How to make plants grow faster

Although plants have their own growth rate, the truth is that sometimes we do not do everything possible to make them grow as fast as we would like , either because we do not have much experience in growing Green or because, simply and as I It has happened to me on more than one occasion, we do not have enough space for all the pots that decorate the patio or the terrace.

But there are some tricks that will help us achieve our goal . So if you want to know how to make plants grow faster, follow them and see how beautiful they get.

Index

  • 1 Use a substrate with good drainage
  • 2 Fertilize regularly
  • 3 Transplant whenever necessary
  • 4 Water whenever necessary

Use a substrate with good drainage

Akadama

As we tell you in this article , drainage is very important for plants. The roots must be aerated to be able to fulfill their function , which is to absorb the water and the nutrients dissolved in it, as well as anchoring the plant itself to the ground or to the pot. When the substrate we use does not drain well, the rate of growth slows down.

To do? Use a suitable substrate for each plant . For example:

  • Aquatic and riverside : black peat mixed with perlite or river sand in equal parts.
  • Trees and Shrubs : Black peat moss or mulch mixed with 30% perlite. Akadama can also be used -and in fact, it is the most recommended- if it is a species that would not normally grow in our area, such as Japanese maples in the Mediterranean.
  • Bonsai : A standard mix that you won’t have any problems with is this: 70% akadama + 30% kiryuzuna.
  • Carnivorous – Usually do well on blond peat mixed with equal parts perlite.
  • Vegetables : Garden plants grow wonderfully with 60% mulch + 30% perlite + 10% organic fertilizer, such as manure or earthworm humus.
  • Palm trees : universal growing medium mixed with 30% perlite; or 60% universal substrate + 30% perlite + 10% coconut fiber.
  • Flowering plants (perennials, annuals, perennials): they grow well in universal substrate, as long as a first layer of perlite or volcanic clay is added.
  • Succulents (cacti and succulents): porous substrates, such as pumice, akadama, river sand, etc., either alone or mixed.

fertilize regularly

Organic fertilizer

Just as important as choosing a good substrate is fertilizing throughout the growing season -except for carnivores, since they feed on the insects that fall into their traps-. Therefore, during the spring and summer it is necessary to provide them with an extra “food” in order for their growth to be optimal.

Nowadays we have fertilizers prepared for any type of plant, so we only have to acquire the one that most interests us and follow the instructions specified on the package. Although of course if we want to opt for natural fertilizers, we can do it without any problem, but always keeping in mind the following:

  • Trees, shrubs and bonsai in pots are recommended to be fertilized with liquid fertilizers . The space that their roots have is very small, and this can be a serious problem if they are fertilized with powdered fertilizers, since we could inadvertently suffocate their root system.
  • It is advisable to fertilize palm trees with organic fertilizers , alternating liquids with those that are presented in powder form, since they are plants that the lack of micronutrients tends to harm much more easily than those of any other type.
  • Succulents (cactus and succulent plants) must be fertilized with mineral fertilizers , such as Nitrofoska, spreading a small spoonful around the plant once every 15 days.

Transplant whenever necessary

Fenestraria aurantiaca

Often, when we buy a plant, we tend to leave it in the same pot for a long time, which is a mistake. Every time we take one home we have to change the pot if it is the right time , that is, if it is spring, but you should know that in mild climates it can also be transplanted at the beginning of autumn. If it is not done, growth will stagnate and we could end up losing it.

But also, every time roots come out of the drainage holes, we will have to plant it in a slightly larger pot , since it will not have more space to grow. Here we explain how to do it:

  1. Prepare a pot that is at least 2-3cm wider than the one you have.
  2. Fill it with the substrate it needs, up to a little less than half.
  3. Extract the plant and introduce it in its new pot. If it is too high or low, add or remove substrate.
  4. Finish filling the pot.
  5. Water.
  6. Place the plant in partial shade until you see growth (usually after a week it starts to grow again). After that time you can move it to a sunnier location if it is a plant that likes the sun (cacti, succulents, most flowering plants, and many trees and shrubs). 
  7. Start paying it a month after the transplant.

Water whenever necessary

metallic watering can

You might think that the more water you pour into a plant, the more it will grow because ultimately without water there could be no life (or at least not as we know it). However, that is a mistake that could make us lose our beloved pots, but finding the middle ground is very difficult even for those who have been in the gardening world for a long time.

Even so, there are several tricks that we can do so as not to have to worry … too much, and they are the following:

  • Insert a thin wooden stick (like the ones the Japanese use to eat) to the bottom of the pot. Repeat the action at different points, since it can happen that the substrate that is closer to the main stem of the plant is moist and the one that is closer to the edge of the container is drier. If extracting it comes out clean in both cases, then you can water.
  • Weigh the pot once watered and again after a few days. The freshly watered plant weighs more than when it is dry, so it can serve as a guide.

In addition, if it has a plate under it, it is convenient that you remove the excess water 15-20 minutes after watering , since otherwise the permanent contact of the roots with the water could suffocate them.

Tradescantia pallida

With these tips, your plants will grow at a good pace, for sure 

How to make plants grow faster

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