How to Use Organic Soil Amendments

How Organic Feeding Works & Why It’s Different from Synthetic Nutrients

Feeding plants organically is a completely different approach from using synthetic nutrients. Instead of providing plants with immediately available mineral salts, organic feeding focuses on building a living soil ecosystem, where beneficial microbes break down organic materials into plant-available nutrients. This process creates a more balanced, natural, and sustainable growing environment that leads to healthier plants, better nutrient uptake, and improved flavour and aroma in crops.

The Role of Microorganisms in Organic Growing

Organic nutrients don't feed the plant directly; they feed the soil microbes, which in turn convert organic matter into plant-available nutrients. This process is driven by:

• Bacteria and Fungi: Break down complex organic compounds into simpler forms, including beneficial fungi that contribute to the root system and nutrient cycling.

• Mycorrhizal Fungi: Extend plant root networks and improve nutrient absorption.

• Protozoa and Nematodes: Consume bacteria and fungi, releasing nutrients in a plant-available form.

By using organic soil amendments like Ecothrive Soil Food Grow, Bloom, and Re-Gen, you're ensuring a steady release of nutrients over time, avoiding the sudden spikes and deficiencies associated with synthetic feeding.

Why Organic Feeding is Better for Soil Health

One of the biggest benefits of organic feeding is long-term soil health. Unlike synthetic nutrients, which can cause salt buildup and microbial die-off, organic amendments enrich the soil, improving its structure, water retention, and microbial life. Over time, this leads to:

• Improved soil aeration (better oxygen flow for roots).

• Increased water retention (less frequent watering needed).

• Stronger root development (leading to healthier, more resilient plants).

Ecothrive's Soil Food Re-Gen is a perfect example of how organic growers can reuse soil instead of discarding it, keeping microbial populations active and reducing waste.

Types of Organic Soil Amendments: Animal, Mineral, and Plant-Based

Organic soil amendments can be categorised into three primary types: animal-based, mineral-based, and plant-based. Each type offers unique benefits and plays a crucial role in improving soil health and fertility.

Type	Example	Benefits
Animal-Based	Manure, Worm Castings	Rich in nutrients, enhances microbial activity, improves soil structure.
Mineral-Based	Greensand	Provides essential minerals, improves moisture retention, and soil aeration.
Plant-Based	Compost, Comfrey	Enhances organic matter, promotes soil structure, and supports beneficial organisms.

 

Animal-based amendments, such as manure and worm castings, are excellent for enriching the soil with essential nutrients and increasing beneficial soil organisms. For instance, manure acts as a slow-release fertiliser, while worm castings are known for their high nitrate content, enhancing plant vigour.

Mineral-based amendments, like greensand, are essential for correcting mineral deficiencies in the soil. They help improve moisture retention and aeration, which can be particularly beneficial for heavy clay soils.

Plant-based amendments, including compost and comfrey, not only boost nutrient levels but also improve soil structure and water retention capabilities. Compost made from kitchen scraps and yard waste is a fantastic way to recycle organic materials while enhancing soil fertility. By understanding and utilising these diverse organic soil amendments, gardeners can tailor their approach to meet the specific needs of their soil and plants effectively.

How to Use Organic Soil Amendments: Focusing on Ecothrive’s Soil Food Range

Organic soil amendments, including a compost bin, are essential for enhancing garden soil fertility, structure, and overall plant health, including monitoring soil pH. They provide natural nutrients and improve the soil's physical properties, leading to improved soil texture and vigorous plant growth. Because herbicide contamination can negatively impact these organic amendments, one notable provider of such amendments is Ecothrive, renowned for its commitment to sustainable and organic gardening solutions.

Introducing Ecothrive’s Soil Food Range

Ecothrive has developed a premium line of organic soil amendments known as the Soil Food range. This collection is specifically designed to complement Ecothrive Living Soil and includes three distinct products:

1. Soil Food Grow: Formulated to support healthy plant growth during the vegetative growth phase, providing essential nutrients for robust development.

2. Soil Food Bloom: Tailored for the flowering stage, ensuring plants receive the necessary nutrients to produce abundant and healthy blooms.

3. Soil Food Re-Gen: Designed to rejuvenate and replenish used soil, promoting sustainability by allowing growers to reuse their growing medium effectively.

