Fish Emulsion Fertilizer – Your Complete Guide for Usage

Maintaining a garden can be a challenging undertaking, especially if you find that your plants are not thriving as expected. In such situations, you may want to consider providing your garden with some extra assistance.

To do that, though, you’ll have to figure out which fertilizer to use. After doing some research, you might find out that fish emulsion fertilizer might just be your knight in shining armor!

What plants benefit from fish emulsion fertilizer? Almost all outdoor plants can benefit from fish emulsion fertilizer. This includes vegetables, such as tomatoes and cucumbers; fruits, like strawberries; flowers of all kinds; and lawns. It can be applied directly to the soil surrounding plants or used as a foliar spray.

In the following, we’ll go over what exactly fish emulsion fertilizer is, common uses, NPK values, benefits, and so much more. Let’s get started.

Fish Emulsion Fertilizer

You might still be unfamiliar with what exactly fish emulsion fertilizer is. So, to help you figure it out, we’ve included some questions you might have along with their answers!

What Is Fish Emulsion Fertilizer?

Fish emulsion fertilizer is an organic fertilizer used to help provide your plants with nutrients and help speed up their growth.

It’s made from fish products such as fish oil or complete fish. It has a liquid consistency and is typically made with a 4:1:1 NPK ratio.

You’ll also notice that fish emulsion tends to have a strong smell.

That is why, when used indoors, you should be careful not to use too much as the smell can be overwhelming, but you don’t need to worry much about this as the smell should dissipate after a couple of days. 

Fish Emulsion Fertilizer Uses

You can use fish emulsion to help your garden and plants receive any nutrients they may lack in their soil.

There are multiple ways you can apply fish emulsion, using it as a foliar spray or soil drench being a couple of them. You can also add this fertilizer to the compost pile!

What Is the NPK of Fish Emulsion?

Depending on the type you purchase, you’ll find some fish emulsion fertilizers that contain a 4:1:1 NPK ratio and others that have 5:1:1. There are also some with a 5:2:2 ratio.

NPK stands for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These are the main nutrients needed for your plants to grow. You’ll find them in all fertilizers. 

Doing a soil test will allow you to know which nutrient your soil is lacking, and, based on this information, you should choose the appropriate NPK ratio.

Fish Emulsion Fertilizer Benefits

Fish emulsion is both high in nutrient value as well as quick acting, meaning it’ll be absorbed into your plants quickly and thus help speed their growth.

It’s also known to help make your plants pest resistant and have stronger roots. 

Another thing that’s considered a positive aspect of fish emulsion is that you have various ways to apply it.

Depending on your preference, and as we’ve previously mentioned, this fertilizer could be used as a foliar spray and soil drench.

Fish emulsion can also be used throughout the year, so you don’t have to worry about whether or not it’ll fit certain weather.

How Long Does Fish Emulsion Last?

If your emulsion bottle is left closed and unused, it can last for years depending on its expiration date. However, once you open or dilute it, it might go bad quickly as it’s made from organic materials. 

So, we recommend that you use your liquid fertilizer within one or two weeks after you first open the bottle.

How Often Should You Apply Fish Emulsion?

Fish emulsion is fast-acting, meaning that your plants will absorb it more quickly than most fertilizers.

For that reason, if your fertilizer has a 5:1:1 NPK ratio, you should use it every two to three weeks. If the NPK ratio is lower, you may need to apply it more frequently.

Is Fish Emulsion an Organic Fertilizer?

Yes! Since it’s made from fish oil, fish remains, and other fish-related products, fish emulsion is considered an organic fertilizer. 

Fish emulsion doesn’t include any chemicals in its ingredients, so it’s one of the better options for the environment. This allows you to use it for both your indoor and outdoor plants safely.

How To Apply Fish Emulsion Fertilizer

First of all, fish emulsion contains a high nitrogen amount, so you’ll need to dilute it before use.

To dilute fish emulsion, you’ll need to add one gallon of water to every three tablespoons of fertilizer.

Next, you can decide how you want to add it. Since it’s a liquid fertilizer, you can apply it as a foliar spray or you can simply pour it directly onto your plants’ soil.

Depending on your plant’s growth rate, you’ll need to spray it once every two weeks or more frequently.

Best Fish Emulsion Fertilizer: GS Plant Foods Organic Fish Fertilizer

After some digging, we’ve discovered that the GS Plant Foods Organic Fish Fertilizer can be one of the best options to buy if you want reliable organic food for your plants!

