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Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the key nutrients that plants need to grow. Whether it's been washed away by water or used up for flowering and fruiting, low potassium requires a soil adjustment. Fortunately, lots of organic solutions are available for both quick fixes and long-term soil maintenance. To keep your garden green and maximize your yield, add potassium when your plants start to flower or if you spot yellowing. In addition, testing your soil every one to two years will let you know exactly what amendments to make.
Things You Should Know
- Fast-acting amendments like potassium chloride , potassium sulfate , seaweed , Sul-Po-Mag , and hardwood ash can quickly provide nutrients.
- Greensand , granite dust , and banana peels will slowly release potassium into your organic garden.
- If you notice yellowing leaves or your annual soil test results indicate low potassium, add potassium to your garden.
Steps
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Mix in muriate of potash or sulfate of potash. Muriate of potash, or potassium chloride, and sulfate of potash, or potassium sulfate, are natural minerals. Muriate of potash tends to be cheaper, but the chlorine it contains can hurt the helpful microbes living in your garden's soil. Sulfate of potash is safer, but it’s a bit more expensive. [1] X Research source- Check your product’s label for specific instructions on how much to add per square foot or meter.
- Make sure the product you purchase is certified organic by the Organic Minerals Review Institute (OMRI).
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Try kelp meal or seaweed. Kelp and other types of seaweed are rich in potassium, and quickly release it into soil. You can either mix a few handfuls of dried kelp meal into the soil or by spray it with a liquid seaweed spray. [2] X Research source- Mix in a pound of kelp meal per square foot of soil (about 450 grams for 9 square meters).
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Try Sul-Po-Mag. Also called langbeinite or sulfate of potash-magnesia, Sul-Po-Mag is your most affordable option. It’s best to use it if a soil test reveals your soil is low in both potassium and magnesium.- Check your product’s label to ensure it’s OMRI certified and for recommended amounts per square foot or meter.
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Add hardwood ash only if you need to increase the soil’s pH. Sprinkle 1 to 2 pounds of ash per 100 square feet (450 to 900 grams per 9 square meters). [3] X Research source Wood ash raises soil pH, or decreases the acidity. If you use wood ash to supply the garden with potassium, it’s best to regularly test the pH to make sure that the soil is balanced.- Don’t use wood ash around acid-loving plants, like azaleas or blueberries.
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Add greensand to your soil. Use about 5 pounds (2.25 kilograms) per 100 square feet (9 square meters) of soil. Greensand releases potassium at a slow rate, so it’s better for long-term soil maintenance than quick adjustments. It also works as a conditioner and helps soil retain water. [4] X Research source- In addition to digging greensand into your soil directly, you can also add it to your compost pile to improve the potassium content of your compost.
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Add granite dust. Granite dust is mined from natural granite quarries and is fairly inexpensive. Like greensand, it releases potassium slowly, so it won’t work well if you need to make a quick fix. [5] X Research source -
Bury banana peels in your soil. Cut up peels into small pieces and bury them an inch or two (4 or 5 centimeters) in your soil. The peels will take time to rot, so they’ll release potassium more slowly than other amendments.- Adding banana peels directly to your soil will also help deter aphids. [6] X Research source
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Beef up your compost with banana peels. To increase your compost's potassium content, add fruit and vegetable waste to the pile. Banana peels are your best bet, but orange rinds, lemon rinds, beets, spinach, and tomatoes will make excellent additions, too. [7] X Research source- Keep in mind you’ll need to give your compost weeks or months to mature.
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Keep your compost covered to prevent potassium leaching. Use a lidded container or cover your compost heap with a tarp when you’re not using it. Potassium compounds are water soluble, so rainfall can easily wash them out of your compost. [8] X Research source
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Have your soil tested every one to two years. For most gardeners, it’s recommended to have your soil lab tested every two years. If you’re a serious gardener and want to maximize your crop, test your soil every season before you plant.- The results will let you know if your soil contains low, medium, optimum, or high levels of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients.
- Search online for a nearby university or other soil-testing lab, or contact your local extension agent.
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Add potassium when your crop starts to flower and fruit. If you’re growing fruits and vegetables, prevent potassium deficiency by giving your plants a potassium boost when they start to flower. When they flower and fruit, plants can deplete their potassium supply in a matter of days. -
Add potassium if you spot signs of deficiency. Signs of deficiency include yellow leaves and brown leaf edges. Discoloration usually occurs in older leaves first, or those closer to the bottom of your plant. In fruiting plants, like tomatoes, you might see uneven ripening or yellow patches on the fruit. -
Monitor your plants more closely if you have sandy soil. Because of its high solubility, potassium can easily leach out of soil, especially in coarse, sandy soils. Keep a close eye on your plants if you know leaching could be an issue. If possible, test your soil more frequently.- Amending your sandy soil with manure and well-rotted compost can help prevent leaching.
