fertilizers Archives

Most commercial potting soils and soil-less mixtures are not very rich in nutrients. One way to give your plants a good start is to amend the commercial growing medium with compost, or other organic enrichments available at your garden store, in a ratio of three parts potting mixture to one part compost.

In a pot, you are responsible for providing all of the nutrients your plant needs to grow, so you will need to fertilize and add micro-nutrients on a regular basis. If you do not want to think about fertilizing, it is possible to add slow-release fertilizer pellets to the soil mix. Otherwise, a good quality water-soluble fertilizer should be used from time to time. Choose a “complete” fertilizer that provides the three basic nutrients needed by plants: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. By law, fertilizers list three numbers representing the percentage of each of these nutrients in the mixture; for instance, 20-10-20 would be 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 20% potassium. The rest of the fertilizer is filler.

Plants which do not have access to these basic nutrients will not thrive, and you cannot rely on standard potting soils or soil-less mediums to provide them. The main symptoms which may indicate a nutrient deficiency are listed on the next page. Choosing a complete fertilizer will address all of these weaknesses. Apply the fertilizer according to the directions on the package, paying special attention to whether the solution should go on the leaves (foliar fertilizer) or just into the soil. Apply fertilizer in small amounts, regularly, as large quantities of fertilizer have the potential to burn plants and are largely lost through run-off anyway.

Minor Nutrients

Minor Elements (Macro Nutrients)	Functional Uses In Plant	Deficiency Symptoms
IRON (FE)	Formation of chlorophyll	Interveinal chlorosis of younger leaves
MANGANESE (MN)	Helps in uptake of carbon dioxide which is used for photosynthesis.	Mottled interveinal chlorosis of leaves
BORON (B)	Development of shoot tips and leaf bud; formation and movement of sugars in plant	Tip growth die back and deformed buds
CHLORINE (CL)	Stimulates photosynthesis	Wilting but rare because present in water
COPPER (CU)	Formation of chlorophyll and converting sunlight into energy; also a fungicide	Leaf chlorosis and shoot tip growth die back
MOLYBDENUM (MO)	Helps production and use of nitrogen	Marginal and interveinal chlorosis of older leaves
ZINC (ZN)	Formation of growth hormones	Mottled leaf chlorosis, little leaves; Rosetting

Major Nutrients

Major Elements (Macro Nutrients)	Functional Uses In Plant	Deficiency Symptoms
NITROGEN (N)	Necessary for growth and development of green leaves and stems; component of most proteins	Chlorosis (yellowing) of older, lower leaves; stunting
PHOSPHORUS (P)	Promotes root growth and development; energy storage and transfer within plant	Purple like coloration; stunted root growth
POTASSIUM (K)	Improves cold hardiness, drought tolerance and disease resistance; promotes blooms	Poor flowering and fruit formation; brown leaf edges
SULPHUR (S)	Component of 3 proteins and 2B vitamins; flavor of onion, garlic, and mustard; a fungicide	Chlorosis of younger leaves; stunting
CALCIUM (CA)	Promotes cell division, strong cell walls, and sturdy structure	Collapse of cell walls and structural failure; curled leaf tips; stunting
MAGNESIUM (MG)	Component of chlorophyll; essential for photosynthesis	Marginal (edges) and interveinal (between veins) chlorosis of older leaves

