American Indians are said to have planted a fish with every hill of corn to serve as fertilizer. I prefer fish emulsion and worm castings for my garden, but my 45-gallon aquarium suggested another possibility.
As I change the filters every few weeks, I save the spun-polyester envelope that holds the charcoal.
To give my tomato seedlings a boost, I slit the filter lengthwise on four sides. Slipping the roots of the seedling into the sack formed by the dry filter, I then plant filter and seedling in garden soil. The nutrient- soaked filter adds an absorbent layer of protection to delicate roots during their first transplanting and seems to protect young growth better than most seedling containers.
This week’s tip was sent in by Marilyn Fritzler, Ph.D.
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