Does Fertilizer Make a Plant Grow Bigger?

Lots of blooms take lots of energy.

Producing vegetables, fruit, or even lots of gorgeous flowers takes a lot of energy. Plants build up energy by getting the right amount of light, water and nutrients. Plant food or fertilizer is often the only source of nutrients for a plant besides the soil the plant is growing in.

The Trifecta of Plant Happiness

It takes lots of energy for a plant to grow more than 6 feet tall, such as a sunflower does.

Plants needs three things to be productive: They need the right amount of light, the right amount of water, and a source of nutrition. If these needs are met, you will have a robust, happy plant.

Types of Plant Food

A beautiful stand of daisies, heavy with flowers.

There is a large selection of plant foods and fertilizers on the consumer garden market. To simplify, a balanced plant food can be used year round. By balanced, the three numbers on the label that gives the ratio of nitrogen, phosphates and potash should be close in value (i.e., 6-8-7 or 20-20-20). Give your plant more food during the active growth period, which in the Northern Hemisphere is in the spring.

Why Feed Plants?

Big, juicy peaches come from big, happy peach trees.

Everything and everyone works better with regular meals. Potted plants will quickly deplete whatever nutrients are in their potting soil. In-ground plants need help, too, as very few locations provide a perfect growing medium naturally. If you want vegetables, flowers or fruits, you have to provide nutrition to your plant.

References

• "The Miracle Houseplants"; Virginia & George Albert; 1984