Plant Specific Nutrients

Plant Type	Nutrients Needed	Some Recommended Fertilizers
ANNUALS
BEDDING OUT PLANTS	High phosphorous to promote flowering.	Water soluble powder: Miracle Gro, Plant-Prod Flowering promote flowering. Liquid concentrate: Alaska MorBloom Granular: So-Green Rose and Flower, Smartcote Annual Food
HANGING BASKETS	Treat as a bedding out plant or use slow release fertilizer in the soil.	Water soluble/liquid concentrate: see ‘Bedding Out Plants’ Granular: Smartcote Hanging Basket Food Other: Jobe’s Plant Spikes
SEEDLINGS/ TRANSPLANTS	High phosphorous for root growth; a root stimulant is often required	Water soluble: Plant-Prod 10-52-10 Liquid concentrate: Plant Starter 5-15-5 with rooting stimulant Granular: Bone Meal, Root Grow
VEGETABLES	Less emphasis on nitrogen except for leafy vegetables.	Water soluble: Plant-Prod Tomato & Vegetable Liquid concentrate: Schultz Tomato Food Granular: So-Green Garden Food or Tomato Food, Vigioro Pink All Purpose
WATER PLANTS	Only trace elements are required.	Pond tablets in the water at the rate of one per month will supply required. the necessary nutrients.
PERENNIALS
BULBS (SPRING & SUMMER)	Relatively high phosphorous fertilizer to encourage roots & flowers.	Water soluble: Plant-Prod Flowering, Miracle Gro Granular: Bone Meal Note: Bloodmeal helps keep some squirrels from feeding on bulbs.
PERENNIALS	Need phosphorous for a strong root system and potassium for healthy growth.	Water soluble: Plant-Prod Flowering, Miracle Gro Liquid concentrate: Alaska MorBloom, Shultz All Purpose Granular: Bonemeal, So-Green Perennial Food, Smarcote Perennial, Miracle Gro Shake-n-Feed
TRANSPLANTING	High phosphorous to promote root growth	Water soluble: Plant-Prod 10-52-10 Liquid concentrate: Plant Starter 5-15-5 with rooting stimulant Granular:Root Grow or Bone Meal, So-Green Super Phosphate
VINES	Require higher levels of phosphorous.	Water soluble: Miracle Gro, Plant-Prod Flowering Liquid concentrate: Alaska MorBloom Granular: So-Green Clematis & Vine, Bone Meal when planting
WINTERIZING	Never add nitrogen in fall as it encourages excess leafy growth.	A fertilizer without nitrogen will strengthen plants for better winter survival: Alaska MorBloom, So-Green Muriate of Potash
HOUSEPLANTS
FOLIAGE PLANTS	A balanced fertilizer	Water soluble: Schultz All Purpose, Plant-Prod All Purpose Liquid concentrate: Schultz All Purpose Slow release: Jobe’s Houseplant or Fern & Ivy Spikes
FLOWERING	A moderately high phosphorous level	Water soluble: Plant-Prod Flowering Liquid concentrate: Schultz All Purpose Slow release: Jobe’s Flowering Plant Spikes, Myke Indoor Plant
AFRICAN VIOLETS	Require phosphorous for bloom production	Liquid concentrate: African Violet
ORCHIDS		Water soluble: Orchid Food, Plant-Prod Orchid
CACTUS	Cacti need less nitrogen	Liquid concentrate: Cactus Food

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How to Grow Herbs Indoors?

Fragrant and full of taste, herbs are a favorite of gardeners and cooks alike. And you can learn how to grow herbs indoors if you’re new to planting or gardening. It’s super easy! The other beauty of growing herbs indoors is that you can grow them in the dead of winter as long as you have a window or even just a grow light.

Choosing Herbs

Before you start growing herbs indoors, get to know the light, soil and water requirements of each of your favorite herbs. While it’s easy growing herbs indoors that flourish, certain herbs such as fennel and horseradish don’t. These herbs require deeper root systems than most containers allow. But luckily many delicious culinary herbs like chives, parsley, basil and rosemary grow happily inside.

Light

Herbs are light-loving plants that require six hours of sunshine each day. Indoor herbs should be placed in a sunny windowsill or near a south-facing window if available. If not, consider supplemental lighting with a grow light. These only cost a couple of dollars at Home Depot, and will make growing herbs indoors in places like basements and attics possible.

How to grow herbs indoors that once lived outside

When moving herbs grown outdoors into your home, be sure to give the herbs time to adapt to less sun-drenched conditions. This can be done by moving plants from full sun into a shadier spot each week. Rosemary is especially sensitive to changes in light conditions because it’s slow-growing and does not acclimate quickly enough to indoor conditions.

Soil and Water

Place herbs in soil that has good drainage. A sterile, soilless mixture containing perlite provides proper drainage, while also limiting the chance of disease and pest problems.

Herbs should be watered when the soil feels dry to the touch. But never let the soil dry out completely. You should see water coming out of the bottom of the pot when you water–this ensures that the pot has not become clogged. Place your pots in a plastic, leak-proof container before watering. And if you’re growing basil, water it at the base. It doesn’t like getting its leaves wet.

How to grow herbs indoors that really flourish:

To maintain the health and vigor of your plants, you can use fertilizers about once every two weeks. Use more than this and your herbs may start tasting like fertilizer–not a flavour you want in your soup!

Want to give your herbs an extra boost? While you’re popping your own multivitamin, why not show your herbs the same courtesy? Liquid seaweed is packed with B1 vitamins, which help the plants grow and produce necessary oils.

Bugs

A common misconception when people learn how to grow herbs indoors is that they think the herbs are immune to pests. Indoor herbs can be prone to attacks by whiteflies, aphids, spider mites, scale insects and mealy bugs. But don’t despair! It’s much easier to eliminate bug problems in small indoor planters.

Remove bugs by placing the plants under a strong stream of water. You can even use insecticidal soap and still maintain organic standards. Follow the directions on the bottle, and use repeated applications until the problem is eliminated.

You now know the basics on how to grow herbs indoors, so why not give it a try? The mini elevated garden works perfectly for herbs. Just remember that no matter how you’re potting them, make sure you place them near a window. They’ll thank you, and so will your taste buds. Happy planting!