Just like us, plants require food in order to grow and develop. Although water and sunlight are important, fertilizers enable the much-needed nutrients to be supplied in some cases where the soil is not able to supply them. The idea of fertilizing can become complicated, but knowing the most basic information will help your plants to thrive wherever they are, both in the house and out. This guide will assist you in having a better understanding of how, when, and what to feed your green companions to make their lives vital and long.
Why Fertilize? The Role of Nutrients
In the same way that a balanced diet provides you with good health, a good supply of nutrients maintains plants. There are different factors that plants need to grow and develop, and these factors include macronutrients and micronutrients. The roots take in these nutrients by taking them through the soil. In the absence of proper supply, the growth of the plant can be held back, the leaves can turn yellow, flowering can be low, and the plant can simply become unhealthy.
Macronutrients
More of these are required in order to have sustained growth:
- Nitrogen (N): Nitrogen is necessary to plant thick, beautiful green leaves and thick growth of the stem. It’s key for photosynthesis. The lack of it leads to yellowing of older leaves.
- Phosphorus (P): Phosphorus plays a key role in root growth, flowering, fruiting and the transfer of energy. Lack brings dwarf-growth, the leaves become purple and flower is weak.
- Potassium (K): Enhances plant health and strengthens plants to resist disease, and regulates water. Improves the quality of the flowers/fruit. Lack makes the tips of the leaves yellow/brownish.
These three are indicated as an N-P-K ratio on packages of fertilizers (e.g. 10-10-10).
Micronutrients
Needed in lower concentrations yet just as essential in the accomplishment of certain metabolic processes:
- Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo) and Chlorine (Cl). They all have certain roles, such as the formation of chlorophyll, enzyme activity, etc.
Naturally soil has certain nutrients in it, but as the plant growth is heavy, they are used up. The fertilizers restore them.
What You Need to Know About Fertilizers
Fertilizers are available in many forms and each form has got its own merits as well as policies of use.
Organic Fertilizers
They are natural origin, long term soil builders, and nutrients made slowly available.
- Compost: organic material that has broken down, enriches soil structure, fine release nutrients.
- Manure: Animal waste, gives nutrients and organic matters. Be fairly rotted, that it will not burn.
- Bone Meal: A great source of phosphorus, to flowering plants and the roots.
- Blood Meal: Nitrogen rich, quick-release to leafy greens.
- Fish Emulsion: Fast acting, liquid, balanced N-P-K.
- Alfalfa Meal, Kelp Meal: Supplements with many different nutrients and growth stimulators.
Advantages: They enhance soil health, they release slowly, there is limited risk of excess fertilization, they are not harmful to the environment. Cons: poorer accuracy of nutrient ratios, require more time to obtain results, somewhat smelly.
Artificial (Chemical) Fertilizers
Are produced with specially blended nutrient proportions, are usually high speed.
- Granular fertilizers: They are solid pellets, which may be fast-release or slow release. Spreads so easily.
- Liquid Fertilizers: They are concentrated liquids diluted using water, and they are rapidly absorbed.
- Water-Soluble Powders: Like liquids, they are very concentrated so that nutrients are released fast.
Advantages: High accuracy of nutrient density, rapid (liquids), easy and quick to access, concentrated. Disadvantages: May burn up nutrients when over applied, do not support soil structure, may escape into the groundwater.
Balanced Indoor Fertilizing of the Plants
The nature of indoor plants is that they cannot get any nutrients naturally since they are contained in small pots.
At What Time to Fertilize House Plants
- Spring and Summer (Active Growing Season): Fertilize every 2-4 weeks. The plants are actively developing and they require constant nutrients.
- The dormancy (Autumn to Winter): It would be in the dormant condition or slow growth of most indoor plants. Curb or cease fertilization so that salt accumulation and root burn are avoided.
- Symptoms of Nutrient Deficiency: Yellowing leaves, underdeveloped height, inadequate flowering may point out to a nutrient need and it is always best to eliminate other possibilities first.
Fertilizer of Indoor Plants
- Watering Prior to Fertilizing: Before using liquid fertilizer, it is imperative to water the plant or crop sufficiently using plain water to avoid burning of roots by fertilizer.
- Dilute: Pay attention to the instructions on the package. It is better to under-fertilize.
- Application to Soil: Dilute fertilizer should be poured onto the soil, and not on the leaves.
