What Do Flowering Plants Eat?

All flowering plants require their own mix of sun, soil, air and water.

Flower gardens provide bright accents to the home landscape, but they require specific considerations if they are to grow and bloom effectively. Some of the most important considerations are soil, nutrition and water.

Sugar Production

Flowering plants use nutrients from the air, water and soil to produce sugar, with which they can feed themselves. Plants in bloom require additional resources, as blooming and maintaining flowers takes even more energy.

Soil

According to Cornell University, all flower beds should start with a nutritious mix of organic compost. The compost provides vitamins and minerals for the plants and ensures both drainage and moisture retention in the soil. Green-minded gardeners mix new compost into the soil on a regular basis to maintain long-term nutrition.

Water

Flowering plants require a set amount of water each week to provide oxygen and hydrogen for sugar production. Although each plant has a specific requirement, the overall requirement for water is non-negotiable.

Fertilizer

Gardeners supplement soil nutrition with organic or commercial fertilizer to encourage growing and blooming. Fertilizer needs are plant-specific, but Purdue University Horticulture recommends 5-10-5 fertilizer as a good general mix for flowering plants.

References

• All-America Rose Selections: Rose Care
• Cornell University Department of Horticulture: How to Grow Annuals
• Cornell University Department of Horticulture: Site and Soil
• Purdue University Horticulture: Growing Perennial Flowers