Using Bone Meal as Fertilizer: The Pros and Cons

Bone meal is an incredibly useful organic fertilizer. But if you're considering using it, it's important to understand the pros and cons. Learn about this valuable gardening resource and how to use it in our guide!

Someone wearing black long sleeves sprinkling bone meal fertilizer on an area

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As a gardener, you want your plants to grow big and strong. To achieve that, you’ll probably have to boost their health with some sort of fertilizer. One option you’ll see recommended often is bone meal.

Not only is this fertilizer organic, but it’s full of nutrients. It primarily supplies phosphorus, one of the three primary plant nutrients, but also calcium and nitrogen. A typical NPK rating is 3-15-0, which is great for bulbs and flowering plants.

In my opinion, the best thing when you use bone meal fertilizer is that it’s environmentally friendly and organic. Using it in organic gardening is simple and very safe. Read on to learn everything about this fantastic fertilizer!

What is Bone Meal?

Close-up of a gardener applying bone meal fertilizer to young plants in a raised bed in the garden. This fertilizer is granular, unevenly shaped, brownish-sandy in color. Young plants consist of short stems and small, oval, smooth, dark green leaves.
This is fertilizer made of animal remains.

Bone meal fertilizer is exactly what it says: animal bones. It’s usually beef bones taken from cows as a slaughterhouse byproduct. The beef bones are steamed to sterilize them and then ground up. It’s sold as the resulting powder or made into pellets or liquid.

It may sound gross, but when you consider how organic material naturally decomposes to feed plants in nature, it makes perfect sense. You’re simply giving your plants the type of amendments they used before modern fertilizers were developed.

Bone meal fertilizer is often confused or associated with blood meal. There are two main differences. First, blood meal is made from dehydrated blood. Secondly, it mostly supplies nitrogen instead of phosphorous. Even though the two are similar in that they’re both animal products, they’re not interchangeable.

What Nutrients Are In Bone Meal Fertilizer?

A hand holding a small amount of bone meal, a light beige powder with a granular texture.
It has essential nutrients that can benefit plants.

As mentioned, bone meal fertilizer mainly supplies phosphorus (the P in NPK). This is an essential nutrient for plants because it helps them grow.

Phosphorus is the nutrient that builds up strong bones. When those bones eventually decompose, they release the phosphorous into the soil where plants can use it. The phosphorous helps the plants build healthy stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds. In some cases, the plants then get eaten by animals or humans, putting the phosphorous back to work at strengthening bones (among other things).

Plants rely on phosphorus to enable photosynthesis, growth, and reproduction (flowers and fruit). It also plays other roles in cellular respiration, DNA, RNA, and energy transfer. In short, without phosphorus, your plants won’t survive.

This garden fertilizer also supplies a good amount of calcium and some nitrogen. However, it’s often used mostly for phosphorus. Calcium or nitrogen is an added benefit for the garden soil.

Pros of Bone Meal Fertilizer

A white-gloved hand holds blood meal fertilizer, contrasting against lush green plants in the blurred background.
It can also help promote plant growth.

As we mentioned, bone meal fertilizer is great for helping plants grow. But the fun doesn’t stop there! It has many more benefits, such as:

  • Higher fruit and seed yield
  • Stronger root structure for newly developing plants
  • Healthy, lush growth
  • Pest and disease resistance
  • Big, beautiful blooms

Bone meal fertilizer is an exceptional organic fertilizer for flowering plants like roses and amaryllis. It also boosts the growth of alliums such as garlic, leeks, and onions.

It is often used for establishing lawns since it helps young plants mature quickly. And it helps develop a denser root structure and provides calcium for tomatoes to fruit.

Overall, it’s one of the products that most people should keep on hand for garden use.

Cons of Bone Meal Fertilizer

Someone touching light brown material using bare hand, falling from the hand to land on plants underneath, with the sky in the background
It might not be suitable to your plants based on their needs.

There aren’t many drawbacks to using this fertilizer. However, like any fertilizer, you should be aware of any negative possibilities:

  • It’s a slow-release fertilizer, so it won’t give your plants an immediate boost (but that also means it won’t burn them when applied correctly).
  • This isn’t a balanced fertilizer. If your plants need additional nutrients, you’ll have to apply a different fertilizer along with the bone meal.
  • If it isn’t mixed into the soil properly, the smell may attract scavengers. Pets can also be attracted to it and may dig up your plants if they have access.
  • Using bone meal fertilizer is only effective in soils with a pH below 7. Alkaline soil conditions reduce nutrient uptake.

Overfertilization with phosphorus can push out other important nutrients for plants, such as iron and zinc. Plants with too much phosphorous will turn yellow and show symptoms of other nutrient deficiencies. Too much phosphorus can hurt the plant’s chlorophyll production, which leads to yellowing leaves.

Most soil is good at regulating the phosphorus released, so there’s little chance of overfertilization. However, if your soil isn’t phosphorous deficient, you shouldn’t be adding bone meal fertilizer.

Generally, the bigger concern is pets. My dogs love bones, which means they love bone meal too. I’ve found burying the bone meal deeply rather than sprinkling it on top prevents any frantic digging. However, it’s also best to keep your pets away from planting areas to stop them from uprooting your precious plants.

How to Use Bone Meal

A shovel containing brown material to add nutrition to soil and plants, with a garden bed underneath appearing blurry with assorted plants
It may be best to test the soil before applying any type of fertilizer.

Before you begin, test your soil to make sure it needs phosphorous. Otherwise, you risk overfertilizing, which can damage or kill your plants. Soil testing services are usually available at local agricultural universities and government offices. You can also purchase a soil testing kit and do it yourself.

Along with phosphorus deficiency, the soil must have a pH of 7 or below for this organic fertilizer to work properly. If your soil is more alkaline, doctor the pH first.

A good rule of thumb is to apply one tablespoon per two square feet of soil (3 cups per 100 square feet). Amounts may vary by the brand you use, so always check the instructions on the package first.

When planting, mix the fertilizer in with the backfill soil. If your plant’s already in the ground, sprinkle on top and then rake over the soil to mix it in.

For bulbs and other spring-blooming plants, apply 1/2 teaspoon when planting in the fall, scratching it into the soil under the plant. Supplement again in spring when you start to add to your spring and summer garden.

After using bone meal, lightly water the soil so it can start breaking down. It will release nutrients over about four months.

Check the weather forecast before you start. It’s easiest to apply when conditions are dry and you can work it into the upper layer of soil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can bone meal burn plants?

No, it is primarily phosphorous. Nitrogen-rich fertilizers can burn plants, but bone meal will not. It’s best to be careful and not overfertilize with any nutrient, though, so be mindful of how much you apply.

Does bone meal carry mad cow disease?

No, this is a very safe, often organic fertilizer. The animals used to make it are also meat producers, so they’re kept healthy and free of mad cow disease.

Will bone meal pollute water sources?

Excess phosphorus can be washed away into natural water sources and cause algal growth. This usually only happens with fertilizers that are water-soluble. Bone meal fertilizers are generally safe from leaching too much phosphorus into the environment.

Is bone meal fertilizer toxic?

Bone meal isn’t necessarily poisonous, but it can cause gastrointestinal distress if eaten by humans or animals. If you have pets or children around, mix it into the soil well and store the bag where they can’t get to it.

Can bone meal be used in hydroponics?

Yes! Bone meal is a great solution if you’re trying to do organic hydroponics. Before using it, you must calculate the nutrients needed and how much you’ll need. For some help, we have articles on hydroponic nutrient solutions and general hydroponic nutrients.

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