Similar to bone meal, blood meal is also an organic fertilizer. High in nitrogen, blood meal can be a boon to gardeners and farmers who are looking for a natural way to supply their plants with needed nitrogen.
Somehow, the use of blood meal for plants may be debatable. Here, we have included 5 main benefits of using blood meal as a fertilizer. We have also included the proper method to use it for your plants.
1. Rich Source of Nitrogen
Bloodmeal has exceptional nitrogen content. This abundance of nitrogen helped it gain popularity among gardeners and farmers, as one of the best foods for their plants. Besides this option, many fertilizers are also used to supply plants with enough nitrogen.
When compared to other organic fertilizers, blood meal offers a more concentrated source of this essential element. This makes it particularly the first choice for plants with high nitrogen demands, such as leafy greens. Therefore, a blood meal helps prevent nutrient deficiencies in your garden.
2. Improves Soil Health
Beyond its high nitrogen content, blood meal has additional benefits. It contains trace amounts of essential nutrients, like phosphorus and potassium, enhancing soil fertility even more. As bloodmeal is an organic material, it does not harm the soil in ways the chemical fertilizers do.
Alongside the short-term nitrogen benefits, other organic components contribute to long-term soil improvement.
Improves Soil pH Balance
The blood meal is slightly acidic. So, it can slightly acidify the soil. This condition can be best for plants that thrive in acidic conditions such as blueberries, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
If you are a gardener dealing with alkaline soil, using a blood meal can be perfect for your garden. Overall, unlike other synthetic fertilizers that can cause dramatic and often harmful shifts in soil pH, blood meal provides a gradual, controlled adjustment.
3. Provides Slow-Release Nutrients
Blood meal is known for its slow-release properties. It gradually supplies nutrients to plants over an extended period. Due to this property, plants can enjoy a consistent supply of nutrients throughout their life cycle.
This nature also prevents nutrient leaching. Other synthetic fertilizers are highly prone to it, they get washed away from the soil by rainfall or irrigation. By providing nutrients at a controlled rate, we also prevent-overfertilization, a common issue with quick-release fertilizers that can lead to excessive nitrogen levels in the soil.
The nitrogen provided by the blood meal is a key component in the formation and growth of plant roots. A strong root system means a healthier plant!
When plants have access to adequate nitrogen through a blood meal, they can focus on root production. The denser and more extensive root network thus formed can explore a larger volume of soil. Thus, the plant gets access to a wider range of nutrients and moisture. As a result, plants become more resilient to drought, nutrient deficiencies, and other environmental stresses.
Allows Root Respiration
The improved soil structure due to increased organic matter content allows for better oxygen exchange. This is because the organic matter helps to break up compacted soil. As the roots get a sufficient supply of oxygen, it prevents issues such as root rot.
5. Deters Pests Away
Blood meal works well to keep pests at bay. The credit here goes to its strong smell. Small pests, especially insects, like aphids and beetles, find the odor very unpleasant. So, when you are sprinkling blood meal around your plants for nutrients, you are also creating a scent barrier in your garden.
Moreover, using blood meal boosts soil health, which in turn makes plants stronger and more resilient to pests. These well-fed plants are healthy and can better fend off pests.
How To Use Blood Meal?
Timing
Blood meal should be applied at specific times to optimize its benefits for plant growth. We recommend you apply it in early spring, just before planting or as soon as new growth begins. This timing aligns with the start of the growing season when plants are beginning to actively take up nutrients.
You can also amend the soil using a blood meal before plantation. For best results, mix the blood meal into the top 2-4 inches of soil.
What To Avoid?: Don't apply bloodmeal too late in the season. Doing so can halt fruit and flower development as plants direct their energy on foliage production.
Application
Spread the blood meal evenly over the soil surface at a rate of about 1 to 2 cups per 100 square feet. Don't overdo it if your plants can sustain low nitrogen levels.
If you want, you can also apply it when plants are in their active growth phase (mid-season boost), during this time apply lightly. Make sure this fertilizer is well mixed with the soil, and incorporate it into the top 2-4 inches of soil using a rake or tiller.
What To Avoid?: Totally avoid direct contact of blood meal with plant stems and leaves. Doing this can damage or burn the plant. Also, wear gloves while applying to avoid skin irritation.
Dosage
The dosage of blood meal should be tailored considering the needs of your plants and soil. For general use, apply 1 to 2 cups of blood meal per 100 square feet of garden area, before planting. This is enough to support plant growth without overwhelming the soil with excess nutrients.
For a mid-season boost, reduce the amount to 1 cup of blood meal per 100 square feet. Remember not to exceed this amount as this amount perfectly helps plants to replenish the nitrogen content.
Combining With Other Fertilizers
As blood meal is a potent source of only nitrogen, it should be used in conjunction with other fertilizers that supply other essential nutrients like potassium and phosphorus. You can pair blood meal with bone meal for phosphorus and potassium sulfate for potassium for a balanced approach.
If you’re using a balanced fertilizer that already has nitrogen in it, it's important to adjust the amounts of blood meal. This should be done because supplying your plants with excess nitrogen can lead to conditions like increased susceptibility to pests and diseases.
