FERTILISERS FOR POTTED PLANTS: ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS

Contents

1 INTRODUCTION
2 CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

In container gardening, you don’t need high-quantity fertilizers like ground gardening. Some of the houseplants and drought-tolerant plants don’t even need fertilizers. But in potted plants, the space is limited for soil, water storage and root growth. So, it’s important to know the quantity of fertilizers, the frequency of fertilisers, and the right fertilizers for containers.

You can’t use the fertilizers in the same quantity as ground gardening and few of the fertilizers used in ground gardening can’t be suitable for containers. Those fertilizers might burn the plant. The reason behind fertilising the potted plants is the nutrition-rich potting mix also loses its nutrients with frequent watering.

If you have signs like stunted growth, slow growth or no blooming. You can feed fertilizers for plants, but before that, you’ve to know what kind of fertilizers your plant needs and the quantity of the fertilizer as well. Feeding frequency is also important for potted plants to avoid over-fertilizing. To cover all these areas, in this blog post, I give you a perfect guide for Fertilizer basics and an important guide for beginners.

1. WHAT ARE FERTILIZERS?

What are fertilizers used for in container gardening?

Fertilizers are used in container gardening to compensate for the limited and quickly depleted nutrients in the confined soil space. To replenish the lost nutrients because of frequent watering. Fertilizers also support specific growth stages like Seedlings-vegetative growth and flowering or fruiting.

Fertilizers also help to treat nutrient deficiencies like yellowing leaves (nitrogen deficiency), Poor flowering (phosphorus deficiency) and Weak stems (Potassium deficiency).For these kind of deficiency you need NPK fertilizer Fertilizers also strengthen the plants to be disease-resistant and robust the growth and better yields.

2. IMPORTANCE OF FERTILIZERS IN CONTAINER GARDENING

How do fertilizers support plant growth in pots

In potted plants, potting mixes lose their nutrition while watering. To put it in simple terms, fertilizers are like vitamin tablets or health supplements we take to improve our health.

Fertilizers provide Macronutrients that support vegetative growth and Micronutrients play a crucial role in psychological and biochemical processes in plants. Organic fertilizers improve soil structure and microbial activity. Inorganic fertilizers provide readily available nutrients for faster uptake in roots. Granular fertilizer provides slow-release nutrients gradually. Liquid fertilizers are absorbed quickly and are suitable for stressed plants. Foliar sprayers are for rapid correction of deficiencies in leaves.

What nutrients do fertilizer provide to plants?

Fertilizers provide Macronutrients and Micronutrients to plants. That plays an important role in vegetative growth and the psychological impacts of plants.

Primary Macronutrients replenish Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium aka NPK Fertilizer. Nitrogen (vegetative growth promoter), Phosphorus (supports root development), and Potassium (disease resistant and water regulation). Secondary Macronutrients like Calcium (strengthens cell wall), Magnesium (Vital for chlorophyll production), and Sulfur (aids in protein and enzyme function).

Micronutrients like Iron (essential in chlorophyll synthesis), Manganese (involved in photosynthesis by aiding the splitting of water molecules), Zinc (synthesis in growth hormones), Copper (aids in photosynthesis and metabolism), Boron (Supports fruit/flower development), and Molybdenum (nitrogen fixation).

3. TYPES OF FERTILIZERS FOR BEGINNERS

What are the types of fertilizer in gardening

There are two types of fertilizers in gardening, Organic and Inorganic fertilizers. The question might arise, which is better: Organic or chemical fertilizers for plants? The answer is simple it depends on your plant types and the needed situation. If you started fertilizers from starting of gardening you don’t need inorganic fertilizers, but if you identified some kind of deficiency or problem in the plant you’ve to use inorganic fertilizer to save the plant. To use the fertilizer, you need to know both fertilizer’s benefits.

Organic fertilisers: like compost improve soil structure create aeration & better drainage, and manure improves water retention in potting mix. This aeration improves root penetration and oxygen supply as well in the potting mix. Organic fertilizers like bonemeal and fish emulsion engage microbial activities in soil.

Organic fertilizers are slow-release nutrients so it’s avoided fertilizer burns. An environmentally friendly option, safe for pets and plants as well. Using organic fertilizers, especially in edible plants makes the food healthier. Seaweed extract like liquid organic fertilizers ideal for stressed plants and house plants easy to use.

