Organic Kelp Fertilizer by GS Plant Foods
Liquid kelp, derived from seaweed, is a popular organic fertilizer that should be part of your soil health regimen.
You might take a look at the N-P-K breakdown and think that 2% nitrogen, .23% phosphorous, and 5% potassium isn’t particularly remarkable. You would be correct if we were talking about a conventional synthetic fertilizer. The difference with liquid kelp fertilizer is that the nutrients are instantly bioavailable. While this organic kelp fertilizer delivers a modest amount of instantly available macronutrients, the real value is in the more than 70 minerals that it contains. This specific product is popular with certified organic growers, as it is OMRI certified.
Mineral deficiencies in your soil can lead to poor germination and insufficient development in seedlings. In grown plants, these deficiencies can cause a general lack of vigor, increased plant stress, decreased ability to fix nitrogen from the air, and a weakened resistance to pests, disease, drought, and frost. Liquid kelp acts as a bio-stimulant, meaning that it promotes natural processes within a plant, including photosynthesis and even slowing down senescence (the aging process of plants) to provide for a longer production period.
The best thing about liquid kelp is how easy it is to apply to the plants since you don’t have to wait for crystals to dissolve. I always prefer keeping a concentrated liquid like this on hand over a bulk bag of something. I have achieved satisfactory results using one tablespoon of liquid kelp to one gallon of water. One quart of this product makes 64 gallons of liquid kelp spray at this ratio. The low cost, efficacy, and ease of use of liquid kelp concentrate has lead me to stop using the conventional fertilizers that I used to think I needed.
While you can spray the solution on the soil for eventual uptake, it’s more practical and effective as a foliar spray, meaning that you spray the leaves themselves. You don’t have to worry about burning the foliage since the nitrogen content is relatively low. I apply it early in the season a couple of weeks after I transplant my seedlings after they’ve had a chance to root in, again in mid-season when blooms are taking off and some fruits have formed, and once more late in the season to encourage production as long as possible.
There is a slight, let’s call it “organic” smell, when you open the bottle. However, I couldn’t notice it after it dried, either in the garden or inside on my houseplants. It’s nothing like fish emulsion, which, while effective, smells absolutely awful.