DIY Nutrients from Dynamic Accumulator plants

October 20, 2013 0 Comments

A friend posted some valuable information the other day and I asked him If I could steal the content and post it here for everyone to benefit from.... and here it is, Thanks Wayne!

Dynamic accumulators are plants that gather certain micro nutrients, macro nutrients, or minerals from the soil through their roots, the nutrients are then stored in their leaves.

These accumulator plants are great for using to make your own organic nutrients, by either making a tea or drying the plant matter, grinding it into powder to make a "meal" and adding it to your soil mix like you would any other dry nutrient.

Here is a list of some of the better accumulator plants that you can use to make you own plant based nutrients that you may be able to find around your local area.. 

Comfrey, Stinging Nettles, Yarrow, Valerian, Alfalfa, Borage, Dandelion, Horsetail. You can also check this website for many, many more http://oregonbd.org/Class/accum.htm 

You can also use this site to see actually how much, and of what phytochemicals the plant contains http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/plants.html

So far I have made two plant meals, Comfrey and horsetail. And I will probably make another from yarrow or dandelion.

This is how I done it...

Step 1: I took my plant matter and hung it to dry, it must be bone dry or it wont grind into dust.

Horsetail:

 

 

Comfrey:

 

Step 2: Once bone dry you can then take your plant matter and rub it between your hands to create small pieces or powder.

Horsetail:

 

 

Comfrey:

Step 3: Add to your soil mix and enjoy!

Vermicompost with added plant meals, it will be left to break down before I use it:

 

 

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