- Use of Fertilizer: Do not fertilize more than necessary or it will burn the plant to the point where it becomes crispy and brown-tipped. Supposedly, wash the soil with clean water.
- Take Plant-Specific Needs into Account: Orchids, succulents and cacti are less demanding when it comes to nutrients, study their demands specifically.
Outdoor Plants Fertilizing: Your Garden at a Garden
Out-of-doors plants are added to by feeding in the summer to increase their health and productivity.
When to Fertilize Outdoor Plants
- Early Spring: When plants are coming out of winter.
- Mid-season (Summer): To give a boost to heavier feeders (vegetables, annuals) to keep up the growth.
- Late Fall (Optional): Soil can be fertilized through slow-release or organic fertilizers to be ready in spring. No late fall sowing of high-nitrogen to avoid frost damage.
- Soil Test (Highly Recommended): Soil test by a professional finds the details about nutrient levels and pH which is helpful in direct fertilization.
Fertilization of Outdoor Plants
- Preparing Soil (new beds): Work as much organic material (compost, manure) into the topsoil as you can.
- Granular Application:
- Broadcast Spreading: Spread around in large areas by use of a spreader.
- Side Dressing: The plants should be sprinkled in a ring around each plant, but not touching the stem. Dig into the topsoil and add plenty of water.
- Application Liquid: Add concentrate to water and spray on to plant bases or add concentrate to a hose-end sprayer to be absorbed by the plant quickly.
- Foliar Feeding: Spray the leaves with liquid fertilizers, so that the micronutrients enter their system immediately.
- Mulch: Surround plants with organic mulch; it holds water and feeds plants in a slow, controlled release manner as it breaks down.
Specific Methods for Outdoor Plants
- Vegetables: Prone to heavy feeding; apply balanced fertilizer at planting, and additional liquid feeds.
- Flowers (Annuals and Perennials): Annuals often need a more frequent feed. Spring fertilization works great on perennials.
- Trees and Shrubs: Plants that are already on the ground require less. Spring-time granular fertilizer is beneficial to young plants.
- Lawns: Apply proprietary high-nitrogen lawn fertilizers, with seasonal directions.
- Acid-Loving Plants: Add fertilizers that are specially designed to work well with acid-loving plants or some peat moss to keep the soil acidic.
- Drought Positive Plants: Will need few fertilizers in the lean and well-drained soils.
Symptoms of Over Fertilization and Under Fertilization
It is important to ensure that your plants are healthy because of this you should learn to read their signals.
Answers to Over-Fertilization:
- Burning or scorching of leaves: Brown, yellow or crisp.
- Short stature: Plants do not grow well even with the nutrients.
- Wilting: It wilts even in sufficient water.
- The presence of white crust on the surface of the soil: Salt loading.
- Overall decline.
- Root damage.
In case you suspect something, wash the soil repeatedly with pure water to wash away the unnecessary salts.
Evidence of Under-Fertilization (Nutrient-Actually Shortage):
- Yellowing leaves (chlorosis): Discoloured leaves can be due to older leaves (Nitrogen deficiency) or young leaves, which retain green veins (Due to Iron).
- Dwarfed or retarded development.
- Failure to fruit or flower.
- General color Pale green.
- Purple tint on leaves: May be due to a deficiency of phosphorus.
- Leaves (disfigured and small).
Monitor the soil moisture before changing the watering. Fill in soil shortages using the right fertilizers.
Acclimatisation to Your Climate
The climate and the soil conditions also depend on the fertilization needs extensively.
- Warm Climates/Long Growing Seasons: May need to be fertilized more often.
- Sandy Soils: Drain easily, leach out nutrients; require more, fine application. Organic helps in retention.
- Clay Soils: Have the ability to hold nutrients, may get compact; require some form of organic matter (need to aerate).
- pH of soil: Influences the availability of nutrients. Modify pH by a soil test.
The Continuous Cycle of Plant Nutrition
Fertilizing is a continuous practice. The soil in the containers is exhausted and open beds should be refilled. Frequent replenishing of organic matter, repotting, and intelligent fertilization are the key to the health of the plant in the long-term.
Watering and fertilization can be optimized by becoming acquainted with the functions of the nutrients and by watching your plants. Such an integrative strategy makes sure your plants have all they require to thrive, and is rewarded with a rich foliage, colorful blossoms, and rich harvests. Watching your plants will turn out to be your best investment.
