The best homemade phosphorus fertilizer is bone meal, created by processing animal bones.
Here's a breakdown of how to make and use it:
Making Bone Meal Fertilizer
Bone meal is a simple and cost-effective way to provide phosphorus to your plants. It is made from animal bones, which are naturally rich in phosphorus.
Ingredients:
- Animal bones (chicken, beef, pork, etc.)
Steps:
- Collect Bones: Save bones from your meals or get them from a local butcher. Remove as much meat and fat as possible.
- Clean the Bones: Boil the bones thoroughly to remove any remaining organic matter and sanitize them. This also helps to reduce odors during the process.
- Dry the Bones: Spread the cleaned bones out to dry completely. This can be done in the sun or in a dehydrator.
- Crush the Bones: Once the bones are dry and brittle, crush them into a fine powder. You can use a hammer, a blender (dedicated to this purpose only!), or a mortar and pestle. For larger quantities, consider using a garden shredder.
- Store Bone Meal: Store the bone meal in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Using Bone Meal Fertilizer
- Application: Sprinkle bone meal around the base of plants or mix it into the soil before planting.
- Dosage: The amount of bone meal needed depends on the plant and the soil conditions. A general guideline is 1-2 tablespoons per plant.
- Benefits: Bone meal provides phosphorus, which is essential for root development, flowering, and fruit production. It also adds calcium to the soil, which can improve plant health.
- Best Use Cases: Use bone meal for bulbs, roses, tomatoes, and other flowering and fruiting plants.
Considerations
- Particle Size: Finer bone meal is more readily available to plants.
- Soil pH: Bone meal is most effective in slightly acidic to neutral soils.
- Safety: Wear a mask when crushing bones to avoid inhaling bone dust.
