Can You Use Matchsticks to Fertilize Plants?

Whether you’re inspired to grow your own vegetables or you just want to make your yard look more attractive, learning how to care for plants can be a rewarding skill. Still, buying supplies to get your garden started can quickly turn into an expensive shopping trip.

The good news is that there are some genius shortcut methods you can use to save some money when starting a garden. One of these methods uses matches – such as wooden “strike anywhere” matches – as a fertilizer alternative. Matchstick heads are a cheap and popular option for fertilizing plants naturally, but does this method really work?

How Do Matches Help Plants Grow?

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) are the three main ingredients found in most fertilizers. These primary elements are the essential building blocks your plants need to grow and thrive. While store-bought fertilizers have these three main ingredients, there are other, cheaper options available.

Compared to fertilizers, matchsticks are the more affordable option and work well as an alternative. This is because matchstick heads are made up of potassium chlorate, phosphorus sesquisulfide, and sulfur, which are all beneficial to plant growth.

Why You Should Put Matchstick Heads in Your Plants

When starting a garden, most gardeners keep their young plants indoors until they’re strong and healthy enough to survive outside. Still, even if you provide plenty of sun and water during this stage, you may notice some of your plants aren’t growing as well as they should.

This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as pests, overwatering, or a lack of nutrients. To give your plants a boost, you might turn to traditional pest control or fertilizers. However, applying fertilizer or insecticide to young plants can be tricky. Applying too much can shock young plants and may even kill them. 

This is why many gardeners prefer to use more natural methods, such as matchsticks. Inserting matchsticks into your soil provides your plants with a steady dose of nutrients and acts as an effective deterrent against gnats and other pests.

How to Use Matchsticks as Fertilizer

To get started, you will need a box of “strike-anywhere” matchsticks. Depending on the size of your plants, you will need between five to twenty matchsticks per planter. Smaller planted pots need fewer matches than larger pots do.

When you’re ready to begin, simply insert the matchsticks into the soil with the match head side down. Then, gently push the stick down with your finger until the wooden end is almost covered.

Be careful not to place matchsticks too close to your plant. A good rule of thumb is to place your matches halfway between the edge of the pot and the plant itself. Over time, the matchstick heads will dissolve into the soil and feed your plants with a steady supply of nutrients.

Whether you’re trying to keep the cost of supplies down, repel bugs, or if you just want to use more earth-friendly gardening methods, matchstick fertilizer is a great option.