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Homemade Fertilizer For Tulsi Plant (Organic)

Homemade Fertilizer For Tulsi Plant

Hello gardeners, here we are with a new topic called homemade fertilizer for tulsi plant and organic and natural fertilizers for the tulsi plant. In this article, we even discuss the different applications on how to use homemade fertilizer for tulsi plant. Follow this complete article to know in detail processes about how to apply homemade and organic fertilizers for the tulsi plant.

Introduction to Homemade Fertilizer for Tulsi Plant

Ocimum tenuiflorum or synonym Ocimum sanctum is very commonly called holy basil or tulsi, is a very aromatic perennial plant, and it belongs to the family Lamiaceae. Tulsi is plated for religious and traditional medicine purposes, and also for its very essential oil. It is very widely used as an herbal tea and commonly used in Ayurveda. Holy basil is an erect plant, many-branched subshrub, 30–60 cm or 12–24 inches tall with hairy stems. Leaves are very green or purple and they are very simple, petioles, with an ovate, up to 5 cm or 2.0 inches long blade, which usually has a slightly toothed margin. They are very strongly scented. Now, let us get into the details of homemade fertilizer for tulsi plant.

A Step By Step Guide to Homemade Fertilizer for Tulsi Plant

Growing Tulsi in a Pot.
Guide to Homemade Fertilizer for Tulsi Plant

The three main morphotypes planted in India and Nepal are Ram tulsi which is the most common type, with broad bright green leaves that are slightly sweet, the less common purplish green-leaved is Krishna Tulsi, and the common wild is vana tulsi. Though there are many different chemical fertilizers for growing tulsi plants, it is always better to grow those naturally using homemade and organic fertilizers.

Advantages or Benefits of Using Homemade Fertilizer for Tulsi Plant

  1. The daily kitchen waste supplies nitrogen and helps the tulsi to get proper nutrients.
  2. When a plant grows in soil, it extracts the required nutrients from it.
  3. The addition of organic manure to the soil keeps the soil porous.
  4. It also helps in the retention of water.
  5. It is harmless for the applicants.

Varieties or Types of Tulsi Plants

  • Rama Tulsi
  • Krishna tulsi
  • Amrita tulsi
  • Vana tulsi

Soil and Watering Requirements for Growing Tulsi Plant

Good garden soil is formed from 25% Water, 25% Air, 45% Minerals/Degraded rock particles, and 5% Organic matter including decomposed organic matter, soil organisms, roots of live plants, etc. Percentage of water and air keeps changing, if the soil is just too wet (soggy) the air component is reduced and if it’s too dry Air component is increased. These components contribute to nutrients availability in soil and this also affects soil pH. If the soil pH is acidic Micronutrients may get deficient and if it’s Alkaline Macronutrients like Nitrogen may get deficient.

Alkalizing component of the soil is that the minerals and if the water is tough or is salty, Soil may get overly alkaline. now’s the soil is given acidifying organic matter like Pine needles, sawdust, acid precipitation Soil may get Acidic. Plants mostly love neutral soil pH however there are many plants like Rose, Citrus that love acidic soils.

Now, take this logic to the Tulsi plant. The Tulsi plant is classified as an herb and like most herbs, it mostly prefers neutral to slightly alkaline pH. The ideal and optimum soil pH for Tulsi is 6.0 to 7.5.

Water is another important requirement; Tulsi needs very regular watering but does not appreciate soggy conditions. Water Tulsi only when the top 1 inch is very dry, If you are located where the temperature is very high you may have to water Tulsi even twice daily, But keep in mind before watering check if the top 1 inch of soil is dry, if yes then go ahead and water the plant carefully.

Growing Tulsi Plant from Seed

Fill a pot with very high-quality soil and water it thoroughly. You should leave nearly about an inch or 2.54 cm of space at the top of the pot. Add enough water to make the soil very moist, but you should not add too much water, because you don’t want the soil to be very soggy.

Even if you want or plan to plant your tulsi plant outdoor, it is better to start growing it indoors before transplanting it to an outdoor pot.

Sow the seeds ¼ inches or 0.64 cm beneath the soil. Because tulsi seeds are very tiny so you need to simply sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil, then you need to gently press them down into the surface with the help of your fingers or a small tamper.

Keep the soil very moist until the seeds germinate. Then the seeds will begin to grow in about 1-2 weeks. Because the seeds are very delicate, so try to use a spray bottle to lightly mist the surface of the soil. If you are pouring water into the pot, do it very slowly and carefully so you don’t disrupt the seeds.

Covering the top of the pot with the help of plastic wrap will help seal in moisture, but you will still need to check the soil and add more water if needed.

In case if you miss this: Growing Onions In Greenhouse.

Sunlight and Temperature Requirement for Growing Tulsi from Seeds

Place the tulsi plant near a warm and sunny window. Your plant requires nearly 6-8 hours of sunlight per day and temperatures of at least 21°C. So, set the tulsi pot in an area where it can receive plenty of indirect sunlight to survive well.

Be careful you should not leave the tulsi plant near open windows or doors if the temperature cools down overnight.

