How to Make Fish Emulsion for Vegetable Plants
Organic fertilizers augment garden nutrition without risking over-fertilizing. Fish has been used since prehistoric times as a natural garden fertilizer. Fish emulsion concentrates nutrients from fish scraps into an oil that you can dilute and use as a natural organic fertilizer. Although there are many variations of fish emulsion, the basic process is simple. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Large container or bucket (sealing optional)
- Fish scraps
- Water
- Citrus oil (optional)
- Cheesecloth
- Wire screen or fencing
Instructions
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1
Place fish scraps in a large bucket or container and add water.
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2
Cover the top with a cheesecloth and wire. This will help keep animals and insects out as the mixture ferments.
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3
Add some citrus oil to mask the odor of the decomposing fish.
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Put the container in a sunny place and away from areas where the smell will bother you or your neighbors. If you don't have a suitable location, use a sealing lid for the bucket or container. If you seal the container, stir it every day or two.
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5
Let the mixture sit in the sun for two or three months.
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After two or three months, skim off the upper layer of oil that has formed on top of the water.
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7
Mix 1 cup of the oil with 5 gallons of water before applying the fish emulsion to your plants.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Add some molasses to the mixture to speed decomposition and mask odor.
Add a couple of tablespoons of Epsom salt to add magnesium and sulfur to the emulsion.
You can add sawdust or leaves to the mixture to control odors and leach out excess nitrogen.
Stirring the mixture daily and adding molasses can speed the decomposition and can result in fish emulsion after two to four weeks.
The process of making fish emulsion smells bad. If you live in an urban area, use a sealing lid and stir the mixture every day or two.
