Urine as fertilizer for houseplants? First of all, a bizarre idea. Considering that fields and fields are also fertilized with manure, the question arises as to whether this works. Find out in this article whether the application is really suitable.
Can you use urine as fertilizer for houseplants?
Is urine a suitable fertilizer for houseplants? Urine is environmentally friendly and rich in nitrogen, which plants need. However, the high s alt content in urine can change the pH in the substrate, which is harmful to many houseplants. Therefore, urine is not recommended as a permanent solution, but occasional applications are possible.
Advantages and disadvantages of urine as fertilizer
First of all, the idea of fertilizing your houseplants with your own urine is certainly a little strange. The first thing that comes to mind may be the acrid smell that comes from the ammonia that is created when bacteria tamper with the secretion. However, your own urine also has advantages as a fertilizer. Read for yourself what positive and negative properties this alternative to conventional fertilizer has.
Advantages
- The production of artificial fertilizer requires a lot of energy, urine is an environmentally friendly alternative.
- Urine has an even higher nitrogen content than synthetic fertilizer.
Disadvantages
- As soon as urine gets into the air, an acrid smell arises.
- Bacteria collect in the urea.
- Residues of medication may end up in the plant substrate.
The positive effects of urine
Urine is a breakdown product of the body. When we urinate, we also excrete minerals that we ingested with food. Proteins make up a large part of it. These amino acids are rich in valuable nitrogen, one of the most important trace elements for he althy plant growth. At 50%, urine contains more nitrogen than any comparable product. Researchers found that even when diluted, it provides the five most important minerals that accelerate plant growth.
Conclusion: The disadvantages outweigh the disadvantages
However, we saved one crucial disadvantage for last. Urine supplies houseplants with important nutrients and therefore functions very closely as a plant fertilizer, but we also consume a lot of table s alt in our daily diet. When fertilizing with urine, this gets into the substrate and changes its pH value. Numerous houseplants react very sensitively to high s alt content in the soil and will die sooner or later. Despite the many advantages, especially its environmental friendliness, urine as a fertilizer for houseplants is not a permanent solution. However, there is nothing wrong with rare use. Perhaps in the near future science will develop a process to filter the harmful substances from urine and offer plant lovers a suitable alternative to artificial fertilizers.
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