Precautions for Applying Slow-Release Fertilizer to Greenhouse Flowers

Cultivating flowers in a greenhouse environment and nursery cultivation are actually not quite the same, especially when it comes to fertilization methods. If you fertilize greenhouse flowers properly, it can help the flowers grow better. Let me introduce to you how to apply slow-release fertilizer to greenhouse flowers.

Greenhouse flowers

1. The temperature of the soil layer around the plant roots is the driving force behind the release of slow-release fertilizer. The rate at which slow-release fertilizer releases nutrients accelerates as the temperature rises, so choosing the right type of slow-release fertilizer and the right fertilization ratio is crucial. Experts recommend buying slow-release fertilizer products that are uniform in appearance, intact, and fully coated.

2. Do not blindly trust the instructions on the packaging. This is because the instructions on the packaging are mostly intended for container seedlings, such as the dosage and so on, but for greenhouse-cultivated varieties, the actual fertilization ratio is much lower than the values listed on the instructions.

3. If slow-release fertilizer is mixed with the growing medium, it must be used up within 2 to 4 weeks after mixing. Practice has proven that once slow-release fertilizer is mixed with soil, nutrients begin to be released, and the fast-absorbing characteristics of the growing medium ensure that soluble salts are not easily produced in the mixture, which helps the crop thoroughly absorb the nutrients from the slow-release fertilizer.

4. The nutritional status of a growing medium mixed with slow-release fertilizer is generally not easy to gauge. Even with proper fertilization, the EC value in the root zone of plants using slow-release fertilizer will be lower than the EC value of those using water-soluble fertilizer. Therefore, when slow-release fertilizer is used exclusively, crops should be observed and monitored promptly and as necessary in order to keep track of the plants' growth conditions.