About Fertilizers including home-made recipes.

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FERTILIZERS

I can't stress the importance of using fertilizers enough it seems, anyone who has begun to use them faithfully after never using them before will attest to the benefits. In this article we discuss the general characteristics and properties of fertilizers, including why your plants need them. At the end we list a link to some organic fertilizers to use and/or make yourself.

Feed the soil, and the soil will feed your plants. It's as simple as that. For many people, an annual application of well-rotted manure or compost will be enough, but occasionally your plants will need a 'fix'. This is where knowing signs of nutrient deficiency, including what nutrient is lacking, can help you help your plants, perhaps enabling you to save that favorite specimen you've been growing for years.

Fertilizers were designed to create desirable growth characteristics. The cost of fertilizers are governed by the sources and processing of the nutrients it contains. Fertilizers contain nutrients needed to supplement the soil's supply, which is often less than that required to satisfy the demands for optimum growth.

The most common fertilizer components are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These three nutrients are the primary ingredients in fertilizers, and are needed in the largest amounts by plants. They are also usually the first ones limited in soils. The three numbers which appear on the face of packaging are the N-P-K in percentage by weight contained in the fertilizer. In smaller print you will often find the details of the percentages of the secondary and micronutrients.

There are many sources, natural and manufactured, that provide the essential elements necessary to plant growth. You can also buy your fertilizer in different applications, such as timed release, slow release, liquid or powder. As a general rule slow release fertilizers have a higher value because of their controlled release. They will provide even and consistent growth over an extended period of time. Slow release types are ideal for container gardens, including hanging baskets. If your garden center doesn't add slow release fertilizer at the time of purchase, please be sure to add some yourself once you get it home. Reputable garden centers and greenhouses will add slow release fertilizers because they want their customers to be happy with the product all summer long, and are not interested in just 'making the sale'.

Powdered or water-soluble fertilizers are very popular, and a favorite with many consumers because they are easy to mix and control, and come in a variety of formulations to suit many plants. Powdered mixes are being quickly replaced as a favorite, by the newer liquid concentrate formulas. They are even easier to use as you just add the specified amount to a certain amount of water. They too are available in a wide array of formulations to suit many plants. Whatever form of fertilization you select will be based on your personal needs. There is some debate over the issue of organic versus man-made fertilizers, but the scientific consensus is that plants cannot tell the difference between the two, so you are free to choose based on convenience and cost. I prefer to use organic, and I really think many plants, particularly roses, respond very well to organic fertilizers. Sometimes it is more convenient to use man-made fertilizers, especially when you are growing on a large scale, and cost is taken into consideration. In my experience, the customer has less chance of over-fertilizing when using man-made fertilizers according to manufacturers suggestions.

Feeding your plants the right way

Foliar feeding is an under-utilized method which can have very dramatic effects, particularly with plants that are growing rapidly, about to bloom or set fruit. Foliar feeding is applying fertilizer to the leaves. Spray a fine mist of your favorite foliar fertilizer recipe, carefully covering all leaf surfaces. Early morning or late evening are the best times to apply as this is the time leaf pores are open to regulate other plant processes. NEVER foliar feed during the heat of the day as this can lead to leaf burn.

Homemade fertilizer recipes

Cheap chemical fertilizers

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