Ever since mankind started intentionally raising plants for his benefit, man has sought ways to increase. Increase his harvests, increase area planted, increase the number of crops he could grow and increase the number of plants he found particularly appealing. This led to much experimentation and discovery, intentional or purely by accident. Over the years he observed many correlations between what he put on his plants and the way the plants responded. This would have surely led to an intentional tendency to experiment with ways to get more out of what he grew.

In the earliest days of intentionally raising plants, there were no commercially prepared fertilizers or other plant growth aids. If fertilizers were to be used, they would have been homemade fertilizers. The Hillbilly Gardener assumes that one of the earliest observances of man would have been that plant life tended to flourish around animal droppings. This would have surely gone on to man collecting animal waste and spreading it on his gardens as the first organic fertilizer. This is a practice still used today. In fact, so productive is this practice that certain agricultural tribes of primitive peoples even today follow the practice of following herds of certain animals partly in order to collect their droppings to put on their crops. It is not an unreasonable leap of logic to assume that early man would have started experimenting with other plant growth aids to increase the effectiveness of the manure that he was adding to his garden. This would have surely become more prevalent as more and more people started gardening in locations and areas where they did not have access to a ready supply of animal waste.

A good example of early homemade fertilizers is the American Indian. At first these peoples reportedly were burying fish among their crops (particularly corn) as a sacrifice to the gods of the crops. This was in hopes that the gods would have been pleased and bless them with a bountiful harvest. Over time, it was realized that fish buried alongside the seed they planted caused the crops to grow and produce better, thus starting the practice of fertilizing crops among the American Indians. This practice was later taught to the early American settlers, which helped them ultimately to survive in the new world. I guess it could be argued that gardening and homemade fertilizers ultimately saved America. What a thought!

This would have given rise to many different homemade fertilizers and formulations. One area which there appears to be no clear indication of its origins is in the area of increasing plants through propagation and the use of a homemade rooting hormone. Outside of curiosity, the Hillbilly Gardener doesn't suppose that it makes any difference where and how the concept of a homemade rooting hormone came about in regard to gardening today. The only thing that really makes any difference is that at some point, early gardeners came upon a homemade rooting hormone solution that actually helped to increase the number of plants that would root from cuttings. The homemade rooting hormone, made from common items found around the home helped to spur the production of plants and new plant varieties that could be propagated and offered to gardeners to even greater heights.

With the coming of the chemical age, it is quite satisfying and a little humorous to the Hillbilly gardener that try as they may, the modern chemically driven plant growth aids industry has not been able to produce products that work significantly better than the age-old homemade rooting hormone. In fact, so effective is the basic homemade rooting hormone, that many of the commercially prepared products offered today still have these homemade rooting hormone components as their base. But, the frugal gardener can prepare these at home for practically nothing.

Here in the Garden of Weedin, the Hillbilly Gardener takes great comfort in the fact that mankind is finally awakening to the fact that many commercially prepared fertilizers can prove to have the exact opposite effect on plants than what is desired if they are over used or misapplied. Commercially prepared fertilizers have been proven to be extremely detrimental to the environment if misused or misapplied. This is one reason that homemade fertilizers and plant growth aids are enjoying a new popularity with the frugal gardener. The use of homemade fertilizers have few undesirable side effects and do not burn plants as their chemical counterparts can. This makes homemade fertilizers much easier and safer for all gardeners to use, especially the new gardener.

Now, before anyone gets the idea that homemade fertilizers can be applied with abandon everywhere and in any amount, let the Hillbilly Gardener make it abundantly clear that responsible use of ANY fertilizer or plant growth aids is still the key operative here. Even the most basic natural and organic fertilizer, manure, can be extremely detrimental to the environment if misused or misapplied. The same can hold true with any of the homemade fertilizers. One advantage of most homemade fertilizers is that any misuse or accident is relatively quickly remedied and usually bears no long-term detriment to the environment – usually.

The frugal gardener knows this is wasteful and irresponsible.

Here in the Garden of Weedin, the Hillbilly Gardener finds pleasure in using homemade fertilizers, homemade rooting hormone and various other homemade plant growth aids for a variety of reasons. Among these are:

• Homemade preparations are usually less expensive than their commercial counterparts.

