After a while, the nutrition in your plant's soil becomes depleted. In nature or full soil, plants usually find enough nutrition, in a pot this is not possible. That is why we can add nutrition ourselves. Why does a plant need nutrition? To promote the growth of your plant there are 3 important elements: Potassium, Phosphorus and Nitrogen. Potassium is indicated with a K and ensures the formation of fruits and flowers but also as a residence against diseases. Phosphorus is indicated with a P and ensures that the roots develop well. Finally, nitrogen is indicated with an N, which is important for the growth of the leaves and stems and therefore for photosynthesis. Not every plant needs the same amount of everything, a flowering plant needs more potassium while a green plant needs more nitrogen. There are different types of nutrition, think for example of orchids, they have their own nutrition adapted to their needs. When to add nutrition? Your plant gets most of its nutrition from the soil. Have you recently repotted your plant? Then do not give it any extra nutrition. On the packaging of your potting soil you can read for how long it is provided with nutrition, for most species this will be about 3 months. After that you can give your plant nutrition during the growing period, which for most plants is from March to October. During the winter you should give your plants a rest period so they can recharge for the spring. Most plants can use some nutrition every 3-4 weeks, don't worry if you skip it. However, be careful not to overfeed, too much nutrition can burn the roots. If this happens the plant can no longer absorb nutrition or water and dies. Inform yourself per plant species, slow growers such as succulents and cacti often need much less nutrition. There are adapted products for this in a low dosage. Do not feed a plant that is thirsty, water it first and then feed it. What types of nutrition are there? There are different forms and types of nutrition on the market, such as liquid nutrition, nutrition in granules, sticks or powder form. The advantage of sticks is that they give your plant nutrition for a longer period, a disadvantage is that there is a greater chance that you damage the roots. Sticks are therefore recommended for larger plant pots. The most user-friendly is the liquid nutrition. Often the cap is used as a measuring cup to need to know how much to add to your water. Important: Always follow the recommended amount, dilute the dose if necessary. It is better to give a little too little than too much. If you give too much nutrient you will damage the roots, causing the plant to turn (yellow) and lose its shape, just as if it had too little water. Did you like it? Please leave a 👍 below & follow my plant adventures on Instagram!
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AuthorCrazy plant lady who likes to inspire others! Everything I write here comes from my own experience, knowledge that I gained by reading books and on the internet. If I would literally copy someone's info, I would do my best to link it of course! Do you spot typos or do you have other concerns, let me know! Have fun reading! I've only just started writing English blogs since January 2021, that's why there are many Dutch blogs and not so many English ones.
I use DeepL to help me translate. ARCHIVES
Maart 2022
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