What Are the Functions of Fertilizer? A Complete Guide to Fertilizer Burn

Fertilizer is the nutrient that nourishes plants, and it falls into two main categories: chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizer generally refers to fertilizer made by soaking soybean cake, wheat bran, rice bran or the residue of other husks, fish meal and bone meal in clean water, stirring the mixture and letting it ferment, or to animal excrement. Nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash are generally called the three elements of chemical fertilizer. Because they are made by chemical methods, they are called chemical fertilizers. Both organic and chemical fertilizers can give plants a kind of stimulus and at the same time promote rapid development and growth. Because an excessive dose of fertilizer gives the plant too great a stimulus, injury occurs, and this is called fertilizer injury, also known as fertilizer burn. Plants that have suffered fertilizer burn will, in severe cases, wither and die entirely; in mild cases, they linger on after being injured and lose normal growth and reproduction. Chinese orchids - their individual structure and their life functions differ from those of other plants. Their resistance to the stimulus of fertilizer is especially fragile. Therefore, when fertilizing, special attention must be paid to how much fertilizer is applied. It is better for the amount of fertilizer to be insufficient than excessive. An insufficient amount can still achieve a considerable fertilizing effect, while an excessive amount brings the disaster of injury! Once an orchid plant has suffered fertilizer burn, it is very difficult for it to return to normal development. Often, because of a moment's negligence, an excessive application of fertilizer has needlessly sacrificed a rare and precious prized variety. Therefore, one must never casually imitate methods heard in passing, lest one suffer a painful failure! If you begin using a certain fertilizer you have never used before, do not apply the full amount all at once. You should first try it at a concentration of 60% to 80% of the usual fixed amount. Within one week after fertilizing, you must carefully observe the reaction of the orchid plant. After fertilizing, if the leaf color turns deep green with no other abnormality, this is a sign that the fertilizer is taking effect. After fertilizing, if the leaf tips are scorched, or leaf sheaths that should not wither suddenly wither, or young leaves that are still growing show scorch spots or strange markings because of the fertilizing, then the plant has already suffered fertilizer burn, whether great or small. For mild symptoms of injury, immediately replace the sphagnum moss covering the surface of the pot and rinse the material in the pot. In severe cases, the plant must be pulled up immediately together with its roots, the whole plant rinsed clean, the original pot and growing material replaced, and the plant repotted. Move it into the orchid room, to a cool, shaded and well-ventilated position. Avoid sunlight, water with clean water only, and stop fertilizing or spraying pesticide. After fertilizing, if the leaf color does not change, or there is no abnormality of any kind, the concentration can be slightly increased at the next fertilizing, but it is best not to increase it to the highest level of the usual fixed amount. (Wu Anlu)