• Homemade preparations are usually relatively safe around children, pets and the environment (nothing is 100% safe).

• Flexible - strengths, ratios and application rates can be easily adjusted to the need.

Here, the Hillbilly Gardeners presents some homemade fertilizers, homemade rooting hormone and other plant growth aids to get you started enjoying the benefits of creating your own homemade garden aids, safely and inexpensively. The Hillbilly Gardener would love to here how these work for you and any other homemade fertilizers or plant growth aids that work for you. To your gardening success, the Hillbilly Gardener wishes you a bountiful harvest in your own "Garden of Weedin"

the "Hillbilly Gardener"

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Homemade Root-Stimulating Hormone

Cut one to two handfuls of willow (See notes below) tips about four to six inches long and macerated them to allow greater exposure to the water. Place one to two handfuls of macerated willow branch tips into a bucket and cover with approximately 1 gallon of water. let stand for 3 to 4 days in a cool (not cold), dark place. Remove willow branches and use 1/2 cup around each plant. Apply every 5 to 10 days until new growth appears.

To use this solution to help start cuttings, simply dip the cut end of each cutting into the solution before placing into rooting media.

Note: This was the original rooting hormone used by commercial growers before the advent of commercially prepared products.

Note: This is the genus "Salix", but is also known as "osier" and "sallow". According to Mabberley, D.J. 1997. "The Plant Book". Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge, there are about 400 species of willow. It is believed that all have similar properties. However, no studies have been found to verify this and given that the use of willow as a homemade rooting hormone appears to have started in Europe, it is probably a safe assumption that the original source of willow was probably the White Willow (Salix alba) from Europe. The common "Weeping Willow" common today is actually a hybrid of Peking Willow (Salix babylonica) from China and White Willow (Salix alba) from Europe. If this is the case, the common "Weeping Willow" may have the highest concentrations of "auxins", which are the plant hormones, of all of the willows commonly available to the frugal gardener today.

Honey Antibacterial Rooting Aid

Unpasturized, raw honey has amazing antibacterial properties which can greatly help in rooting cuttings. Brew some willow tea following the instructions above. Decant approximately one pint of the tea and add two tablespoons of raw honey to tea. Mix well to dissolve the honey then dip your cuttings into this solution. Refrigerate any remaining mixture for up to two or three weeks if you want to save it.

If you are using a powdered commercial rooting hormone, you can limit bacterial infections in your cuttings by mixing equal parts of raw honey and water together and mixing thoroughly. Dip the cut end of your cuttings into this solution and allow the excess solution drip off or shake off any excess solution before dipping into the rooting powder. Then place immediately into your rooting media.

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Powdered Eggshell Fertilizer

Eggshells provide a rich source of potassium and calcium. Making powdered eggshell fertilizer is simple. Thoroughly rinse and let dry, empty eggshells, and crush them or place into a blender and pulse into a powder. Work approximately five crushed eggshells (approximately five teaspoons) into the soil around every plant. Outdoor flowers, fruits, and vegetables will benefit greatly from this homemade fertilizer.

If you'd rather feed your plants with liquid fertilizer, make a batch with empty eggshells. Boil twenty eggshells in a gallon of water for several minutes. Allow the eggshells to steep for eight to twelve hours. You can remove the shells or to make a stronger mixture, crush the shells in the water and place in a blender. Blend on high until the shells are thoroughly crushed and blended fine. Store the homemade liquid fertilizer in a covered container, and apply approximately one-half cup to outdoor plants, fruits, and vegetables once each week. If you ground the shells in the mixture, you will need to shake the mixture thoroughly before use.

Note: Egg shells make a great addition to other homemade fertilizers to help regulate nutrient uptake and make many other nutrients more readily available.

Milk

Milk is said to do a body good, and milk is also good for plants. Milk contains the nitrogen-building protein that plants require. Mix one part milk and four parts water. Feed plants approximately one cup of this homemade fertilizer once a week for best results.

Homemade Fertilizer Teabag

A homemade fertilizer teabag will enable you to brew nutrient-rich tea for your outdoor plants, fruits, and vegetables. This liquid solution is easy to make, and the dry ingredients will keep indefinitely if stored in a cool, moisture-free location.