Inorganic fertilizers: like liquid fertilizers for houseplants are ideal for situations like treating stressed plants and plant deficiency. NPK fertilizers feed lacked macronutrients to plants to improve growth. DAP fertilizers help you to get the bloom you want for flowering plants. Epsom salt is a much-needed fertilizer to avoid plant stress after repotting.

What are the best fertilizers for beginner gardeners?

For beginner gardeners, I prefer less complicated ratios, easy-to-use fertilizers and separate fertilizers based on plant types. To make things easier add organic matter to the potting mix to fulfil the basic nutrient needs of plants. For edible plants and herbs choose organic fertilizers like bone meal, mustard cake and neem powder as a 1/8 ratio in potting mix, add seaweed liquid using 1 litre= 1 spoon ratio and feed plants to boost yield.

For flowering plants, add DAP to get the blooming flowers within 3 weeks once ½ spoon for a plant. For Foliage plants like houseplants and indoor plants use NPK fertilizer to improve foliage growth. Epsom salt is ideal to use as a foliar spray and essential for nutrient absorption and handling plant replanting stress. Succulents and cacti need low-nitrogen concentration plants to avoid leggy growth, NPK 10-10-10 fertilizer is an ideal choice.

4. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MACRONUTRIENTS AND MICRONUTRIENTS IN PLANTS?

MACRONUTRIENTS

Macronutrients provide three important nutrients for plants that are Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium.

Why are macronutrients essential for plant growth?

The primary macronutrients like Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium play important roles in different stages of plant growth. The role of Nitrogen-Phosphorous-Potassium in plants is vegetative growth. Nitrogen is essential for chlorophyll production which impacts plant leaf colour and photosynthesis. Integral in DNA & RNA. Phosphorous is crucial for energy transfer through ATP & ADP, vital for root development, flowering and seed production. Potassium regulates water movement and stomatal functions important to be drought tolerant.

How do calcium and magnesium help in plant growth?

Secondary micronutrients like calcium and magnesium are essential for plant development.

Calcium

A key component to support cell growth and structural support of a plant. Calcium facilitates the absorption of other nutrients and promotes the root development. Along with this calcium regulates the movement of nutrients and water within the plant.

Activates enzymes involved in cell division and elongation. Calcium enhances the pest and disease resistance of a plant as well. Calcium-rich fertilizers are calcium nitrate, gypsum, lime, egg shells powder and bone meal.

Magnesium

The function of Magnesium in plant growth is chlorophyll production, crucial for photosynthesis. Magnesium acts as a cofactor enzyme involved in energy production and carbohydrate metabolism. This magnesium is essential for synthesising proteins, oils and starches.

Magnesium also helps to nutrient transport of phosphorus within the plant and enhances the plant’s ability to tolerate stress. The magnesium source fertilizers are Epsom salt, dolomite lime and magnesium oxide.

MICRONUTRIENTS

Micronutrients support biochemical activity and psychological impact on plant growth.

What happens to the plant with a lack of micronutrients?

The easy-to-identify signs of a lack of micronutrients differ for every nutrient source. Iron deficiency in plants is interveinal chlorophyll, yellowing between veins in young leaves, while veins remain green. Manganese deficiency signs are interveinal chlorophyll but often with brown spots. Zinc deficiency signs are small distorted leaves with interveinal chlorosis.

Copper deficiency signs are wilting of new leaves and also indicate poor root development. Boron deficiency signs are brittle, distorted young leaves indicating poor flowering and fruiting. Molybdenum deficiency signs are yellowing in older leaves and leaves scorching indicate poor nitrogen utilisation. Chlorine deficiency signs of wilted and reduced leaf size indicate poor root growth and more tend to disease susceptibility.

Iron oxide powder for the iron source, Epsom salt for the magnesium source, Manganese sulphate for the manganese source, zinc sulphate for the zinc source, copper sulphate for the copper source, borax for the boron source, ammonium molybdate for the molybdenum source and potassium chloride for the chloride source. Organic matter is a combination of all micronutrients.

5. HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU FERTILIZE CONTAINER PLANTS?

A common question of every gardener whenever they’ve to use fertilizers for their plants, I already posted a clear ratio of organic fertilizers while making potting mix in an Organic Matter blog post check out to know better. The overdose of any kind of fertilizer burns the plant, the overdose points out the frequency of fertilization and quantity of fertilization.

How often to fertilize container plants?

The fertilizer frequency depended on the specific plant type and the particular fertilizer. But still here are some common guides for fertilizing your container plants.

PLANT TYPES	ORGANIC	IN-ORGANIC
EDIBLE PLANTS	2-3 weeks during active growth (compost tea – fish emulsion)	Every 10-14 days during the growing season, diluted to avoid overdose, see package info for dosage.
HERBS	Once a month (diluted seaweed or one handful of compost)	Every 4-6 weeks, diluted to one quarter or one spoon for 4 weeks or ½ spoon of granules for 2 weeks.
FOLIAGE	3-4 weeks a handful of compost or diluted seaweed.	Every 2-4 weeks a balanced one spoon for 4 weeks duration ½ spoon for 2 weeks duration.
FLOWERING	Every 2-3 weeks bone meal or kelp 3/4 spoon for 3 weeks, ½ spoon for 2 weeks.	DAP for every one month 1 tsp is a ratio.
SUCCULENTS	4-6 weeks during the growth season, diluted compost tea or a handful of compost.	Once a month during the growing season use low-nitrogen formula.

Signs plants need fertilization

Older leaves turn yellow veins remain green.

Slow growth or stunted growth of a plant.

Poor flowering or no fruiting.

Small fruits or burnt flowers.

Only foliage no flowers or fruits.

Pale or dull leaves.

Brown or curled leaves.

An excessive Leaf drop and weak stems.

6. MISTAKES TO AVOID WHILE FERTILIZING POTTED PLANTS

I’m giving answers to some frequently asked questions about fertilizing-related mistakes.

What happens if you over-fertilize plants

Overdose of fertilizing leads to excess nutrient content that disrupts the balance in the plant health. Root damage and over-fertilization burns the roots and overfeeding of fertilizers can stunt the growth or lead to excessive weak growth of foliage.

How to identify signs of over-fertilization in plants?

Yellowing or browning leaves with a dehydrated plant, Wilted and drooping leaves are signs of damaged roots, and Curled leaves are signs of excess salt content in the potting mix. Brown tips and edges have a crispy edge due to salt accumulation. White crust layer on the top of the soil.

What is the best way to avoid fertilizer burn?

Feeding at the right frequency, avoiding excess feeding of fertilizers, trying to adopt organic slow-release fertilizers and feeding only on growing seasons (spring/summer). Using proper potting soil mix along with proper watering practices avoids fertilizer burn.

What are the risks of using the wrong type of fertilizers?

Choosing fertilizers based on plant types, for edible plants and herbs choose an organic matter-filled potting mix along with organic fertilizers. For flowering plants choose DAP fertilizers to encourage flowering. For Foliage plants use NPK 10 fertilizer to encourage vegetative growth. For cacti and succulents use water-soluble fertilizers with low nitrogen content.

What are the consequences of ignoring plant nutrient needs?

In container gardening with limited soil space watering replenishes nutrients and without fertilizers, you can see the signs of deficiency like pale leaves, stunted growth and no flowering or fruiting.

CONCLUSION

We feed fertilizers along with the right pots, the perfect potting mix, watering techniques and sunlight needs. With all these practices you can grow better plants of your selection. I can’t say you can grow better plants without above mentioned care, it is like a part of care that supports and encourages growth. Without fertilizers, you can’t achieve the high yield or bloom that you expect.

How to choose the right fertilizers for container plants is a little work to focus choosing fertilizers based on plant type is important. The fruiting-flowering-foliage type decides the fertilizer need. The final tip for fertilising potted plants effectively is to choose organic fertilizers mostly and focus on the frequency and quantity of feeding.

What to remember when fertilizing container plants is to choose your best fertilizer practice for long-term plant health. From choosing plants you’ve to focus on fertilizing and adding organic matter to the potting mix. For more container gardening-related queries and hacks visit mypotsgarden.com. Happy Gardening!