Anyone with plants has dealt with questions about fertilizer use. Many people buy synthetic or chemical fertilizers for convenience, but do not know about the alternatives. Synthetic fertilizers contain three main minerals: nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). Nitrogen encourages leaf growth, phosphorus aids the production of flowers, fruits and vegetables and potassium, promotes root growth and health. Unfortunately, synthetic fertilizers contain high concentrations of these minerals that force-feed excessive amounts to a plant in a short amount of time. The result is fast growth that looks great but stresses the plant and leaves it vulnerable to pests and disease. Since a plant can only absorb so much of a nutrient, the rest leaches into water systems with harmful results. Synthetic fertilizer upsets the microbic system in the soil and around the roots. One tablespoon of healthy soil contains approximately 50 billion microbes that enable the roots to absorb the minerals in a form the plant can use.
Organic fertilizers enable the nutrients to work with the microbes, so the nutrients are slowly absorbed to keep the plant healthy longer. Liquid fertilizers provide nutrients more uniformly and are easy to apply correctly with needed diluted strengths. There are many commercial organic fertilizers, but why buy them when you can easily and cheaply make them?
Homemade liquid fertilizers are called teas because they are steeped or brewed like tea.
