Natural Houseplant Fertilizer (Possibly TMI)

crystaladult

Since having a baby, I no longer want to use chemical fertilizer in my houseplants and have been researching natural fertilizers. I don't want to use any animal-based fertilizers due to the smell. This is where it might be TMI...I use a menstrual cup and I read that you can use the collected menstruation to fertilize your houseplants. Has anyone ever done this?

I'm wondering what the most sanitary way to go about it would be. Would it smell and would you be able to see the blood clots on top of the plant soil? It seems like it might be a lot of maintenance, so I'm just wondering if anyone has ever used this method before and if they have any tips. TIA!

IndianChica

I've never done this before. I'd rather get rid of every houseplant in my house before putting my period blood on them. I'm sorry but this sounds disgusting and I think your houseguests would never come to your house again if they found out you do this.

BettyBookworm

Crystal, you crunchy mama!

Go_Dawgs

I'm sorry, but this post makes me want to vomit a little.  I'd much rather mix some cow or chicken manure into the soil of my houseplants than use my own menstrual blood.  Consider starting a compost pile outside, and use the compost in your plants. 

krisandgrace

IndianChica:

I've never done this before. I'd rather get rid of every houseplant in my house before putting my period blood on them. I'm sorry but this sounds disgusting and I think your houseguests would never come to your house again if they found out you do this.

 

I think your kids expression says it all. 

But seriously- how often do you fertilize your house plants? I have gone years with out giving them anything but water. Also they probably have synthetic fertilizer in the growing mix they came in. A less toxic alternative that wont leave a sticky bloody mess would be a product like Osmocote which is a pelletized slow release fertilizer that you can mix in the top few inches of soil once very few months. Here is the MDSD, it has relatively low toxicity.

http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/ehs/EnvhealthDocs/Osmocote.pdf

Blood meal is used as a fertilizer but it has been dehydrated first so unless you plan on dehydrating the contents of you cup I think it would be safer to go with out. 

doglove

You can use coffee grounds. Sanitary and safe.

smock.smock

Do you use a family cloth? You can also collect the cloths from that time of the month and simply plant it at the bottom of a repotted house plant. It will fertilize the soil for months!

I don't use a diva cup because I believe plastic is wrong (don't even get me started), but I use handmade pads that you could also potentially "collect" for plants. A diva cup would be pretty easy to empty on the plant, though. I'm not sure what to do about clots, maybe pick them out first.

I've been using menses on my plants for just over a year and let me tell you, they are so green and healthy! 

laptopprancer

I actually use a potted plant in place of a diva cup, it cuts my chore time in half.

 

srs5624

laptopprancer:

I actually use a potted plant in place of a diva cup, it cuts my chore time in half.

/dead

SwizzleStiX

laptopprancer:

I actually use a potted plant in place of a diva cup, it cuts my chore time in half.

 

In lieu of your merkin?

laptopprancer

SwizzleStiX:

laptopprancer:

I actually use a potted plant in place of a diva cup, it cuts my chore time in half.

 

In lieu of your merkin?

Actually with some crafty leaf manipulation you can use the same potted plant for your merkin simultaneously.

 

 

Mason&Mama

Have you considered using your baby's bowel movements? Much closer to the more commonly used cow manure. Do you have any pets? I would be worried about them being drawn to the plants by the smell of the blood. My baby's daddy used to have a pet monkey (true story) that used to fling sh!t at his mother when she had her period. Animals can sense this kind of thing. They might ruin your plants.

rochella

crystaladult

smock.smock:

Do you use a family cloth? You can also collect the cloths from that time of the month and simply plant it at the bottom of a repotted house plant. It will fertilize the soil for months!

I don't use a diva cup because I believe plastic is wrong (don't even get me started), but I use handmade pads that you could also potentially "collect" for plants. A diva cup would be pretty easy to empty on the plant, though. I'm not sure what to do about clots, maybe pick them out first.

I've been using menses on my plants for just over a year and let me tell you, they are so green and healthy! 

I've never heard of a family cloth. Is that where you share the same washcloth to wipe with so that you don't waste paper? I think that might be unsanitary. 

crystaladult

doglove:

You can use coffee grounds. Sanitary and safe.

Wouldn't they acidify the soil? I'm not sure where I would get coffee grounds, since we don't drink coffee. I guess I could ask my neighbor to see if she would let me have hers. 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I know it seems a little out there. I just thought that it made sense, like some of you suggested they sell bloodmeal at garden centers. I don't really see how it would be much different than using my own blood and it's free. 

I think that the family cloth idea is a little too far out there for me, but I'm glad to hear that your plants are doing so well. 

IndianChica

You can get fairly large bags of used coffee grounds at most Starbucks. Call to see if they have them though - some locations are better than others in terms of keeping those always available, although I'm sure if you gave them an hour, they could save some for you.