Application Of Fertilizer For Indoor Gardening
Some varieties can take high doses of nutrients,and other varieties grow best with a minimum of supplemental fertilizer.Many fertilizer programs are augmented with different additives that expedite nutrient uptake.
Determine if plants need to be fertilized:make a visual inspection,take an N-P-K soil test,or experiment on test plants.No matter which method is used,remember that plants in small containers use available nutrients quickly and need frequent fertilizing,while plants in large planters have more soil,supply more nutrients,and can go longer between fertilizer applications.
Visual Inspection: If plants are growing well and have deep-green,healthy leaves,they are probably getting all necessary nutrients.The moment growth slows or leaves begin to turn pale green,it is time to fertilize.Do not confuse yellow leaves caused by a lack of light with yellow leaves caused by a nutrient deficiency.
Taking an N-P-K soil test will reveal exactly how much of each major nutrient is available to the plant.The test kits mix a soil sample with a chemical.After the soil settles,a color reading is taken from the liquid and matched to a color chart.The appropriate percent of fertilizer is then added.This method is exact but more trouble than it is worth.
Experimenting on two or three test plants is the best way to gain experience and develop horticultural skills.Cuttings are perfect for this type of experiment.Give the test plants some fertilizer,and see if they green up and grow faster.You should notice a change within three to four days.If it is good for one,it should be good for all.
Now,it has been determined that the plants need fertilizer.How much?The answer is simple.Mix the fertilizers as per the instructions and water as normal,or dilute the fertilier and apply it more often.Many liquid fertilizers are diluted already.Consider using more-concentrated fertilizers whenever possible.Remember,small plants use much less fertilizer than large ones.Fertilize early in the day so plants have all day to absorb and process the fertilizer.
It is hard to explain how often to apply all fertilizers in a few sentences.We know that large plants use more nutrients than small plants.The more often the fertilizer is applied,the less concentrated it should be.Frequency of fertilization and dosage are two of the most widely disagreed upon subjects among gardeners.Indoor containerized plants can be pushed to incredible lengths.Some varieties will absorb amazing amounts of fertilizer and grow well.Many gardeners add as much as one tablespoon per gallon of Peters with each watering.This works best with growing mediums that drain readily and are easy to leach.Other gardeners use only rich,organic potting soil.No supplemental fertilizer is applied until a super bloom formula is needed for flowering.
Fertilizing plants in the ground is much easier than fertilizing containerized plants.In the soil outdoors,roots can find many nutrients,and fertilization is not as critical.There are several ways to apply chemical fertilizer.You can top-dress a garden bed by applying the fertilizer evenly over the entire area.You can side-dress plants by applying fertilizer around the bases of the plants.You can foliar-deed plants by spraying a liquid fertilizer solution on the foliage.The method you choose will depend upon the kind of fertilizer,the needs of the plants,and the convenience of a chosen method.
When using synthetic fertilizers,it is extremely important to read the label carefully,and follow the directions.The initials"WSN"and "WIN"that you may see on the label stand for water-soluble nitrogen and water-insoluble nitrogen.WSN dissolves easily.It is often an organic form of nitrogen and is considered a slow-release nitrogen source.
Use a siphon applicator-found at most nurseries-to mix soluble fertilizers with water.The applicator is simply attached to the faucet with the siphon submerged in the concentrated fertilizer solution with the hose attached to the other end.Often,applicators are set at a ratio of one to fifteen.This means that for every one unit of liquid concentrate fertilizer,fifteen units of water will be mixed with it.Sufficient water flow is necessary ofr the suction to work properly.Misting nozzles restrict this flow.When the water is turned on,fertilizer is siphoned into the system and flows out the hose.The fertilizer is generally applied with each watering,since a small percentage of fertilizer is metered in.
A garbage can(with a garden-hose fitting attached at the bottom) that is set three to four feet (90-120 cm) off the floor will act as a gravity-flow source for the fertilizer solution.The container is filled with water and fertilizer.
When it comes to fertilization,experience with specific varieties and growing systems will tell gardeners more than anything else.There are hundreds of N-P-K mixes,and they all work!When choosing a fertilizer,make sure to read the entire label and know what the fertilizer claims it can do.Do not be afraid to ask the retail clerk questions or to contact the manufacturer with questions.
Once you have an idea of how often to fertilize,put the garden on a regular feeding schedule.A schedule usually works very well,but it must be combined with a vigilant,caring eye that looks for overfertilization and signs of nutrient deficiency.
Leach soil with one to two gallons (4-8 liters) of mild nutrient solution per gallon of soil every month.This is the best form of preventive maintenance against toxic salt buildup in the soil.
Thump (read more about thump),an indoor gardening set-up brand,provides Automatic hydroponic fertigation controller fertilizer system machine online. This machine use advanced computer control technology and various control systems are adopted to accurately and automatically apply fertilizer according to the needs of different growth stages of crops.The integrated management of water and fertilizer is to design the demand of the whole growth period according to the crop growth demand, and provide water and nutrients to the crops quantitatively, regularly and proportionally. The integrated management of water and fertilizer is to design the demand of the whole growth period according to the crop growth demand, and provide water and nutrients to the crops quantitatively, regularly and proportionally.
The integrated technology of water and fertilizer makes water micro irrigate, and the water infiltrates into the soil slowly and evenly, which protects the soil structure, reduces the soil bulk density, increases the porosity, enhances the activity of soil microorganisms and reduces nutrient leaching, thus reducing the occurrence of soil secondary salinization and groundwater resource pollution, and greatly improving the comprehensive production capacity of cultivated land, Conducive to crop growth.
