subject: Plant Help From Kelp [print this page] Looking for the perfect all-purpose food for tour perennials, herbs, shrubs, roses, and fruit trees? Phil Boise of Goleta, California, has concocted an organic mix that keeps his plants healthy and productive all year. Phil and his wife sell organically grown plants, organic pest controls, fertilizers, and seeds at Island Seed and Feed in Goleta.
"Don"t skimp on the kelp," Phil says. He uses only cold-water-harvested kelp. "it has a lower salt content and a better nutrient, hormone, and mineral percentage." He"s found that kelp also helps to improve the pest and disease resistance of his plants.
Ingredients and supplies
1 part kelp meal
2 parts alfalfa meal
4 parts any combination cottonseed meal, fish meal, and / or soybean meal
1 part rock phosphate
Dust mask
Gloves
Safety goggles
Directions
1.Mix all ingredients thoroughly while wearing a dust mask, gloves, and safety goggles.
2.Use up to 3 cups for each mature rosebush perennial, or shrub. For annuals and herbs, use only up to1.5 cups. For midsize fruit trees, you can apply up to 6 cups.
3.Apply 2 or 3 times a year
Tips: Recycled plastic containers like yogurt cups make perfect scoops for measuring fertilizer ingredients in "parts" When mixing fertilizers, wear gloves and a dust mask to protect your skin and to avoid inhaling fine dust particles.
