So that a plant can grow well it needs to be paid regularly throughout the growing season as, like animals, they must not only “drink” water but also “eat” if they want to survive. If we did not, we could have it beautiful for a couple of years, but as the substrate runs out of nutrients, the plant will weaken and become ill.
However, in addition to being advisable to fertilize by diluting the fertilizer in water and then watering, it is also very interesting to fertilize the leaves. But, How to make a homemade foliar compost?
Why is foliar fertilizer important?
Plant life began in the seas. The first plants that appeared, algae, having no root system must have absorb nutrients through the leaves. They have not lost this feature. In fact, they absorb the fertilizer more quickly through their foliar parts than through their roots, since it enters the body of plants more quickly as it is very soluble.
For this reason, foliar fertilizers are a very effective remedy to correct micronutrient deficienciessuch as iron, manganese, calcium, zinc or copper.
How to make a homemade one?
Recipe # 1: to stimulate growth
You will need to:
- Stinging nettle (nettle): 20 grams if it is dry, or 100 grams if it is fresh.
- A bowl
- 1 liter of water
- Spoon, or something to stir
Step to follow:
- First, pour the water and the nettle leaves into the bowl.
- Afterwards, and once a day for 15 days, it has to be removed.
- Finally, it will be ready and can be applied early in the morning.
Recipe # 2: to stimulate flowering
You will need to:
- 4 large banana peels
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 liter of water
- Stainless steel pot
Steps to follow:
- All the elements are introduced into the pot first.
- Then they are boiled for 5 minutes.
- Finally, one part of this fertilizer is diluted with two parts of water for irrigation, and it is applied.
When is the foliar fertilizer applied?
Foliar fertilizer, whether homemade or purchased, can be applied when the plants show symptoms of nutritional deficiencies, that is, when these symptoms are seen:
- Yellow leaves with green nerves: It occurs a lot in acidophilic plants such as Japanese maples, azaleas or camellias, among others, which are grown in substrates with a pH of 7 or higher and are irrigated with calcareous waters. It is due to the lack of iron.
- Old leaves start to turn yellow from the tip inwards (not to be confused with one’s own leaf senescence nor with him excess irrigation): it is common especially in palm trees, especially those of the genus Syagrus to which the feathery coconut, which are grown in clay soils. It is due to a lack of magnesium.
- Young leaves start to turn yellow: It is also common in palm trees. It is due to the lack of manganese.
- Small, deformed leaves: frequent in plants grown in acidic soils that need to grow in limestone soils. It is due to a lack of calcium.
- Older leaves turn reddish or yellowish, lose color: it is due to the lack of nitrogen, one of the most important nutrients for plants.
- Blades with corked tips: if you also notice that it produces fewer flowers and fruits, it is because it lacks potassium, another of the essential nutrients.
- Poor production of new leaves: This symptom may be due to a lack of phosphorus, another of the most important plant nutrients.
How is foliar fertilizer applied?
Foliar fertilizer, as its name suggests, is a liquid that is applied to the leaves, although it can also be applied to the green stems. The way to proceed is to first remove the sprayer / sprayer once it is full, and then spray / spray on the plant.
However it is important not to do it if the sun is shining directly at that time, nor on windy days as the wind itself would dry the leaves, thus reducing the effectiveness of the compost.
Do you know other recipes for foliar fertilizers?