Temperature Requirement for Growing Tulsi
Temperature Requirement for Growing Tulsi (Image credit: pixabay)

Tips on Using Homemade Fertilizer for Tulsi Plant

  • For the best and very good result, you should balance between solid or granular fertilizer and even liquid fertilizers. You should not overdo it. It is okay to underfeed the tulsi plant than over-fertilizing it.
  • You need to stop fertilizing about a month before the tulsi plant needs to be moved inside for the winter.
  • Apply organic fertilizers only during the growing and starting season when the plant is outdoors. During the winter months, while indoors, the tulsi plant will not need fertilization.
  • Apply foliar sprays on very cool and cloudy days. The heavy sun can burn the tulsi leaves soaked by the foliar spray.
  • You should not apply fish emulsion or fertilizer when the tulsi plant is indoors. It may stink up the complete house.
  • Water the tulsi plant regularly, but let the soil dry out slightly before applying organic fertilizer. A thirsty soil will soak up all the nutrients faster than the water-saturated soil.
  • Keep your pets away from the tulsi plant for a few days after applying the organic fertilizers. Some of the organic fertilizers have the heavy smell of fish, bone, and eggs. Your pet may get curious and start to dig the complete soil.
  • Tulsi plants can be easily infested with Scales, Aphids, and even ants. Better to use Neem oil insecticide which can also help in fighting against black spots on the leaves of the tulsi plant.

Homemade Fertilizer for Tulsi Plant

When a tulsi plant grows in the soil it extracts many nutrients from the soil thereby removing these nutrients from the soil. All the nutrients also go away from the soil if the soil is overwatered and the nutrients even get dissolved in water and are carried away to drains, this phenomenon is known as Leaching. Since we are now discussing homemade fertilizer for the Tulsi plant we will stick to the topic.

Fertilizers replenish the nutrients that are absorbed by tulsi plants during their growth and lifetime. All the organic matter can be used as fertilizer but, the different matter may contribute different nutrients to the soil for example Sawdust is very rich in carbon, and Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen.

Tulsi is mainly grown for its edible leaves. Leaves of Tulsi are very frequently harvested and the plant needs continuous feeding or regular feeding for supplementing these needs. Now, let us now discuss some of the homemade fertilizers for the Tulsi plant.

  • Spent Tea leaves

We Indians love tea and we even generate a good amount of spent tea leaves daily. This daily kitchen waste is a very rich source of Nitrogen and can also help to supply your Tulsi with the Nutrients it needs. To use these spent tea leaves you must first rinse them in running water to remove all the sugar content from them. It can then be sun-dried and even stored for applied directly to Tulsi plant pot, try with a very small dosage to catch plants reaction. Please remember that Tea leaves are Acidifying in nature and they can reduce the pH of the soil, hence it becomes more important to use very small quantities.

  • Vegetable and Fruit waste

This is one of the natural and homemade fertilizer for tulsi plant. Peels of vegetables are very rich in many macro and micronutrients and Tulsi can greatly benefit from them. You do not need to compost them; there are many ways in which you can use them. First, Chop them into very small pieces and bury them in the soil near the tulsi plant, they will release many nutrients as they are digested and broken down by soil biology. Second, make the pulp in your mixer grinder, dilute them, and water the plant with this dilute. Again, I would advise you to start with very small quantities so that you can catch the tulsi plant’s reactions. If you generate a very large number of peels daily and live in a place blessed with good sunshine, I would suggest you dry out all these peels in the sun so that they lose all the moisture and get very preserved. These dried peels can be ground to a very fine powder and stored in an airtight jar and then used as required. This Fertilizer can be even used with other plants as well.

  • Spent Flowers

Spent flowers can be easily used in the same way as you use Vegetable and fruit peels.

  • Ash from Agarbatti and Dhoop

Although this ash is very different from hardwood ash and it also has some very important micro and macronutrients for your tulsi plant. You need to remember that ash is an alkaline fertilizer component and this will increase the pH level of the soil. Hence it should be used very moderately. It is best if it can be combined with some spent tea leaves and used.

These were some of the best and very easily available homemade fertilizers for the Tulsi plant.

Best Organic Fertilizers for Tulsi Plant

  • Epsom salt

If you are growing basil plants organically, add a very good dose of high organic compost when planting and even after pruning/harvesting. By adding Epsom salts for herbs will bring out a lush green plant. These will help you harvest very good quality basil leaves from your garden.

  • Cow manure

Cow manure has a very perfect balance of all essential nutrients plus it is very high in humus content. There are millions of beneficial microorganisms in cow manure that will enrich the microflora of the soil content. Nutrients in the soil are very easily made available to plants because of these bacteria from cow’s dung.

Commonly Asked Questions about Homemade Fertilizer for Tulsi Plant

What is the best organic fertilizer for the Tulsi plant?

Epsom salt and cow manure is the best organic fertilizer for the tulsi plant. Give them a complete dose of fertilizer to the plant. Then they will grow very well and survive well.

How can I make liquid fertilizer for the tulsi plant at home?

For every blender-full of puree, add 1/2 teaspoon Epsom salt and one capful of ammonia to the bucket full of water. Repeat this process until all your scraps are pureed very well. Stir the water and let it sit overnight. To mix up a batch of liquid fertilizer, add one quart of puree to one gallon of lukewarm water, and shake to mix well.

Is Epsom salt is good for the Tulsi plant?

Feeding the basil or tulsi plants:

If you are growing basil plants organically, add a very good dose of organic compost when planting and after pruning or harvesting. Adding Epsom salts for the tulsi plant will bring out a lush green plant. These tips on basil plant care will help you harvest very good quality basil leaves from your planting area.

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