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Organic fertilizers depend on soil organisms to break them
down torelease nutrients; therefore, most are effective only when
soil is moist and warm enough for the microorganisms to be active.
Organic fertilizers are derived from natural sources, which
may include animal feces or plant/animal matter contaminated with
pathogens. Organic fertilizer comes from plants,
animals and mined minerals. Dry formula organic
fertilizers are the perfect way to get your potted plants off to a
great start. " Some estimates peg the organic
fertilizer and foods market in Europe
at $100 million by2010.
Compost tea that is correctly brewed has a wealth of micro organisms
that will benefit your plants' growth and health as well as the soil
that they live in. Compost improves soil
structure, texture, and aeration. They are great
for decomposing yard and household waste, in fact; you need red
worms for composting to get the nutrient and mineral rich worm
fertilizer called worm poop or worm poop castings. Liquid organic
fertilizer, as with regular fertilizers, should contain potassium,
nitrogen, and calcium for plant growth.
Organic matter also attracts and holds plant nutrients in an
available state, reducing the amount of nutrients lost through
leaching. We know of no better fall, all-around
tonic than seaweed, nature's best source of balanced
micro-nutrients. Steeping these teabags in water and brewing a
castings tea releases the nutrients in the castings and "wakes up"
the organisms lying dormant.
One potential
drawback is that the organic fertilizer may not release enough of
their principal nutrient when the plant needs it for growth.
In practice a compromise between the use of artificial and
organic fertilizers is common, typically by using inorganic
fertilizers supplemented with the application of organics that are
readily available such as the return of crop residues or the
application of manure. By their nature, most
organic fertilizers also provide increased physical and biological
storage mechanisms to soils, which tend to mitigate their risks.
Feed Your Lawn Fall is the best time to feed your lawn
organic fertilizer.
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