When it comes to organic fertilizers for garden soil, there are many options. Since it is usually slow release fertilizer, there is no risk that you will use too much fertilizer. Blood meal and bone meal for plants are two effective fertilizers that contain an incredible amount of essential nutrients and proteins.
However, blood meal is a unique soil mix that contains a lot of nitrogen. Let us examine what it is and how it differs from bone meal for gardening.
, Our top recommendations for blood meal
What is blood meal?
Ground dried blood as a fantastic source of nitrogen.
Blood meal is a dried, inert powder from animal blood that is used as a nitrogen additive for garden soil. The fertilizer is a slaughter by-product that is usually made from cow's blood, but can also come from pigs.
Blood flour contains an extremely high amount of nitrogen. It contains approximately 13.25% nitrogen, 1.0% phosphorus and 0.6% potassium. In addition to its impressive nutrient content for plants, blood flour is a non-synthetic, protein-rich animal feed.
Use it in your garden if your plants lack nitrogen, which inhibits photosynthesis. Common symptoms are yellowish or light green leaves and poor plant growth. In this state, the leaves of the plant are known to be chlorotic because they cannot form their own chlorophyll.
Fortunately, blood meal can quickly replenish the nitrogen content in the soil. At best, one application keeps the plant fertile or flowering while remaining green and lush. In addition to fertilizer, blood meal is often used to keep certain types of animal pests out of the garden.
If your plant is susceptible to deer, moles or squirrels, the strong smell of dried blood will keep it away. With excessive use, however, too much nitrogen in the soil can burn or kill the plants. It is therefore important to use this fertilizer in moderation.
Benefits of using blood meal in your garden
There are many known benefits to using organic blood meal to grow stronger roots and promote greener, healthier flowers. Most of all, it's an affordable organic fertilizer that serves as a quick nutrient booster for nitrogen. Here's why gardeners love blood flour:
1. Rich nitrogen source
Bone meal provides the soil and plants with a rich, even source of nitrogen. A high nitrogen content can increase the acidity of the soil, which is ideal for crops such as pumpkin, peppers, radishes and onions. If you have a vegetable garden, your soil will quickly need nitrogen to nourish the roots.
2. Improve soil quality
Another great benefit of blood meal is that it helps balance and heal the soil. During the growing season, your garden bed can quickly run out of essential nutrients when the plants need them. As soon as you add blood flour, the soil returns to its natural balance and maintains the roots.
3. A lush, attractive garden
Gardeners notice a visible difference in the green of their plants after they have been enriched with blood meal. The fertilizer is rich in nutrients and contributes to an incredibly lush, lush and deep green foliage. Blood flour is ideal to give your green space a long-lasting depth of color. And who knows, that could also attract colorful birds and butterflies!
Blood flour is even better for vegetable gardens with kale, Brussels sprouts and lettuce. These vegetables are nitrogen hungry and need this nutrient for growth.
4. Balances the nitrogen to carbon ratio
If you use compost piles for soil enrichment, you can add blood meal to balance the carbon to nitrogen ratio. The brown material in the compost contains carbon like wilted, dried leaves, paper or straw. The addition of blood meal ensures a balanced nutrient dose in the soil and in the plants.
How to use blood meal
A good basic rate of blood meal is one cup per 20 square feet.
Before adding blood meal, determine the properties of your existing soil. By analyzing your soil with a good soil test kit, you can determine the nutrient content and pH.
Blood is best applied in the spring to ensure the proper growth of vegetables, flowers and plants. The good thing about blood meal is that you only have to add a little to take advantage of it.
There are two ways to add blood meal. You can mix it directly into the top inches of the soil or dilute it with water before adding it. Be sure to read the package instructions to find out which is recommended by each company.
If you think the floor needs more, you can increase the amount. However, it is always better not to overdo it. Keep in mind that excess nitrogen can burn the roots of the plants.
Bone meal vs. blood meal
Although there are many options for fertilizers, gardeners are often confused between blood meal and bone meal. Both come from animals, so they're incredibly safe and organic. However, they provide different nutrient levels for the soil and the plants.
Bone meal is a finely ground mixture of steamed animal bones and is extremely rich in calcium and phosphorus. It is used as an organic fertilizer for flowering plants such as bulbs and roses, as it contributes to lively, abundant and abundant growth.
Bone meal, like blood meal, is also a slow-release fertilizer, but bone meal is used to increase phosphorus in the soil. The plants are very unlikely to burn or die if overused. However, if you're looking for a quick growth spurt for an organic fertilizer, you may be a little disappointed.
Because of its high phosphorus content, bone meal is used expressly for healthy root development. It quickly enriches the soil with the "P" nutrient for blooming flowers and healthy roots. There is a long way to go with bone meal. All you need is a tablespoon for every two square meters.
If you are planting in the fall, add half a teaspoon of bone meal to the backfill soil to get vibrant flowers in the spring. You can also add bone meal to top three inches of the ground during spring.
Blood meal also provides the necessary amount of nitrogen, without which plants cannot grow. Nitrogen is a fundamental component of plant cell growth and contributes to the production of lush foliage.
Blood flour is especially useful if you use the same garden bed year after year. Most plants tend to extract important nutrients from the soil. In the long term, therefore, the use of blood meal is an effective way to maintain the correct nutrient content.
Both bone meal and blood meal act as effective nutrient additives and work together even better.
Is blood meal a good choice for fertilizer?
Yes, it is an excellent organic fertilizer. However, it is not balanced. It only provides a high nitrogen content, which can affect fruiting and flowering. It is also a slow release fertilizer that is not a quick fix if you want to see growth in a few weeks. However, if you want an even supply of nitrogen, your plants will be thrilled.
Is it economical?
Blood meal is an extremely affordable and organic source of essential nutrients. You only need a little at a time, so the amount you buy is likely to last. You can buy pounds of blood meal for just $ 10 to $ 15 and it lasts a long time.
Is it safe to use this animal product?
As long as the blood comes from healthy animals, blood meal is usually safe. Try not to use fertilizer manufacturers that come from places suspected of harming animal welfare or complying with laws on the processing of negligent foods. The blood meal can contain pathogens that can penetrate the soil. Therefore, make sure that you only use high-quality blood meal (see our recommendations).
What are some substitutes for blood meal?
Although bone meal is not a substitute for blood meal, it can be used in the form of bone meal powder for plants. You can also use fish fertilizer, alfalfa flour and feather flour. You can also find many vegan-friendly options if you prefer fertilizers without animal products.
Where to buy
You don't have to go far. Good quality blood meal is available from your local nursery, animal feed store, or even your home depot. You can also search online, but make sure they are all local. This is because most blood flours stored online may come from countries where animal practice is poor.
, Our top recommendations for blood meal
The green thumbs behind this article:
Kevin Espiritu
founder
Last updated on 2020-01-16 / Partner Links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
