Fertilizing Potted Flowers

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

By planting or transplanting an indoor flower, while choosing the right soil mixture, you provide it with the necessary conditions for its formation and development. Unfortunately, the soil in the pot is quickly depleted and then fertilizers come to our rescue

In order not to harm the flowers, a number of mandatory rules should be followed:

- fertilizer will be beneficial if it is given in dosage and carefully to a healthy, well-rooted plant;

- do not fertilize plants during dormancy, cessation of growth;

- if the indoor flower is sick, damaged by a pest, postpone the application of fertilizer;

- fertilize only damp soil, before fertilizing, be sure to water the potting soil mixture;

- if you make liquid top dressing, then water the soil after it, so as not to harm the roots;

- Treat the leaves with solutions and water only in the evening or in cloudy weather so that burns do not appear.

What is the plant missing?

- When the plant does not develop, the leaves become small and pale, which means it lacks nitrogen. Nitrogen can be washed out of the soil with abundant continuous watering of indoor green "pets", as indicated by yellowing of the leaves. It is necessary to add one of the fertilizers to the soil: ammonium nitrate, urea, calcium nitrate, ammonium sulfate. It is advisable to apply nitrogen fertilizers in the summer months, this will effectively affect the development of the plant.

- The growth of the plant has stopped, the leaves have become dark green and spots have appeared that capture the entire leaf over time - this fact indicates a lack of phosphorus. Buy one of the fertilizers: phosphate rock, simple superphosphate, double superphosphate, potassium phosphate.

- With a lack of potassium, the leaves have a characteristic light border over the entire surface, fall off, are often susceptible to fungal diseases, plant growth is delayed. These processes are associated with the accumulation of ammonia in the tissues, in connection with which tissue death begins. Use one of the fertilizers: potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, 40% potassium salt, potassium humate.

- If the top of the plant has stopped growing or its development has slowed down, and the leaves curl like corrugated paper, then we can safely talk about a lack of calcium. To replenish it, fertilizer in the form of sulphide or calcium nitrate is perfect.

- With stunted growth, flowering, pale leaves in the potting soil, there is an excess of magnesium with a lack of calcium. Add magnesium sulfate.

- Feed the flower with ferrous sulfate or ferric chloride if the leaves are pale yellow.

- Lack of manganese is determined by the presence of leaves. In this case, the indoor flower will look like a "bare tree", which in the fall "threw off" all the leaves. For normal development, add manganese sulfate to the soil.

- The presence of boron in the soil mixture of the pot has a very strong effect on the development of the plant. With a lack of this element, the growth point withers, there are almost no flowers, the fruits are not tied, the roots are poorly formed.

- Copper is needed for numerous chemical reactions, photosynthesis and respiration. It determines the resistance of the plant organism to fungal diseases. If you apply a lot of phosphorus fertilizers or humus, then get ready for a copper shortage, because copper ions are bound by humic components. As a result, white chlorotic spots are observed on the leaves. An excess of copper is also not useful for the plant, it is inhibited in development, spots form on the leaves and they soon die off, starting from the lower leaves.

When caring for your favorite flowers, do not overdo it, otherwise you can do more harm than good. Make it a rule: it is better to fertilize with a little and not concentrated mixtures.

Home fertilizers

In addition to purchased fertilizers, you can improve the soil by what is always at hand in the house:

- eggshells are an excellent fertilizer and any housewife has it in abundance. Apply well-ground shells with any mineral fertilizers, this way you will achieve a balance of the general acidity of the soil.

- the onion husk should not be thrown away, but it is better to make a decoction from it, which is sprayed on the top layer of the soil and the crown of the plant.

- Orange peel is used in the same way as onion broth. Pour citrus fruit peels with hot water, leave for 12 hours, strain. By processing flowers with this infusion, you protect them from pests.

- coffee grounds and sleeping tea will lighten the structure of the soil in the container with the plant, neutralizing the increased alkaline environment.