Flower Fertilizer
Make your Flower Gardens Explode with Color.
Flowers need proper nutrients just like you do. One way to help your flower gardens come alive is to give them what they need… Flower Fertilizer.
Understanding Fertilizers in General:
Fertilizer is plant food (nutrients) for flowers, trees, shrubs, and other flora. Nutrients are available in various amounts in nature, and plant life needs these nutrients to survive and grow. The primary big 3 of the nutrients that plants need large amounts of are:
Major Plant Nutrients:
1. Nitrogen
2. Phosphorus
3. Potassium
[1] Nitrogen – This is the main nutrient for new green growth. This is especially important for plants that are mostly all leaf such as grasses. As a result the ratio for lawn fertilizers has a higher 1st ratio number meaning more nitrogen in the mix.
[2] Phosphorus – This nutrient promotes good root development and strengthens the flower or plant. It also results in increased blooms on flowers so lots of phosphorus is great for bulbs and perennials. Fertilizers higher in phosphorus have a higher 2nd number in the ratio.
[3] Potassium – This builds strong and healthy plants & flowers and improves the overall health of the flora.
These 3 are the ones that fertilizer manufacturers focus most on and they are known as "macronutrients". There are also nutrients that plants do need but in much smaller quantities and these are known as "micronutrients". The more important secondary nutrients are:
Secondary Plant Nutrients:
1- Calcium – Improves general plant vigor and promotes growth of young roots and shoots.
2- Sulfur – This nutrient helps to maintain a dark green color and encourages more vigorous plant growth.
3- Magnesium – This nutrient helps to regulate uptake of plant foods and assist in seed formation. It is also important in the formation of dark green color and encourages vigorous plant growth.
After the major and minor nutrients there are sometimes "trace elements" that play a role in plant nutrition. Trace elements play a role in helping to develop dark green color and healthy and vigorous plant growth. These "trace micronutrients" are:
Trace Micronutrients:
1. Boron
2. Manganese
3. Iron
4. Zinc
5. Copper
6. Molybdenum
Manure was once the dominant fertilizer and is still used but less frequently. Fertilizers in modern times are made either synthetically or organically (manure and or compost). The Macronutrients are given a ratio on the fertilizer bag to represent the proportions of the "big 3" that are present in a particular fertilizer mix.
For example, a 5-10-20 fertilizer would have 5% Nitrate, 10% Phosphate, and 20% Potash. If a particular flower or plant needed higher phosphate levels for healthy growth the middle number would go up on the package (for example: 5-15-20).
Law of Minimum:
This law states that plant growth is controlled not by the total resources available, but by the scarcest resource needed by the plant or flower. In other words, extra amounts of plentiful nutrients do not increase a plant’s growth if the scarce nutrients needed were still lacking. Only by increasing the amount of the limiting nutrient can a particular plant or flower have improved growth.
Getting your Flowers to Explode with Color & Blooms:
One of the macronutrients is potassium and it has a special function with flowers. It causes them to bloom more. Potassium is a nutrient that leaches easily out of the soil and so it is common to have less than needed. Even if you applied fertilizer one day, if it rains the potassium may leach off before your flowers absorb enough to make a difference.
Bottom line… The more Potassium that’s in your flower fertilizer the better for blooming!
The pro’s use time release potassium and apply it evenly over the soil. This way if it rains the potassium only releases a set amount at a time instead of all at once. Pro’s also watch the ratio of nitrogen to potassium. Extra potassium makes flowers grow, extra nitrogen causes flowers to become vegetative and lanky instead of plush and full of colorful flowers.
A great fertilizer mix for best flower production is the fertilizer ratio of 10-10-17 which means:
* 10% = Nitrogen
* 10% = Phosphorus
* 17% = Potassium
Use a time release 10-10-17 fertilizer every 6 months and it will be absorbed gradually over that period for great blooming flowers. Note: The 10% Phosphorus will assist in developing a strong root system which allows nutrients to get to the rest of the flower.
Extra Tip:
Magnesium works especially well with potassium and should also be included in the fertilizer mix. It helps to maintain balance between the green foliage and the flower.
