Fertilizer & Plant Growth
Do you want to give your plants a little boost and see them produce larger, more colorful blooms? Do you want them to leaf out and spread quickly to act as a ground cover or fill that empty patch in the garden? Obviously, fertilizer is required, but how do you know which fertilizer will give you your desired results? Here is what you need to know to choose a fertilizer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Before You Start
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The texture and acidity (pH level) of the soil determines the availability of nutrients that your plants can actually use. It is important to know your soil's pH before fertilizing, so you should have your soil tested. You can easily test your soil with a home testing kit or you can send a soil sample to your local, county or state agricultural agency, which will usually include recommendations for fertilizer and soil amendments with your results.
Read the Package
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When shopping for a fertilizer, read the package. On the package, you will see three numbers, such as 10-20-10. These three numbers give you the ratio of the three main ingredients necessary to the health of your plants.
A bag of fertilizer marked 10-20-10 contains 10 lbs. of nitrogen, 20 lbs. of phosphorus and 10 lbs. of potassium per every 100 lbs. A fertilizer that contains all three of these nutrients, regardless of the ratios, is considered to be a complete fertilizer, because these are the primary nutrients required for plant growth.
Fertilizers also contain secondary nutrients. Calcium is an essential part of plant cell structure and strengthens plants. Magnesium aids photosynthesis and activates growth enzymes. Sulfur produces protein, improves seed production and root growth and helps with cold resistance. Copper plays a part in carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism, provides strong plant walls and prevents wilting.
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Identifying Which Nutrients Your Plants Need
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It is best to get a good fertilizer that contains all three of these ingredients to produce all-around strong, healthy plants. To determine what nutrients your plants are lacking, look for signs on the plants themselves. An end result of greener, leafier, fuller leaves in forage plants or higher fruit yields will require a higher first number, indicating nitrogen content. Nitrogen promotes leaf growth, as well as increasing seeds and fruits. Older leaves beginning to lose their green color and turn yellow, while younger leaves are unaffected, indicates a nitrogen deficiency.
For a strong root system or big, beautiful blooms, look at the second number that indicates the amount of phosphorus. Phosphorous promotes rapid growth, particularly in blooms and root systems. Purplish or bronze-colored leaves would have a diagnosis of phosphorous deficiency.
To grow big, strong plants with quality fruits, a higher third number indicates the potassium content. Potassium is absorbed in larger amounts than any other nutrient except nitrogen, and helps in building protein, aids the photosynthesis process and helps to fight disease. Leaves with yellow, translucent spots and browning leaf margins would indicate a lack of potassium.
Excess Nutrients Can Cause Problems
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It is important to follow the package directions when using a commercial fertilizer. Excesses of some mineral nutrients such as potassium, calcium, nitrate-nitrogen and magnesium may cause deficiencies of other nutrients. Excesses of other mineral nutrients can result in toxicity.
Organic Fertilizers
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Here are some sources for organic fertilizers:
Nitrogen--bat guano, blood meal, fish meal and soybean meal.
Phosphorous--bone meal, colloidal phosphorous and rock phosphate.
Potassium--granite dust, greensand and ground kelp.
In nature, plants often get the three main nutrients from decaying plant matter on the ground. Decomposing plant matter can also add significant sulfur content to the soil. A good way to achieve the same natural results would be to build a compost pile and start with good soil that is rich in nutrients and organic material.
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References
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- Photo Credit Greg Booth