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Check for signs of magnesium deficiency. Adding more potassium can lower the amount of other nutrients that the plant absorbs. Potassium competes with magnesium most directly, so look for yellowing between leaves’ veins. The veins themselves stay green, but the spaces between them turn yellow.- If you add potassium but notice yellowing occurs or worsens, just purchase an organic calcium-magnesium supplement or magnesium sulfate. Depending on your product, you’ll either mix it into the soil or spray it onto your plant’s bottom leaves.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat's the difference between certified organic and conventional fertilizer?Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.Basically, there are restrictions on the types of chemicals, the types of insecticides, and the types of fertilizers that a certified organic farm can use. Sometimes they are more earth conscious, so for example, certain pesticides would not be allowed on a certified organic farm. Usually, it's more natural, but not always. There are many exceptions and many instances where certified organic farms are less sustainable. It's not necessarily always true that certified organic farms are safer or more natural. It depends 100% on the ethics of the grower.
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QuestionWhat are the ingredients and characteristics that someone should be looking for in their fertilizer?Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.It depends on what you're growing. If you want to grow organically, you will add quality compost and a little bit of nitrogen fertilizer. You don't need to add other things. If you're looking for a fertilizer that does everything, you want a balanced fertilizer. If you look at the front of the bag of fertilizer, there are three letters, NPK, representing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with their quantities, for example, 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. This is much more potent and a lot easier to over-apply. You have to be very careful. An organic fertilizer might look like 3-3-3 or 3-5-2. It's generally weaker and you have to generally apply more of it. What you apply is based on the requirements of your plants. Some plants want more fertilizer than others.
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QuestionWhere can I purchase any of the potassium sources from the article that are OMRI approved?Community AnswerCheck your local plant nursery, home improvement store, or search online for OMRI certified products.
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References
- ↑ https://www.todayshomeowner.com/organic-sources-of-potassium-for-your-lawn-or-garden/
- ↑ http://www.grow-it-organically.com/organic-potash-sources.html
- ↑ http://www.grow-it-organically.com/organic-potash-sources.html
- ↑ http://www.grow-it-organically.com/organic-potash-sources.html
- ↑ https://www.todayshomeowner.com/organic-sources-of-potassium-for-your-lawn-or-garden/
- ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/how-to/a9251/banana-peels-eggshells-and-more-trash-your-garden-will-love-15699672/
- ↑ https://www.todayshomeowner.com/organic-sources-of-potassium-for-your-lawn-or-garden/
- ↑ http://www.gardenmyths.com/compost-fertilizer-numbers/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To add potassium to an organic garden, cut up banana peels into small pieces and bury them 1 to 2 inches in the soil. Alternatively, mix in a few handfuls of dried kelp meal, or spray the soil with a liquid seaweed spray. If you’re adding potassium to decrease the soil’s acidity, use 1 to 2 pounds of hardwood ash per 100 square feet of soil. Additionally, start a compost pile with fruit and vegetable waste such as banana peels, orange rinds, spinach, and tomatoes for a constant supply of potassium for your garden. For more advice, including how to use natural minerals like potassium sulfate in your garden, keep reading.
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Reader Success Stories
- "Good article. It was specific about why not to add certain products, which contain other ingredients, that could harm your plants and which K+ products are too slow for veggies. It clearly listed in detail which products should or can be used. Thanks! " ..." more
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"Good article. It was specific about why not to add certain products, which contain other ingredients, that could harm your plants and which K+ products are too slow for veggies. It clearly listed in detail which products should or can be used. Thanks! "
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"I find my lawnmower a very useful tool, sometimes I even mow my lawn with it. Now that I know from this article to add citrus peel for Potassium in the veggie patch, I will cut up citrus peels, too."
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"I appreciated the choices of organic potassium available and showing the strengths, weaknesses, or anticipated limitations when in use. The explanations were clear and appear unbiased."
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"Searching for sources of potassium to make my Clematis plants to bloom. They're fully mature plants, 10-12' tall but not blooming. This article gave me some great sources. Thanks!"
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"I throw orange peels into my flower bed, leaving them lying on top of the soil. By reading this piece I now know I have to bury the orange peels for better potassium effects. "
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