3 Forms of Fertilizers for your Flowers:
This could be a very long section if all the brands were included here and what they claim to do. Most are very good and do what their labels say if you follow the application instructions. There are 3 basic forms common fertilizers take:
1. Granular Fertilizers
2. Water Soluble Fertilizers
3. Natural Organic Fertilizers
Granular – This is the most common bagged fertilizer product. It is best applied with a spreader and is long lasting. This is the version you’ll find in time release and can last in the soil up 6-9 months.
Water Soluble – This type of fertilizer is designed to dissolve in water and is more readily absorbable to your flowers and plants. This version only last I the soil 1-2 weeks however and need top be re-applied often to be as effective as granular fertilizers.
Natural Organic – This consists mostly of manures and bone meal. Yes they are natural, but they are lower in nutrient levels than synthetic versions mentioned above.
Tips for Challenging Soils:
Fertilizing Clay Soils – Clay tends to hold-up the movement of water and nutrients and results in the plants not getting sufficient food and moisture. Clay tends to stay wet and packed down so you’ll need to help your plants by:
* Raising the garden beds
* Mixing the fertilizer into the soil well
* Adding compost materials to loosen and aerate the clay soil
Fertilizing Sandy Soils – Sand has the opposite challenge that clay has. The nutrients and water pass too quickly through it and nutrients often leach out before feeding the plants. In sandy soil time release fertilizers are best.
Soil pH Levels:
This is the measure of soil acidity and affects the ability of soil to release nutrients in fertilizers. If the nutrients are too high or too low nutrients can get blocked or locked up ad are not available to the plants. This is why the soils pH levels are important to the topic of fertilizing.
Different flowers and plants require varying degrees of pH levels for maximum health. Soil pH is measured by a scale of 1 to 10. A pH level below 7 means the soil is acid and a pH level above 7 means the soil is alkaline. As a general rule of thumb, most plants thrive in pH levels between 6.0 and 6.8.
Your soils pH level is easy to check by taking samples to your local county extension agent or sending samples to a qualified lab.
pH level Adjustments:
* For Acidic Soil – Add extra lime to your soil.
* For Alkaline Soil – Add extra sulfur or gypsum to your soil.
Flowers need proper nutrients just like you do. One way to help your flower gardens come alive is to give them what they need… Flower Fertilizer.
Understanding Fertilizers in General:
Fertilizer is plant food (nutrients) for flowers, trees, shrubs, and other flora. Nutrients are available in various amounts in nature, and plant life needs these nutrients to survive and grow. The primary big 3 of the nutrients that plants need large amounts of are:
Major Plant Nutrients:
1. Nitrogen
2. Phosphorus
3. Potassium
[1] Nitrogen – This is the main nutrient for new green growth. This is especially important for plants that are mostly all leaf such as grasses. As a result the ratio for lawn fertilizers has a higher 1st ratio number meaning more nitrogen in the mix.
[2] Phosphorus – This nutrient promotes good root development and strengthens the flower or plant. It also results in increased blooms on flowers so lots of phosphorus is great for bulbs and perennials. Fertilizers higher in phosphorus have a higher 2nd number in the ratio.
[3] Potassium – This builds strong and healthy plants & flowers and improves the overall health of the flora.
These 3 are the ones that fertilizer manufacturers focus most on and they are known as "macronutrients". There are also nutrients that plants do need but in much smaller quantities and these are known as "micronutrients". The more important secondary nutrients are:
Secondary Plant Nutrients:
1- Calcium – Improves general plant vigor and promotes growth of young roots and shoots.
2- Sulfur – This nutrient helps to maintain a dark green color and encourages more vigorous plant growth.
3- Magnesium – This nutrient helps to regulate uptake of plant foods and assist in seed formation. It is also important in the formation of dark green color and encourages vigorous plant growth.
After the major and minor nutrients there are sometimes "trace elements" that play a role in plant nutrition. Trace elements play a role in helping to develop dark green color and healthy and vigorous plant growth. These "trace micronutrients" are:
Trace Micronutrients:
1. Boron
2. Manganese
3. Iron
4. Zinc
5. Copper
6. Molybdenum
Manure was once the dominant fertilizer and is still used but less frequently. Fertilizers in modern times are made either synthetically or organically (manure and or compost). The Macronutrients are given a ratio on the fertilizer bag to represent the proportions of the "big 3" that are present in a particular fertilizer mix.
