Liquid Organic Fertilizer (POC) & Local Microorganisms (MOL): Benefits and Usage Guide

Understanding Liquid Organic Fertilizer (POC), Local Microorganisms (MOL), and Their Benefits

If you’re diving into gardening, you know that understanding what your plants need is essential. Let’s explore two incredible natural fertilizers: Liquid Organic fertilizers (POC) and Local Microorganisms (MOL). We’ll cover what they are, how they work, and the benefits they bring to your garden.

What is Liquid Organic Fertilizer (POC)?

Liquid Organic Fertilizer, or POC, is a liquid fertilizer made from natural materials that have decomposed. These materials can be animal manure, plant waste, or human waste with a high nutrient content.

Why choose POC over solid organic fertilizers? POC quickly addresses nutrient deficiencies in plants because it’s easily absorbed. Unlike chemical fertilizers, POC is eco-friendly and doesn’t harm the soil’s natural balance. It binds to soil surfaces, allowing plants to absorb it directly, making it safe even for frequent use without causing environmental issues.

POC is rich in gibberellin and alcohol, which provide numerous benefits:

• Stimulates new shoots and buds: POC encourages the growth of fresh, healthy plant parts.
• Repairs damaged tissues: It helps plants recover from physical damage or disease.
• Boosts cell growth: POC promotes the formation of new cells, aiding in overall plant health.
• Enhances chlorophyll production: More chlorophyll means greener, more vibrant leaves.
• Encourages flowering and fruiting: POC can make plants bloom more and bear more fruit.
• Strengthens pollen stalks: This helps prevent flowers and fruits from falling off prematurely.
• Prevents disease: Regular use of POC reduces the risk of diseases caused by harmful microorganisms.
• Protects against leaf spots, fungi, and spores: POC keeps your plants’ leaves healthy and free from infections.

How to Use Liquid Organic Fertilizer

Once you understand what POC is, you should know how to apply it effectively. Mix 10 cc of POC with 1 to 1.5 liters of water, then spray it on the leaves and stems. Do this in the morning before 10 AM when the leaves’ stomata are open and ready to absorb nutrients. You can also use an infusion system to water the plants, ensuring they absorb nutrients perfectly.

Apply POC mainly to the flowers, stems, and leaves of plants that have already sprouted or are transitioning from the vegetative to the generative phase. This ensures the fertilizer is absorbed through the pores of the stems or the stomata on the leaves.

Be careful with the dosage. Too much can harm the plants, especially if applied directly to the leaves, making them susceptible to pests. During the dry season, spray POC once a week. In the rainy season, increase the frequency to every three days. Ensure the POC contains high nitrogen levels by adding chicken manure, straw, or green waste-like leaves. For fruit development, focus on phosphorus and potassium, found in bran, rice husks, cow manure, or goat manure.

Types of Liquid Organic Fertilizer

POC comes in two main types:

1. POC from dissolving solid organic fertilizers: You can dissolve fully or partially decomposed solid organic fertilizers in water. Examples include manure, green manure, compost, or a mix of these. This type of POC shares characteristics with solid organic fertilizers but in liquid form. Its main drawback is that the solution is less stable and tends to settle. It must be used immediately and is not effective for foliar application (spraying on leaves).
2. POC from fermenting organic materials: This type uses raw materials that haven’t fully decomposed but are already in liquid form. It’s more stable and less prone to sedimentation. However, you can’t rely on this POC as the main fertilizer. Solid organic fertilizers are still needed as a base to provide long-lasting nutrients and to store for extended periods.

What are Local Microorganisms (MOL)?

MOL, or Local Microorganisms, is a liquid fertilizer that supports plant growth by promoting beneficial microbial activity. Made from natural ingredients, MOL fosters the development of microorganisms that act as decomposers and bio-activators, providing additional nutrients to plants. It contains essential growth hormones (ZPT) like gibberellins, cytokinins, auxins, and inhibitors.

Why Make MOL?

The main reasons for making MOL include:

• Enhancing decomposer activity: MOL helps break down organic matter in the soil.
• Boosting bio-activation: It provides additional nutrients to plants, enhancing growth.

How to Make MOL

You can create MOL if you have:

• A natural bacterial medium: This is usually from natural sources.
• Microorganism food in the form of glucose: This can be sugar or coconut water.
• Carbohydrate-based food: This provides energy for the microorganisms.

Benefits of MOL

MOL offers several benefits for plants:

• Acts as a starter for organic matter breakdown: It kickstarts the decomposition process.
• Serves as a starter for POC: MOL can be used to enrich POC for more effective plant nutrition.
• Provides additional nutrients: It’s beneficial for fruit and vegetable plants, enhancing their growth.
• Facilitates nutrient absorption: MOL helps plants absorb nutrients and minerals from the soil more effectively.

Making MOL from Leftover Rice

Old or leftover rice can serve as a medium for bacteria because it’s a natural product. It’s also a food source for microorganisms, thanks to its carbohydrate and glucose content. Besides rice, you can use banana stems, green waste, golden snails, Maja fruit, bamboo shoots, market waste, vegetable scraps, household waste, and more. MOL is ready when it smells like fermented tape (a traditional fermented food).

Here are some additional MOL tips:

• Use waste products: Other than household waste, you can use tape and bananas. Cut the bananas into small pieces, mash them, and ferment them with water and sugar.
• Add sugar: The amount of sugar depends on how many mols you want to make. The ratio is 1 liter of water to 5 tablespoons of sugar. You can also add palm sap, coconut water, sugarcane juice, and more as a base.
• Ensure fermentation: MOL fermentation can only happen in a closed container. Use jerry cans, plastic bottles, drums, or used cooking oil bottles. Don’t use metal containers as they can rust.
• Give it time: It takes five to three weeks to make MOL, depending on the materials you use.

That’s a wrap on the basics of Liquid Organic Fertilizer (POC) and Local Microorganisms (MOL). Hope this helps you grow a lush, healthy garden!