple roles in plant growth. Potassium helps in help in 

1. Easy transport of water, nutrients and carbohydrates in plant tissue
2. Increase root growth
3. Reduce wilting
4. Increases photosynthesis
5. Enhances the protein content in plants
6. Decreases or slows down crop diseases


Video on 11 organic fertilizers that you wouldn't have known

 

How to make grass liquid fertilizer for your garden?

Having so many benefits for your garden, now it is high time to see how to make this grass liquid fertilizer or grass garden tea for your plants.

Step 1. Every time you cut down your grass from your lawn or your backyard, just collect them in a bucket.

Step 2. Once you have half a bucket of these grass cuttings add water in the bucket till it covers the grass surface.

Step 3. Allow this to sit for 1week to 10 days.

Step 4. Intermittently keep mixing it, in order to aerate it well

Step 5. After 10 days you can use this grass liquid  homemade fertilizer directly to your plants or if you want to feed your seedlings or smaller plants, just dilute the solution in 1:3 ratio and add it to the plants.

This fertilizer can be made much effective by adding few other plants or something called weeds in your garden. Here are the other kinds of weeds or plants that can be added to make the liquid fertilizer.