Seaweed is a natural nutrient for soil.
Healthy soil is essential to gardening success. Adding organic materials is the best way to ensure that your garden provides the nutrients that growing plants provide. Seaweed or kelp contains more than 70 vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Enriching soil with seaweed is a centuries-old process. Today's gardener can apply sea kelp as liquid kelp extract, dried kelp meal or in its natural form -- fresh from the sea.
Fresh Sea Kelp
You can add fresh sea kelp directly to the soil. A 2- to 4-inch mulch layer decays and blends quickly without introducing weed seeds to your garden. Since fresh seaweed contains little cellulose, it is a wonderful way to quickly decompose and fortify your existing garden compost pile.
Kelp Meal
Kelp meal is mulched and dried seaweed harvested directly from the ocean. This form of sea kelp has a high potassium ratio in relation to nitrogen and phosphate: its nitrogen-phosphate-potassium (NPK) formulation ratio is 1-0-8. Potassium protects plants from disease while promoting the growth of prolific foliage, fruit and vegetables. Spread kelp meal around the base of plants either as a soil mix or as a medium for potting. One 25-lb. bag of kelp meal applied at the rate of 1 lb. per plant covers over 1,000 feet of topsoil.
Liquid Sea Kelp
Food from the sea promotes healthy growth for your potted plants.
Liquid sea kelp is highly concentrated. Mix 1 to 2 capfuls of liquid concentrate to 1 gallon of fresh water and mix well to provide a liquid food for your plants. Apply the mixture to the base of your plants one to three times per week. For best results, avoid feeding your plants in direct sunlight or in temperatures exceeding 85 degrees Fahrenheit; extreme sun and heat minimizes the benefits of the nutrients in the liquid mix. Store liquid sea kelp concentrate and mixed solution in a cool, dry location.
Tags: kelp meal, your plants, your garden