Have you seen a product called "Neem Cake" in your search for organic soil amendments and fertilizers? Are you wondering not only what the heck is it and how you'd use it? Then you've come to the right place!Use neem cake as a bloom booster.What is Neem?You may familiar with a product called neem oil, which is used to naturally treat against pests and fungal diseases. Neem oil, as well as neem cake, is extracted from the neem tree, Azadirachta indica. The neem tree is a tropical evergreen that is native to India, but also grows in many other warm climates across the globe. The fruit and leaves have a garlic-like smell and bitter taste. The olive-like fruit contains kernels that are crushed to make the neem oil. In addition to being used as a natural gardening product, oil from the neem tree is also used for assorted health treatments for people.What is Neem Cake?The residue left behind after the neem kernels are crushed for their oil, and the oil is extracted, is used to make neem cakes. The residue is compressed and resembles a clumps of coffee grounds or coco fiber. The residue contains nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; macronutrients needed by plants and added to most general plant fertilizers.The chemical compounds in the neem cake (nortriterpenoids and isoprenoids) are useful against parasitic nematodes in the soil.Ahimsa Organics Neem Cake is an excellent organic fertilizer that enriches soil by slowly releasing nitrogen, aerating the soil and improving the overall soil quality. Neem cake can be used on its own or you can boost its efficacy by mixing it with your other favorite garden amendments and fertilizers such as kelp, seaweed or manure. Apply to the root zone of plants during the growing season and also during times when you are working to improve your soils overall health. Neem cake releases nitrogen into the soil to improve aeration and soil quality. It helps plants resist diseases and pests by increasing strength, arming your plants with the nutrients and vigor they need to fight off what harms them.Get to know plant nutrients N-P-K at our blog. You can sprinkle neem cake as a side-dressing or top-dressing around your potted or garden plants, or work it into soils that you're cultivating before you plant transplants of edibles, annuals, perennials and shrubs.If you're going to be germinating seeds, either outdoors or in pots indoors, you may want to wait until after they germinate to apply neem cake, as it can suppress seed germination.Growing organic? Many neem cake products are OMRI registered.
