Kelp forest

Gardening — Liquid Kelp, Kelp Meal and Seaweed

When you’re looking for an organic fertilizer for the garden, consider taking advantage of the beneficial nutrients found in kelp seaweed.

Kelp meal fertilizer is becoming a very popular food source for organically grown plants. Let’s learn more about using kelp in the garden.

  Kelp And Fish Products

Kelp is often mixed with fish products and used as a fertilizer to encourage healthier plant growth, promote greater fruit and vegetable yields and to overall enhance the general appearance of a garden or plant specimen.

Organic kelp fertilizer is valued for its micro-nutrients as well as its macro-nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

  Formulations Of Kelp Fertilizers

Kelp fertilizer is available in three forms. These include (1) extracts, such as kelp meal or powder, (2) cold processed (usually a liquid) and (3) enzymatically digested liquid forms, which are used to super power nutrient deficient soils.

Benefits of Kelp

  It is a completely natural, organic product

  It is a source of over 70 vitamins and minerals.

  It is a totally natural, organic and sustainable resource that doesn’t harm the environment when it is harvested.

  The rapid growth rate makes kelp makes it renewable and ample resource for the ocean's species but also for the home gardener.

  Kelp Nutrients

Foliar spraying of plants.
Foliar spraying of plants.

The nitrate-phosphate-potassium ratio, or NPK, is negligible in readings of kelp meal nutrients; and for this reason, it is used primarily as a trace mineral source. Combining with fish meal increases the NPK ratio in kelp meal nutrients, releasing in about 4 months’ time.

Kelp powder is simply kelp meal ground finely enough to put into a solution and sprayed onto or injected into irrigation systems. Its NPK ratio is 1-0-4 and is more immediately released. Kelp meal nutrients can also be found in liquid kelp, which a cold processed liquid with higher levels of growth hormones, but again its NPK is negligible. Liquid kelp is useful for combating plant stress.

  How to Use Liquid Kelp Fertilizer

The best way to apply liquid seaweed concentrate is by foliar feeding and it is also a far more efficient method. Just by applying a fine spray onto the leaves will give the plant a massive boost. As soon as the concentrate hits the surface of the leaves, the plant starts to absorb all of the nutrients and trace elements immediately and the effects are somewhat rapid and this can be seen from as soon as the second day onwards. Foliar feeding with kelp extract is so effective that it when compared to soil feeding it can be between 10 to 15 times more efficient.

  Seaweed Fertilizer

Liquid seaweed fertilizer is simply what its name suggests: a fertilizer that has been derived from natural seaweed sources. Seaweed is collected, some of the saltwater rinsed away and then allowed to decompose or ferment in water until the plant material is broken down into a liquid or slurry.

Benefits of Seaweed

  Increased absorption of nutrients through root stimulation.

  Acceleration of chlorophyll production and photosynthesis that will produce greener and stronger plants.

  Higher resistance to stress and greater restoration from times of extreme weather

  How to Use Kelp Meal Fertilizer

Liquid Meal Kelp meal fertilizer can be purchased at your local garden center or online. To use kelp meal fertilizer, spread the kelp meal around the base of plants, shrubs and flowers that you wish to fertilize. This fertilizer can be utilized as a potting plant medium or mixed directly into the soil.

Further Information:

 Wisconsin Native Fruit Trees
 Wisconsin Native Berry Shrubs
 Lovely Native Violets
 Use Eggshells For Your Plants
 How to Use Banana Peels in Your Garden

Beneficial Species
Composting
Fertilize & Mulch
Garden Plans
Garden Pests
Lawn Management
Pollination
Quick Tips
Soil Management
Specialty Gardens
Bees flying footer graphic