Kelp Tea for Plants

Foliar Fertilizer

• Liquid fertilizers such as kelp tea are often applied to the leaves and stems rather than the soil. This is known as foliar application. This process is not designed to provide the plant with the major nutrients of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus but provides micronutrients the plant can absorb through the leaves. Kelp tea is known for its high levels of plant growth hormones.

Nutrients

• Kelp contains about 1.5 percent nitrogen, 1 percent phosphorus and 5 percent potassium. When the kelp is converted into a liquid fertilizer, those plant nutrients are found in only trace amounts. Plants in need of these common elements are best fertilized with either dry kelp or other fertilizers.

Liquid Absorption

• Liquid fertilizers, such as kelp tea, are absorbed more rapidly than dry fertilizers. While the absorption of dry kelp takes about four months, kelp tea is absorbed by the plant immediately. This allows the grower to respond to plant stress almost immediately after the problem is noted.

Application Rates

• Mix liquid kelp at the rate of about 2 tablespoons per gallon of water. Spray the mixture on the leaves of the plant at a rate that wets the entire leaf surface. Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid kelp with 1 gallon of water and add to the water source used for a drip irrigation system that covers 100 square feet of garden area.