Homemade Fertilizers for Roses

by Melissa King

Gardeners adore roses of all colors for their beauty, fragrance and romantic appeal. Roses thrive even when neglected, but an application of fertilizer helps plants grow healthy roots and colorful blossoms. Synthetic fertilizers give roses the nutrients they need, but overfertilizing may cause leaf burn or rapid growth that can attract pests. Homemade fertilizers contain natural or organic ingredients, and they break down more slowly than chemical fertilizers. Making homemade fertilizer also allows the gardener to recycle kitchen scraps that would otherwise be discarded.

Kelp and Molasses Fertilizer

Fertilizer containing molasses, kelp, powdered fish and apple cider vinegar supplies roses with a balanced dose of nutrients that promotes foliage and flower growth. To make the fertilizer, 3 cups of water should be combined with 2 tablespoons of molasses, 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts, 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of kelp extract and 2 tablespoons of powdered fish. In the summer, 1/2 gallon of the fertilizer should be applied in the evening after roses have been watered. A repeat application in six to eight weeks, near the end of summer, helps encourage blooming until fall or winter.

Coffee Grounds and White Vinegar

Coffee grounds and white vinegar, when added to soil, give roses the acidic conditions they need to thrive. Coffee grounds also provide roses with small amounts of potassium, nitrogen and magnesium. A handful of dry coffee grounds should be sprinkled on the surface of the soil around the roses. White vinegar adds acid to the soil, but it does not provide many nutrients, so an additional fertilizer is required. To make an acid-boosting solution for roses, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar should be combined with 1 gallon of water. The vinegar solution should replace one regular watering every three months.

Egg Shells and Epsom Salts

Egg shells contain large amounts of calcium carbonate, an ingredient found in agricultural lime. They make an excellent addition to compost, and when crumbled into tiny pieces, they can be applied directly to the soil around roses. Pulverizing egg shells in a blender turns them into a fine powder for easy application. Epsom salts consist of sulfate and magnesium, nutrients that roses need to carry out many essential functions. For example, magnesium assists in photosynthesis and sulfate aids nutrient uptake. A mixture of 1 gallon of water and 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts should replace a regular watering once per month.

Fish Tank Water and Banana Peels

Fish tanks need regular cleaning, but instead of pouring the water down the drain, gardeners can use it to fertilize roses. Fish tank water contains a high amount of nitrogen. The fish tank water can replace a regular watering. Excessively dirty or moldy water should not be used. Banana peels contain a high amount of potassium. To use them as rose fertilizer, gardeners can bury the banana peels 4 to 6 inches deep at the base of the plants.

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