How to Use Algae As Fertilizer

If you prefer using all-natural supplements for your garden and houseplants, you might want to use algae as fertilizer. This algae usage is not a new concept; people have been utilizing this method for many years, and homeowners and farmers swear by it. Algae are living organisms rich in protein, vitamins and a host of other nutrients that can help plants thrive.

The easiest way to use algae as fertilizer is to scoop up pond scum. You'll need a bucket or a fine pond net to do this. Dump it into a wheelbarrow if you have enough to fill it. You will need to wait for the scum to compost, so you'll want to put it in a composting bucket and wait until it turns medium to dark brown in color with a crumbly texture; it shouldn't be overly wet. You can add compost algae to your regular food scrap composting bin to expedite the process.

You can also leave your algae fertilizer in its original bucket and let it compost on its own. When it's ready, add it as you would regular fertilizer and make sure that the top of the soil dries out between waterings. Remember that algae must be dead before you use them on your plants or they could grow and take over things. You can also buy fertilizers that already contain algae in them.

Farmers commonly use red and brown algae, as both of these species are rich in potassium. This potassium works to encourage root growth and improves resistance to drought conditions. Blue-green algae also contain a good amount of potassium and have anti-fungal properties as well. When you compost or dry algae, they effectively bind soil together and increase its moisture-retention capacity. Algae also improve soil aeration, and this improved aeration lets roots absorb nutrients more efficiently.

Algae fertilizer is also reasonably effective for the cost, and it's even good for the environment. It reproduces quickly, so the scum will grow back quickly once you remove it. Some sources also report that soil that has been supplemented with algae fertilizers has lower levels of heavy metals. It's also believed that algae-fertilized plants have more leaves, thicker stems, higher roots and higher yields when compared to those that have been given other kinds of fertilizers.

Like algae, seaweed is a beneficial organic fertilizer that can improve soil aeration and drainage. It also has a neutral to slightly alkaline pH, which can neutralize acidic soil. You can collect some on a beach; fill a few buckets and take them home. Brown or green seaweed are both suitable to use. If it's a protected beach, you could get in trouble for harvesting it, so check with the local parks and recreation office first.

You can leave the seaweed out in your yard and wait for it to rain or rinse it off with a hose. You cannot use it without rinsing off the salt first because that can kill or burn your plants. Put the salt-free seaweed into your compost heap, whether wet or dry. Mix it with the rest of the organic materials and give it time to decompose. You can also use seaweed for mulch; you don't need to compost it, and you can spread it out in the same way as wood chip mulch.