There has always been said that “we are what we eat” , and it is not only valid for us and our diet, but it also makes a lot of sense as far as plants are concerned, and that is that plants could not live if they don’t get the nutrients they need to do so.
The soil in which the plants are located is the one in charge of providing them with the necessary nutrients, and this, in turn, receives them from the fertilizers. Thus, fertilizers are very important for the proper development of any tree or plant, so take note of the functions of fertilizers that we explain in this article.
Types of fertilizers
Here we explain what types of fertilizers there are and how they are applied:
- Soluble fertilizers : they are prepared so that they can be mixed with water and applied to plants, either with a hose or with a sprayer. It is the most suitable type of fertilizer for plants that need foliar feeding and can also be applied directly to the roots.
- Mixed fertilizers : if you use one of these and apply it directly to the leaves, the plants are able to absorb those nutrients immediately and begin to grow as the leaves absorb them and go directly to the growth zone for development.
- Granular fertilizers : these are applied directly to the soil and that is where you must mix it to prevent the roots of the plant from burning, especially those that are still in the growth phase. This type of fertilizer is usually applied before sowing or during the vegetative period since contact with the leaves causes damage to the plants.
What are the functions of fertilizers
Any of the fertilizers you use will have three main elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and in order to choose the right composition you have to know what effect each of them will have on your plants, since it is not the same for all.
In summary:
- Nitrogen: this works by promoting green leaves and a lack of this element can cause the plants to have a yellowish color and the leaves to look old and worn.
- Phosphorous: this promotes the proliferation of healthy cells and it is good that you apply a high phosphorus fertilizer just before flowering.
- Potassium: this is vital as it helps maintain healthy roots, so without it growth is much slower and weaker.