For example, a 5-10-20 fertilizer would have 5% Nitrate, 10% Phosphate, and 20% Potash. If a particular flower or plant needed higher phosphate levels for healthy growth the middle number would go up on the package (for example: 5-15-20).
Law of Minimum:
This law states that plant growth is controlled not by the total resources available, but by the scarcest resource needed by the plant or flower. In other words, extra amounts of plentiful nutrients do not increase a plant’s growth if the scarce nutrients needed were still lacking. Only by increasing the amount of the limiting nutrient can a particular plant or flower have improved growth.
Getting your Flowers to Explode with Color & Blooms:
One of the macronutrients is potassium and it has a special function with flowers. It causes them to bloom more. Potassium is a nutrient that leaches easily out of the soil and so it is common to have less than needed. Even if you applied fertilizer one day, if it rains the potassium may leach off before your flowers absorb enough to make a difference.
Bottom line… The more Potassium that’s in your flower fertilizer the better for blooming!
The pro’s use time release potassium and apply it evenly over the soil. This way if it rains the potassium only releases a set amount at a time instead of all at once. Pro’s also watch the ratio of nitrogen to potassium. Extra potassium makes flowers grow, extra nitrogen causes flowers to become vegetative and lanky instead of plush and full of colorful flowers.
A great fertilizer mix for best flower production is the fertilizer ratio of 10-10-17 which means:
* 10% = Nitrogen
* 10% = Phosphorus
* 17% = Potassium
Use a time release 10-10-17 fertilizer every 6 months and it will be absorbed gradually over that period for great blooming flowers. Note: The 10% Phosphorus will assist in developing a strong root system which allows nutrients to get to the rest of the flower.
Extra Tip:
Magnesium works especially well with potassium and should also be included in the fertilizer mix. It helps to maintain balance between the green foliage and the flower.
3 Forms of Fertilizers for your Flowers:
This could be a very long section if all the brands were included here and what they claim to do. Most are very good and do what their labels say if you follow the application instructions. There are 3 basic forms common fertilizers take:
1. Granular Fertilizers
2. Water Soluble Fertilizers
3. Natural Organic Fertilizers
Granular – This is the most common bagged fertilizer product. It is best applied with a spreader and is long lasting. This is the version you’ll find in time release and can last in the soil up 6-9 months.
Water Soluble – This type of fertilizer is designed to dissolve in water and is more readily absorbable to your flowers and plants. This version only last I the soil 1-2 weeks however and need top be re-applied often to be as effective as granular fertilizers.
Natural Organic – This consists mostly of manures and bone meal. Yes they are natural, but they are lower in nutrient levels than synthetic versions mentioned above.
Tips for Challenging Soils:
Fertilizing Clay Soils – Clay tends to hold-up the movement of water and nutrients and results in the plants not getting sufficient food and moisture. Clay tends to stay wet and packed down so you’ll need to help your plants by:
* Raising the garden beds
* Mixing the fertilizer into the soil well
* Adding compost materials to loosen and aerate the clay soil
Fertilizing Sandy Soils – Sand has the opposite challenge that clay has. The nutrients and water pass too quickly through it and nutrients often leach out before feeding the plants. In sandy soil time release fertilizers are best.
Soil pH Levels:
This is the measure of soil acidity and affects the ability of soil to release nutrients in fertilizers. If the nutrients are too high or too low nutrients can get blocked or locked up ad are not available to the plants. This is why the soils pH levels are important to the topic of fertilizing.
Different flowers and plants require varying degrees of pH levels for maximum health. Soil pH is measured by a scale of 1 to 10. A pH level below 7 means the soil is acid and a pH level above 7 means the soil is alkaline. As a general rule of thumb, most plants thrive in pH levels between 6.0 and 6.8.
Your soils pH level is easy to check by taking samples to your local county extension agent or sending samples to a qualified lab.
pH level Adjustments:
* For Acidic Soil – Add extra lime to your soil.
* For Alkaline Soil – Add extra sulfur or gypsum to your soil.