With an NPK ratio of 2:3:1, the fertilizer can help increase your plants’ growth as well as improve their health.

Better yet, according to multiple users, they’ve all noticed their plants’ leaves becoming greener after use. 

This fertilizer also enhances the soil quality, which allows the roots to grow stronger.

It contains both macro and micronutrients, which let your plants get more of the nutrients and minerals they need.

Plus, it’s designed to contain the perfect amount of nutrients so you won’t have to worry about it being overwhelming to your plants.

The fertilizer is easy to apply with thorough instructions on how to get the best results for your plants written on the bottle. So, even first-time users can take care of their plants without issues. 

Other than having a great quality, this fertilizer is also sold at a very affordable price.

Pros:

• Provides all the needed macro and micronutrients for indoor and outdoor plants
• Includes how-to-use instructions for beginners
• Affordable price

Cons:

• Has a very strong smell
• Contents tend to overflow if you shake the bottle before use

Can You Use Too Much Fish Fertilizer?

Due to having a high nitrogen value, too much fish fertilizer may lead to burned-out plants. This means that you should only use it after you’ve diluted your emulsion with water. 

To avoid harming your plants when they’re still sprouting, a light splash of the fertilizer should be enough every two weeks. 

Larger plants will need the soil to be soaked to around 1 inch of depth every 14 days.

Can You Use Fish Emulsion on Indoor Plants?

Yes, you can! Fish emulsion is considered one of the best choices when it comes to indoor plants as it doesn’t contain any chemicals.

However, you should be mindful of how much fertilizer you use as it won’t be the same amount as outdoors.

It’s preferred to use around 1 tablespoon per water gallon. Add around 2 cups of the blend to a spray bottle, then use this diluted fertilizer to water all your plants twice every week.

How Do You Use Fish Emulsion in a Vegetable Garden?

If your vegetables are still young and sprouting, then all they need will be a quick splash of your diluted emulsion every two weeks.

For almost-ready vegetables, you can water them as you would normally and apply fish emulsion around each plant every couple of weeks.

Try to pour the emulsion on the soil rather than on the vegetables for better absorption.

As for root vegetables, you should use less fish emulsion than other vegetables. Using too much may cause the leaves to grow while the roots won’t be the appropriate size.

Is Fish Emulsion Good for Lettuce?

Fish emulsion is considered the perfect fertilizer for growing lettuce. You can apply it to your lettuce every two weeks by pouring it on its soil, or you can spray it on your lettuce. 

However, you’ll need to wash the lettuce thoroughly before consuming it.

Is Fish Emulsion Good for Citrus Trees?

You can use fish emulsion with citrus trees, however, it still may not contain enough nutrients for the trees. 

You’ll also need to be sure to spray the trees with it as well as applying it to the soil. This can only be done when the weather is cool. 

Avoid spraying it when it’s hot as fish emulsion contains fish oil, and oils can greatly harm the tree in high temperatures or under direct sunlight.

Is Fish Fertilizer the Same as Fish Emulsion?

There may be some confusion on whether fish fertilizer and emulsion are the same. Some brands will call it fertilizer and some emulsion.

But at the end of the day, there aren’t any differences between fish fertilizer and fish emulsion. They both contain the same ingredients and are only different in name.

Does Fish Emulsion Attract Animals?

As it smells like fish, this fertilizer may attract some animals, specifically carnivores such as raccoons and snakes. 

However, herbivore animals like deer, for example, won’t be drawn by the scent. 

How To Make Fish Emulsion Fertilizer

To make homemade fish emulsion fertilizer, you’ll need fish parts, sawdust, and unsulfured molasses.

First, add equal amounts of fish and sawdust to a 5-gallon bucket. Then, you’ll need to add molasses and water to cover everything.

Start stirring the mixture until everything is mixed thoroughly before covering your bucket. 

Make sure the cover has a few holes in it to allow air to flow inside.

You’ll need to continue stirring the mixture once daily for around two weeks before it’s ready.

After that, you should pour the contents into a strainer, store the liquid in a container, and you can finally use it as fertilizer!

Conclusion

Fish emulsion fertilizer is considered one of the best options to provide nutrients for your plants due to its organic ingredients and lack of chemicals.

Hopefully, after reading our article, you’ll have all the answers you need to grow a healthy garden!