Water Thoroughly
Water can act as a carrier molecule, that carries away nitrogen from the blood meal to the roots of the plants. So, to dissolve the nitrogen-rich nutrient completely, we recommend you immediately water the area thoroughly.
Thorough watering also prevents the accumulation of blood meal on the soil surface. If accumulated, it can create burns on the plant parts nearby. When adequate moisture is provided, it also activates beneficial soil microorganisms that help break down the blood meal.
Blood meal has a strong scent due to its composition. The strong scent though deters some pests and can be off-putting for some gardeners. This happens especially if the blood meal is directly applied to the soil.
To prevent this, you can mix blood meal into the soil. The intensity of the smell can also be reduced by applying blood meal in the evening, as it helps to dissipate the odor overnight. If the smell seems to be very strong for you, you may opt for other organic nitrogen sources like fish emulsion or alfalfa meal.
Environmental Impact
Besides unpleasant odors, blood meal can have potential negative impacts on the environment. If the area of application is near water sources or if not managed properly, the nutrients may run into water bodies causing algal blooms and other water quality issues.
Also, if the blood meal is not properly processed or handled, there is a potential risk of disease transmission. So, we recommend you purchase blood meals only from reputable manufacturers who strictly follow guidelines to minimize this risk.
Stop Overuse
Apart from the application guidelines mentioned above, it's essential to be mindful while increasing the use of blood meal. Over-fertilization can lead to various problems for your plants and the environment.
If your soil is already rich in nitrogen, it is not necessary to add blood meal to the soil again. Rather, in such cases, use other organic fertilizers such as bone meal.
Signs of Overuse: Rapid, unchecked growth of leaves, reduced or delayed flower or fruit development, can leach into water bodies causing algal blooms
Compatibility with Other Fertilizers
Supplying only nitrogen is not enough for the development of plants. It should be combined with other fertilizers to provide a more balanced nutrient profile for your plants.
Blood meal and bone meal can be combined together to support the growth of plants as well as promote flower production. You can also combine blood meal with compost to make a nutrient-rich mixture. Moreover, other organic fertilizers such as fish emulsions can also be combined with blood meal.
Blood meal can be easily attacked by microorganisms like bacteria if an adequate amount of moisture is present in them. So, we recommend you keep it away from any kind of damp environment.
The best way to store blood meal is to keep it in airtight containers to prevent moisture absorption and protect against pests. It is also important to put it away from direct sunlight as it can degrade nutrients present in blood meal.
Handling
Blood meal comes in dusty form and prolonged exposure to the powder may irritate the skin. So, it's necessary to wear gloves to prevent the contact of the powder with the skin.
The dust can also irritate the respiratory system. It's advisable to wear a mask when handling large quantities of blood meal. If the blood meal spills, it is necessary to promptly clean the space as it can be easily tracked into other areas of your home or garden.
Monitoring and Adjusting
Different soil types have different requirements. So, it's important to conduct soil tests to understand the nutrient levels and pH of your soil. Soil testing allows you to know the nitrogen concentration already present in your soil, this helps you to determine the amount of nitrogen that needs to be further added.
If your soil is already acidic, adding a blood meal can further increase the acidity. This condition may not favor the growth of particular plants. So, before applying blood meal, it's always best to understand your soil.
Observing Plant Response: After applying blood meal, monitor how your plant is responding. If the plant has vibrant green foliage and strong stems, the blood meal has supported the plant for healthy growth.
In cases when there is excessive leaf growth, yellowing, or burning of leaves, overfertilization may have occurred. For further application, reduce the amount of blood meal or other nitrogen fertilizers.
Preparation Process of Bloodmeal
What Is Blood Meal?
A blood meal is a dry, powdery organic fertilizer. It is derived from animal blood, typically from cattle or hogs. It's a byproduct of the meatpacking industry, obtained after the processing of livestock.
Preparation of blood meal significantly helps in waste management. The blood from slaughterhouses, which has no significant use, is converted into fertilizer, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
Preparation Process
Commercially, the blood from slaughterhouses is collected. The blood is separated from other components, heated to a specific temperature to coagulate the proteins and dried to remove moisture content.
The dried blood is ground into a fine powder, which is the final blood meal product. For packaging, air-tight containers are used. The most important step in the whole process is drying, as excess moisture can spoil the whole product.
Is It Safe For Plants?
Though the product contains the use of animal blood, it's important to understand that blood meal is a carefully processed organic fertilizer. It is safe for plants when used correctly (in the right concentration).
Boost Nitrogen Levels: Blood meal is high in nitrogen, a key component for breaking down organic matter in compost piles. Adding it can speed up the composting process.
Balance Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratio: If your compost is too high in carbon (brown materials like leaves and twigs), adding blood meal can help balance the ratio and promote faster decomposition.
2. Seed Starting
Nutrient Boost: Incorporating a small amount of blood meal into the seed starting mix can provide young seedlings with an initial nitrogen boost for healthy growth.
Caution: Use sparingly as too much nitrogen can burn delicate seedlings.
3. Lawn Care
Green-up Your Lawn: Blood meal can be used to improve the color and density of your lawn.
Combine with Other Fertilizers: For best results, use blood meal in combination with a balanced lawn fertilizer.