Each product in the Soil Food range is crafted from carefully selected organic inputs, offering living soil growers a powerful and easy-to-use toolkit to nourish plants and simplify soil reuse.

Benefits of Using Ecothrive’s Soil Food Amendments

Incorporating Ecothrive's Soil Food products into your gardening routine offers several advantages:

1. Enhanced Nutrient Availability: The organic components break down gradually, providing a steady supply of nutrients and essential nutrition to plants.

2. Improved Soil Structure: These amendments boost soil aeration and water retention, creating an optimal environment for flower beds and root development, which is a great way to enhance soil health.

3. Sustainable Gardening: Soil Food Re-Gen enables the reuse of soil, reducing waste and lowering the cost of purchasing new growing media.

4. Compatibility with Living Soil Systems: Designed to work seamlessly with Ecothrive Living Soil, these amendments support a thriving soil microbiome, essential for organic growing practices.

How to Use Ecothrive’s Soil Food Products

1. Soil Food Grow

Apply Soil Food Grow during the vegetative stage to promote healthy foliage and stem development:

1. Top-Dressing: Evenly distribute the recommended amount over the soil surface and water thoroughly to encourage nutrient absorption.

2. Mixing with Soil: Integrate Soil Food Grow into your growing medium before planting to ensure nutrients are readily available to seedlings or transplants.

2. Soil Food Bloom

Use Soil Food Bloom as plants transition to the flowering phase to support bud formation and overall flower health:

1. Top-Dressing: Apply the suggested quantity to the soil surface, taking into account your growing conditions, at the onset of flowering and water in well. All deliveries are chargeable and will be calculated at checkout.

2. Repeat Applications: Depending on the plant's needs, additional applications can be made every few weeks during the flowering period.

3. Soil Food Re-Gen

After harvesting, Soil Food Re-Gen revitalises your soil, preparing it for the next planting cycle:

1. Incorporation: Mix the appropriate amount of Re-Gen into the used soil to replenish nutrients and enhance soil vitality.

2. Resting Period: Allow the amended soil to rest for a short period before replanting to enable microbial activity and nutrient stabilisation.

Additional Ecothrive Soil Amendment: Life-Cycle

Another valuable product from Ecothrive is Life-Cycle, an all-in-one organic soil amendment that provides a broad spectrum of nutrients and beneficial microbiology, promoting vibrant soil life. It can be used to:

1. Enhance Fresh Soil: Add Life-Cycle to new soil mixes to boost nutrient content and microbial diversity.

2. Revitalise Used Soil: Incorporate into depleted soil at the end of a grow cycle to restore fertility and structure.

3. Top-Dressing: Apply as a top-dress during growth or bloom stages to provide a nutritional boost.

Best Practices for Feeding Organically

When feeding organically, timing, application methods, and environmental factors all play a role in nutrient availability. Here are some key tips:

1. Top-Dressing for Slow Nutrient Release

Sprinkle organic amendments like Ecothrive Soil Food Grow or Bloom, which contain magnesium and gypsum, over the surface of the soil and water it in. This allows microbes to break it down gradually, delivering nutrients, including magnesium, over several weeks.

2. Mixing into Soil for Consistent Nutrient Supply

For a more balanced nutrient release, cover crops, mulch, and other amendments should be mixed into your soil before planting to help reduce soil erosion. This ensures microbes have access to organic material from day one, creating a fertile environment that can help reduce pests for seedlings or transplants.

3. Using Compost Teas and Microbial Stimulants

Organic feeding works best when microbial life is strong. Using Ecothrive Biosys, a microbial inoculant, or brewing compost teas can supercharge microbial activity, improving nutrient cycling and root health.

4. Maintaining Proper Moisture Levels

Microbial life thrives in moist (but not waterlogged) conditions. Keeping your soil at the right moisture level helps microbes break down organic nutrients efficiently, making them available to plants.

Ready to get growing organically?

Utilising organic soil amendments like Ecothrive's Soil Food range, which includes micronised rock phosphate and calcium carbonate, Life-Cycle is a sustainable and effective approach to enhancing soil health and plant productivity throughout the growing season, especially when considering organic soil conditioner options. By selecting the appropriate amendment for each growth stage and following recommended application methods, gardeners can achieve vigorous growth, abundant blooms, and maintain soil vitality for future planting cycles.