Master gardeners and common folk alike who love the thought of growing health thriving plants with the ease and convenience of containers on their porch or patio, must note the special needs of plants that are grown in confined quarters. A good potting soil is essential. Add kelp meal to the mix before you plant to aid the moisture retention of the potting mix while at the same time not allowing the soil to become heavy. Your plants can enjoy the benefits of the mineral content as well as the starches of the seaweed or kelp meal.
Here is where seaweed fertilizers can really shine. The characteristics of seaweed are well suited to container gardening as it contains a nice balance of nutrients that you can add to your potting soil when first planting as well as regular feedings.
Anyone who has done container gardening for long knows that plants planted in such a way have a different need for watering than for plants grown in the ground. Since most plant roots don’t like to be wet or bone dry, the container gardener must take care to add water on a timely basis.
It makes sense to add a fertilizer to the watering liquid from time to time to replace the depleted minerals and enzymes in the potting soil. Liquid forms of seaweed fertilizers are a natural form of plant supplement unlike some name brand fertilizers that offer only chemical koolaid” for plants. Be sure to follow label instructions before applying.
Another way seaweed fertilizer works with potted plants is to use a diluted solution of a special extract, which is then either sprayed on the leaves of the plants or “watered” on the soil on a regular basis. Foliar feeding as it is called is a common trick of Master Gardeners that is just becoming more prevalent as the public learns about the amazing benefits of misting the leaves of their plants, on occasion. ( Misting also washes dust from the leaves and helps your plants to look healthier.) Seaweed fertilizers have an ideal balance of nutrients that are well suited to this type of plant feeding.
You must take care to read labels to get the dilution right because you don’t want to “burn” the plants. But gardeners can notice a huge difference in leaf and flower quality within days by using this special treatment.
For those who love the convenience of container gardening and also desire an all-natural plant food, seaweed fertilizer may be just the thing that’s missing from your home greenhouse arsenal.
Here is a video of a guy who grew potatoes in sea weed.
