Kelp Meal is made from dried ocean seaweed that is then ground up into a meal type product. Kelp Seaweed can be made into a liquid, a concentrated powdered extract, or a meal type product. Kelp is fully sustainable, as seaweed is a natural product that grows in abundance in the ocean.
When using kelp meal in your garden it's really hard to over do it. It's such a forgiving organic fertilizer to use in your garden that adding it multiple times per year to your vegetable garden won't be an issue. Kelp meal contains many benefits for your plants that it should be a staple in every gardeners tool chest.
It contains small amounts of N-P-K, which is why it's easy on your plants and hard to overdo. It does however carry over 60 trace minerals, or micro-nutrients, including Calcium , Magnesium , Sulfur , Manganese , Copper , Iron , and Zinc. On top of this, kelp meal will also bring different vitamins, and amino acids to the table.
One of the most important properties of kelp meal is the growth hormones contained in it. Kelp contains multiple growth hormones including auxins, gibberellins, and cytokinins. These growth hormones can help regulate the growth of plants, hence why they are called plant growth regulators. . Kelp is most known for its Cytokine hormone content. The cytokine hormone mobilizes nutrients in plant leaves to improve the chlorophyll content, and increase the growth rate, and fullness of plants.
When looking for a natural organic soil amendment to be used in a veganic garden, kelp meal is a great first choice. Since it is harvested from ocean plants it easily fits into a veganic garden. When mixed with rock phosphate, basalt rock dust, azomite, alfalfa meal, and soy bean meal, you can create a veganic all purpose fertilizer that is made solely from natural and organic ingredients.
How Much Kelp Meal Do I add To My Garden?
Depending on your style of gardening , indoor, outdoor, vegetables, or even cannabis, you will want to adjust your use rate when applying kelp meal to your soil. The following amounts can be a general guideline on how much kelp meal to apply to your soil. Remember, kelp meal is very forgiving so it will be hard to over do it.
Kelp Meal Use Rates
Indoor Cannabis Plants: 1/2 to 1 Tablespoons Per Gallon Of soil
(Add Once Per Cycle)
Outdoor Cannabis Plants: 1 To 2 Tablespoons Per gallon Of Soil
(Can Be Applied Multiple Times During a Full Outdoor Season)
House Plants: 1 Tablespoon Per Gallon Of Soil
(Apply Once Or Twice Per year)
Outdoor Vegetable Garden Beds: 1 To 2 Pounds Per 100 square feet
(Apply Once Or Twice During Long Growing Seasons)
How To Use Kelp Meal As A Tea
You can alternatively use kelp meal in a tea. This can be applied as often as once per week. It's a great way to get the benefits of kelp without having to apply so much to your garden as a soil amendment. I like to add kelp meal to my garden as a top dress, and then follow up later in the season with either a kelp meal tea or compost tea with kelp meal added.
Kelp Meal Tea Recipe
1 – Cup Kelp Meal
5 - Gallons of water
Soak the kelp meal for 1 to 2 days, and stir multiple times. I like to really mix up the kelp meal right before I apply it so that it is evenly distributed in the water when I apply the tea. You can also let the kelp meal sink to the bottom of the tea, and once you have poured all of the water off of the top, you can add the remaining kelp meal to your compost pile.
You can apply this tea as a soil drench, or a foliar spray once per week. If you choose to use it as a foliar spray, you want to make sure you don't spray your plants in full sunlight, or when your grow lights are on. The liquid can act as a magnifying glass, and roast your plants if you aren't careful.
Using Kelp Meal In Compost Teas
I have added kelp meal to my compost teas for many years. I have seen it aid in the replication of microbes in my compost teas when viewed under a microscope. A little goes a long way, but I still to this day will add kelp meal in all of my compost teas. I add 1/8 to ¼ cup of kelp meal to a 5 gallon compost tea brew. Brew as you normally would, and then apply as a soil drench up to once per week.
With the many benefits of kelp meal it's no wonder you see it in most organic gardens. Whether you use it as a dry fertilizer spread around your garden soil, as a tea, or even mixed into a veganic fertilizer, your plants will will surely benefit from the plethora of nutrients and growth regulators contained in this dried out ocean plant product.
