How to Make Your Own Fertilizer

Fast facts on Epsom salt fertilizer:

• Houseplant food
  
• Vegetable fertilizer
• Rose plant food

• 1 Tablespoon Epsom salt
• 1 gallon water
• A watering can

1. Dissolve the Epsom salt in water.
2. Use the solution to water your plants.
3. Repeat once a month to maintain efficacy.

Epsom salt is made up of magnesium and sulfate – both vital plant nutrients. Some magnesium-loving plants to try it on: houseplants, roses, peppers, tomatoes, and potatoes.

Fast facts on coffee ground fertilizer: 

Rose plant food
Soil acidifiers

• Used coffee grounds
• A cookie sheet
• Newspaper

1. Line a cookie sheet with newspaper.
2. Then, spread your used coffee grounds out on the sheet, and allow them to dry completely.
3. Sprinkle the grounds around the base of your acid-loving plants. Azaleas, roses, rhododendrons, and blueberries are just some of the plants that will benefit from this treatment.

Note: Be careful not to overdo it with the grounds. Even acid-loving plants can get too much acid.

Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium – all-important plant nutrients. They're also naturally acidic, so they can help you boost the acidity of the soil.

Fast facts on eggshell fertilizer: 

Garden lime

• Eggshells
• A blender

1. Save your eggs shells, and allow them to air dry.
2. Then, place the dried shells in a blender, and pulse until they're powdery-fine.
3. Sprinkle the shells around the plants in your garden.

Eggs shells are made up almost entirely of calcium carbonate – the main ingredient in agricultural lime.

Fast facts on vinegar fertilizer: 

Houseplant fertilizer
Rose plant food
Soil acidifiers

• 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 gallon water
• A watering can

1. Combine the white vinegar and water.
2. Use the solution to water your plants.
3. Repeat every three months.

The acetic acid in vinegar works to increase the acidity of the soil—just the thing for acid-loving plants. Just don't use straight vinegar to fertilize your plants. Undiluted vinegar is an herbicide.

Fast facts on fish tank water fertilizer: 

Any fertilizer

• Used fish tank water

1. Save the dirty water from your fish tank.
2. Then, use it to water your plants.

Used fish tank water is full of nitrogen and other nutrients that plants need to thrive.

Fast facts on fireplace ash fertilizer: 

Garden fertilizer
Garden lime

• Fireplace ash

1. Sprinkle cool (never hot) fireplace ash over your garden beds, and work it into the soil.

Note: Fireplace ash should not be used if your soil is alkaline. It also shouldn't be used around acid-loving plants, unless you're trying to turn hydrangeas pink.

Fireplace ash is rich in potassium and calcium carbonate. If your soil is too acidic, it'll help to balance out the pH, so your plants are better able to absorb the nutrients that are present in the soil.

Fast facts on compost: 

Any fertilizer

• Kitchen and garden scraps

​1. Save your fruit and vegetable scraps, newspapers, grass clippings, and other compostable materials, and use them to start a compost bin or pile.

2. Add a bit of water from time to time, and turn your pile to speed up the composting process.

3. When everything has broken down into a dark, rich soil spread it in your garden, and enjoy the results.

Compost is loaded with nutrients and microorganisms that are good for your garden.