How to Prepare Fertilizer for Plants

If you’ve ever wondered how to prepare fertilizer for plants then you may already know that it can be a challenging, time-consuming process. That said, most households and gardens produce materials that can be used to create nutritious plant fertilizers that will boost plant growth and improve yield. And for those of you without the space or time to make your own, here at BAC we make several high-quality plant fertilizers that are guaranteed to produce results fast. 

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An Introduction to Plant Fertilizer

Plant fertilizers are concentrated sources of nutrients, usually in the form of pellets, liquids, powders, or granules, that improve plant growth and crop production. Fertilizers typically contain a variety of nutrients in varying amounts. Fertilizers will affect plants in different ways depending on the mix of nutrients they contain. 

The main nutrients plants require are nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potassium (K). As such, these three nutrients are commonly found in plant fertilizers. Commercial fertilizers will always list the ratio at which these nutrients are included. This ratio is called the NPK ratio. Read more about the NPK ratio in the BAC Knowledge Centre. 

The necessity to use plant fertilizer is dependent on the quality of the growing medium and the species of plant. Plants growing in nutrient-rich, high-quality soil may not require any fertilization, while fast-growing plants are more likely to require fertilizer, and more of it, than slow-growing plants. 

How to Prepare Fertilizer for Plants: Make Your Own

Now we are going to look at how to prepare fertilizer for plants using readily available materials from your home and garden. You’ll be surprised at how many everyday things can be used to make fertilizer for plants. From kitchen waste to grass clippings, all most all the organic material you can find can be used. The exceptions are meat - raw or cooked - and human waste. Both should be strictly avoided as they present serious health threats even when composted. 

One way to make your own fertilizer is to make a compost heap. A compost heap can produce nutrient-rich soil that you can dig into an existing bed or add on top of old soil each year before planting. Kitchen scraps, fallen leaves, grass clippings, used tea bags, coffee grounds, and fruit peel can all be added to a compost heap. Over time the ingredients will break down and turn into rich, dark soil. The only downside is that this process takes a long time. If you’re willing to wait, then follow this step-by-step guide to making your own compost heap. 

Alternatively, you can add old leaves and grass clippings directly to the soil. Over time they will break down naturally and be working into the soil. Again, this process takes time and will not give immediate benefits to your plants. 

For quick results, you need readymade pellets or powders designed to breakdown quickly, or you need to use liquid fertilizers. Liquid fertilizers can be homemade using nettles, comfrey, seaweed, compost tea, and other nutrient-rich ingredients. To make a liquid fertilizer at home using any of the ingredients listed requires a recipe, these can be found online.

How to Prepare Fertilizer for Plants: Using a Readymade Mix

The question of how to prepare fertilizer for plants is less complicated when using a readymade fertilizer. Using a readymade fertilizer means the mixing has been done for you. In this case, you only need to choose the right mix and apply it at the right time. If your plants are in the growing phase then you want to add a nitrogen-rich fertilizer that supports the development of leaves and shoots, whereas if your plants are about to flower you need phosphorus because it supports the formation of buds and the development of seeds.

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Plant Fertilizer from BAC

If you don’t want to worry about how to prepare fertilizer for plants then explore some of the ready-made fertilizer options from BAC:

F1 Extreme Booster - Focused on producing bigger and more flavourful yields, the F1 Extreme Booster has an NPK ratio of 0-13-14. 

Organic Grow - An organic fertilizer focused on the growth phase of a plant’s development with an NPK ratio of 7-2-3.