Best Natural Fertilizer

Some of the best natural fertilizers for orchids are available on your kitchen shelves. Egg shells, banana peels, milk, rice water, molasses, and tea are all household items that have beneficial nutrients. Other organic fertilizers that are beneficial are kelp, worm castings, bat guano, bonemeal and blood meal when used as ingredients in compost tea. Liquid kelp can be used on its own, diluted and is one of the best natural fertilizer's to use.  The one drawback to organic fertilizers is that the exact ratio of minerals is unknown and it is best to use a variety of organic fertilizers to provide a variety of minerals, trace minerals, and beneficial nutrients. 

Eggshells

Eggshells contain calcium and you can either make a tea from eggshells that have been cleaned and dried, or you can use a mortar and pestle to grind up the shells and sprinkle into your potting medium where it will act as a slow release fertilizer. To make an eggshell tea, place cleaned, ground eggshells in a large water bottle or container, let sit for one week before use. 

Banana Peels

Banana peels contain potassium, phosphorus, and calcium and are a good organic fertilizer. Make banana peel tea by steeping fresh banana skins in water for 48 hours, then dilute with 4 parts water to 1.  Alternately, cut the banana peel in thin strips, dry in the sun for two days, then grind into a powder that can be sprinkled onto the growing medium. 

Milk

purple flowered orchid

Milk has calcium and vitamin B and has some benefit as an insecticide when applied as a foliar feed. Low fat, 1 or 2% milk is best, avoid full fat and skim milk. Mix 1 part milk to 4 parts water and apply as a foliar feed. Its nutritional composition makes it beneficial for orchid growth and health. Milk contains essential nutrients such as calcium, proteins, and sugars, which can promote root development, strengthen plant cell walls, and enhance overall plant vigor. To use milk as a fertilizer, it is typically diluted with water in a ratio of 1 part milk to 4 parts water. This mixture can then be applied to the orchid's growing medium or sprayed onto the foliage. However, it is crucial to exercise caution and avoid overapplication, as excessive milk can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria or fungi. Regular and moderate use of milk as a fertilizer for orchids can provide them with a natural nutrient boost and contribute to their well-being.

Rice Water

Rice water is a very good organic fertilizer. It contains trace amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as well as starches that feed beneficial mycorrhizae on the roots. Rice water has been found to be particularly beneficial during flowering. To make rice water, simply soak rice in water for 30 minutes or more, strain the water in to a bottle or jar and let ferment for one week and keep it out of direct sunlight. The solution must be allowed to breathe, so loosely screw the cap on the bottle or cover with a porous cloth to allow air flow. After one week, dilute the solution 1:1 with water, and spray on roots and leaves as a foliar fertilizer. Rice water foliar feed also has some benefit as an insecticide. 

Unsulphured Blackstrap Molasses 

Unsulphured blackstrap molasses contains sugars that beneficial microbes feed on and trace amounts of minerals calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium and iron. It is usually used in combination with other organic fertilizers and is especially beneficial in the making of compost tea. A popular combination is with Epsom salts, mix 2 gallons of water with one teaspoon of Epsom salts and two tablespoons of molasses, stir until salts are dissolved. It may be applied as a soak or sprayed as a foliar feed to the leaves and roots. 

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Black Tea

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Black tea has tannins, similar to the tannins that orchids would receive in nature from tree bark, leaves, and moss. Black tea soaks are beneficial for rehydrating and revitalizing dehydrated orchids. Simply soak a teabag in filtered water for 5 to 10 minutes and soak the orchid roots in the tea solution. Doing this on a daily basis for orchids that have become dehydrated has excellent results. My all-time favorite tea is Barry's Tea from Ireland. When it comes to black tea there is no other tea that compares in flavor and taste. This tea is so strong that you could make orchid tea solution with the leftover tea bag.  I have only had one tea in my life that was better than Barry's Gold blend and that was some Oolong Tea that I bought from a hill tribe on the border of Thailand and Myanmar.  But that's a tale for another day.  

Kelp, The Best Natural Fertilizer? 

Kelp fertilizerBuy Now

Kelp or seaweed extract is one of the best natural fertilizer's that nature provides. Kelp has low levels of macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as well as micronutrients such as boron, cobalt, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur,  and zinc. It also contains 16 amino acids and trace amounts of vitamins B1 and C. Kelp and Seaweed compost have long been used for centuries as fertilizer for crops. Kelp seaweed extract in liquid form works best for orchids as a foliar feed or in water culture. Orchids do seem to love when they are treated with kelp seaweed extract. It is also a good addition to the ingredients of a compost tea.

Kelp or seaweed extract is one of the best natural fertilizer's that nature provides. Kelp has low levels of macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as well as micronutrients such as boron, cobalt, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur,  and zinc. It also contains 16 amino acids and trace amounts of vitamins B1 and C. Kelp and Seaweed compost have long been used for centuries as fertilizer for crops. Kelp seaweed extract in liquid form works best for orchids as a foliar feed or in water culture. Orchids do seem to love when they are treated with kelp seaweed extract. It is also a good addition to the ingredients of a compost tea.

Additional Organic Fertilizers

Additional organic fertilizers that may be used to help deliver a wider variety of nutrients are alfalfa, worm castings, bat guano, bonemeal, blood meal and Epsom salts. With the exception of Epsom salts, these organic ingredients are best delivered in a compost tea as a foliar spray or soak. 

Summary

Organic fertilizers contain mild and nourishing nutrients, trace minerals, and amino acids for your orchids. It is difficult to know the ratio of nutrients that organic fertilizers provide, so when using organic methods it is best to use a variety of components so to ensure the delivery of different nutrients. Organic fertilizing can be used on its own or in combination with chemical fertilizing. A foliar feeding of compost tea is very beneficial and recommended to do at least twice yearly. 

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