While you may not have ever considered feeding seaweed in the garden or grow room, hear us out when we say liquid kelp meal for plants is one of the most potent, organic fertilizers out there!
Chalk full of essential nutrients and derived entirely from plant sources, this is something organic growers have turned to for decades to produce natural, bountiful harvests.
And if you’ve read our article discussing whether plant nutrient sources matter or not, you are already aware of what a plant-based fertilizer can do.
But because growers are so used to feeding a full-fledged nutrient package with an easy to follow, detailed feeding schedule, how do you add this into your regimen without risking nutrient toxicity?
We’ll teach you how to introduce this into your existing regimen, or create a feeding schedule around it. After that, we’ll give you our top three choices for liquid kelp for plants.
First, though, we want to cover what this additive even is, what nutrients it contains, and why we think you should add it to your plant’s diet.
What Is Kelp Meal?
Kelp meal is just one of many names this product goes by - you may also hear us throw around terms like seaweed meal, kelp fertilizer, etc.
Whatever you call it, one thing remains the same - this is a powerful, natural fertilizer derived from - you guessed it - kelp!
That’s right, the very same slimy, green plant matter you desperately avoid touching when you visit the ocean can actually be one of your biggest weapons in the garden.
While some growers (particularly those living in close proximity to the sea) report great results gathering seaweed on their own and topdressing their plants, or creating a kelp tea and applying it as a root drench, that’s not what we advise.
And, that’s not a kelp meal - that’s just kelp! Kelp meal is specifically formulated for feeding plants, typically containing other vital plant nutrients to make it a more well rounded fertilizer.
What Does Kelp Meal Do For Plants?
Applying this product in your garden does a lot more than just keeping your plants nourished. It goes above and beyond, helping you cultivate hardier, more resistant plants.
Studies have shown that plants grown with seaweed type fertilizers are more immune to pests & diseases, and manage stress from other variables far better than those that were not.
This not only increases the likelihood your crop sees harvest day, but it allows the plant to focus more energy on what matters - generating a high yield. Here are a few other noteworthy benefits of bringing this into your feeding regimen:
- Boost efficiency of your grow media while increasing root mass (the bigger the root, the bigger the fruit!)
- Adds a heavy dose of potassium, especially important for some plant types (lettuce, potatoes)
- Not only increases harvest, but increases freshness, and thus, increases the shelf life of whatever you’re growing
- Increased resistance to pests, diseases, weather, & any other variable you can imagine
- Completely natural and organic, allowing you to cultivate chemical-free crops that you can feel good about consuming (or selling)
What Nutrients Does Kelp Provide Your Plants?
Kelp meal for plants contains the big three macronutrients, with the highest concentration being in potassium.
Not only does seaweed fertilizer give your plants a healthy dose of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, & potassium), it also contains a full blend of micronutrients to round out your plant nutrition.
In fact, it contains as many as 70 different trace minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and plant hormones!
Furthermore, growth hormones such as auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins are all found in high levels. These are essential in daily plant function, and you can actually manipulate the rate at which you feed them to achieve heightened growth rates - both during veg and during flower.
Now, you’re likely already sold on bringing this into your garden and giving your plants the natural nutrition they deserve. But how do you use this product? Let’s explain.
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How To Feed Liquid Kelp For Plants
The easiest way to feed liquid kelp for plants is finding a nutrient package that contains one of these types of product as an additive.
Not every nute package contains a kelp additive, so you may have to grab one on your own to incorporate into your existing regimen.
A really unique feature of kelp extract for plants is that you can feed it different ways - either as a root drench or foliar spray. And depending on where you apply the formula is where you’ll see results.
For example, applying a root drench will drastically increase root growth. Foliar spraying during veg will increase the vegetative growth you see.
One of the best kept secrets when it comes to how to feed liquid kelp is using it right as you start blooming. Applying a foliar spray at this junction will increase budding sites, and thus, increase your yield.
If you’re looking to foliar feed your plants with kelp, do so early in the morning. This is when stomata are open, and your plants can actually uptake nutrients through the foliage. As with feeding at the media, be sure to adjust pH to around 6.0.
What Is The Best Kelp Meal For Plants?
No matter how you’re going to use kelp for plants, you need to be sure you have the best products on hand, or you’ll be disappointed with your results after all we’ve promised you!
Don’t stress, because we actually do carry the top contenders right here at hydrobuilder under our Kelp Meal collection.
Before we share our picks, keep in mind that the best seaweed is cold pressed - this is because cold pressing the seaweed during manufacturing actually preserves humic acid far better, along with the essential enzymes and growth hormones we’ve praised so highly.
Emerald Harvest Emerald Goddess
The reason we love Emerald Harvest Emerald Goddess as a kelp fertilizer is because it also contains other vital nutrients and minerals.
This formulation has been fortified with alfalfa, which contains additional macronutrients to make it a more “all purpose” fertilizer. It also contains added vitamin B1 & humic acid.
With Emerald Goddess, you are allowing your plants to reach their full potential, growing strong and flowering abundantly.
This invigorating plant tonic can be purchased on it’s own, or in one of the best plant nutrient packages available - Emerald Harvest Pro 3 Part Nutrient Package. With this package, you get one of the most complete nutrition lines available, one that contains the superpowers of seaweed!
NPK Industries RAW Dry Kelp
Some growers are just looking for a simple seaweed additive they can add to their existing feeding regimen. That’s exactly what NPK Industries RAW Dry Kelp is for.
This is a fully soluble, easy to use, 100% kelp additive. Its organic based, and can easily be introduced to whatever else you feed your plants to round out your nutrition.
However, we also offer the complete NPK Industries nutrient line, containing other single-nutrient products such as dry nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, with a plethora of other additives like silica, calcium, and more.
If you are looking for the most basic, cost-effective way to add kelp to your garden or grow room - this is it.
Fox Farm BushDoctor Kelp Me Kelp You
For organic growers looking to introduce seaweed to their plants in an organic fashion, Fox Farm BushDoctor Kelp Me Kelp You is the best choice.
It’s OMRI certified, which means its tested to the highest of standards and has been found to pass all organic tests.
You can feel safe adding this to your plants knowing you ultimately won’t have to worry about consuming residual chemicals that may be associated with synthetic fertilizers.
But this isn’t just an organic additive - it also happens to be one of the most potent formulations of Ascophyllum nodosum (Norwegian kelp) available online!
This liquid concentrate is great for any type of plants - fruiting & flowering plants, veggies, lawn & shrubs, you name it.
Containing easy to follow instructions for whether you’re applying as a root drench, a foliar spray, or even in hydroponic systems, adding kelp to your garden has never been easier.
For best results, just grab the complete Fox Farm Soil Nutrient Package and get the complete line. These products all work together synergistically, and will help produce your most bountiful, quality harvest to date.
Final Thoughts On Kelp Extract For Plants
You've read all about the power of liquid kelp extract for plants, how to use it, and which products we recommend. Now, all that's left to do is take action and discover the benefits first hand!
These are just a few of our favorites, but any of the seaweed fertilizers you find here at Hydrobuilder.com are manufactured by the leading brands in the horticulture industry.
If you want to learn more about plant nutrients & pH in general, our complete guide will teach you everything a beginner needs to know. Otherwise, all that's left do is grab your additive, get to growing, and reap the fruits of your labor down the line!
