How to Make a Homemade Fertilizer for a Bearded Iris

The scientific name for a bearded iris plant is Iris germanica, although they are also sometimes called flags. According to North Carolina State University, bearded iris plants are flowering perennials that produce six petals with a fuzzy beard that runs down the three hanging petals. If you have any bearded iris plants in your garden, you will need to apply a fertilizer once each year. Hume Seeds recommends using an all-purpose rose fertilizer. You can make this at home yourself.

You will need the following items to make a homemade Bearded Iris fertilizer:

2 tbsp. molasses
3 cups water
Large pitcher
2 tbsp. powdered fish
1 tsp. powdered seaweed
1 tbsp. Epsom salts
Large watering can
1 gallon water

Follow these steps to make your homemade Bearded Iris fertilizer:

Step 1:
Pour 2 tbsp. of molasses, and 3 cups of water in a large pitcher. Stir until combined.

Step 2:
Add 2 tbsp. of powdered fish, 1 tsp. of powdered seaweed, and 1 tbsp. of Epsom salts to your large pitcher. Stir until combined.

Step 3:
Transfer your concentrated homemade bearded iris fertilizer to a large watering can.

Step 4:
Add a gallon of water to the concentrated homemade bearded iris fertilizer and mix one final time.

Step 5:
Pour the fertilizer over in the soil around the bearded irises. Do this at night when the sun goes down so your bearded iris plants don't get sunburn.

Tips:
Repeat using the homemade fertilizer once each spring.

Warnings:
Add 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar only if your soil turns out to be alkaline. You will have to perform a soil test before you make the homemade fertilizer.