To make three gallons of liquid plant fertilizer you'll need:

• 4 cups of cottonseed meal

• 1 cup of dolomite lime

• 1/2 cup of bone meal

• 1/2 cup of kelp meal

Combine these ingredients, and place them in the center of a double layer of cheesecloth. Make a teabag by knotting the ends, and soak it in three gallons of water for twenty-four hours. Open the teabag and discard the teabag and contents into the compost, and stir the solution. Sparingly apply this homemade plant fertilizer on a regular basis to feed your outdoor flowers, fruits, and vegetables

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Homemade Fertilizer For Your Lawn

Ingredients:
1 Can of Beer
1 Cup of Epsom Salts
1 Cup of Ammonia
2 Cups of Water

Mix all four ingredients and put into a hose-end sprayer/applicator. Spray your lawn.

Epsom Salts Fertilizer #1

Use for: Houseplants, Roses, Vegetables (especially peppers, tomatoes and potatoes)

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon Epsom Salt

• 1 gallon water

You will also need a watering can

1. Combine the Epsom salt and water.
2. Use the solution to water your plants.
3. Repeat once a month.

Epsom salts can be used as fertilizer in other ways as well.

1. Mix one and ½ cups with the total amount of potting soil you’ll use.

2. Add a few teaspoons to bulbs as you plant them.

3. Combine a half cup of Epsom salts and one gallon of water and use to water your house plants.

Epsom salt is made up of magnesium and sulfate – both vital plant nutrients.

Coffee Ground Fertilizer

Use on: Roses, Garden Plants, Acid loving fruits and shrubs

Ingredients:

• Used coffee grounds

• A cookie Sheet

• Newspaper

Preparation:

1. Line a cookie sheet with newspaper.
2. Then, spread your used coffee grounds out on the sheet, and allow them to dry completely.
3. Sprinkle the grounds around the base of your acid-loving plants. Azaleas, roses, rhododendrons and blueberries are just some of the plants that will benefit from this treatment.

Note: Be careful not to over do it with the grounds. Even acid-loving plants can get too much acid.

Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium – all important plant nutrients. They are also acidic, and help to maintain the acidity of the soil.
 

Another easy way to fertilize garden plants or shrubs is to air dry some coffee grounds and sprinkle them at the base of plants. You could also use diluted leftover coffee (about 1 part coffee to 4 parts water, depending on the strength of the coffee) to water house plants.

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Vinegar Fertilizer

Use on: Houseplants, Roses

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon white vinegar

• 1 gallon water

You will also need a watering can.

1. Combine the white vinegar and water.
2. Use the solution to water your plants.
3. Repeat every three months.

The acetic acid in vinegar works to increase the acidity of the soil – just the thing for acid-loving plants.

Other uses for vinegar:

• Mix one pint of white distilled vinegar (5%) and two gallons of water and pour the solution around the base of plants.

• For house plants, mix one tablespoon of apple vinegar with one gallon of water (preferable alkaline water) and use this to water your plants.

They should perk up and become much greener. The vinegar lowers the pH and provides your plants with some 50 minerals.

Spring Lawn Fertilizer

Mix one cup Epsom salts with one cup ammonia and add water until you’ve got one quart of the solution and then use a hose-end sprayer to spray the mixture over your lawn. This amount should cover a 2500 square foot area. The Epsom salts nourish plants with sulfur and magnesium while the ammonia causes a reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen in the soil.

Leaf Fertilizer

Fill a large bucket approximately 1/3 full with oak leaves then fill with water. Use a non-treated water such as rain, well, stream or pond water. Bottled water can be used, but can be expensive. Put the pail in a sunny spot and let it steep for about a week or until the water takes on a brown color. Then, pour the water over the base of shrubs and plants and they should perk up. If you’re in a pinch, you can also simply add boiling water to the leaves and use the water as soon as it has cooled.

Conifer And Nettle Fertilizer

Another natural leaf-based fertilizer involves putting comfrey and nettle leaves into a container. Fill it with water and cover it. It has a strong odor, so you may want to store it outdoors. To use it as fertilizer, dilute it with one part mixture and 20 parts water. Depending on what you’re growing, different ingredients will add nutrients to this mixture. For example, tea leaves add nitrogen and manganese and alfalfa will add numerous amounts of nutrients and minerals.

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the "Hillbilly Gardener"