How to fertilize hydroponic flowers? Learn the correct method
1. Choosing fertilizer. Hydroponic flowers need a specially formulated nutrient solution, and it is generally not advisable to mix your own. Soilless culture nutrient solutions are formulated according to the proportions, concentrations and acidity of the nutrients the flowers need; besides the major elements plants require, they also contain other trace elements. When using a nutrient solution, you should strictly follow the instructions, get the fertilizing concentration right, and never apply it blindly, so as to avoid fertilizer burn. Store purchased nutrient solutions in a dark, cool place, and never use metal containers for storage. Different flowers also have different requirements for fertilizer nutrients. Generally, foliage plants should be given mainly nitrogen fertilizer, supplemented with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer; flowering plants, especially during the flower bud differentiation and flower bud development stages, should be given mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, supplemented with nitrogen fertilizer.
2. Fertilizing time. Hydroponic flowers should be fertilized in spring and autumn, when growth is vigorous; fertilizing in winter and summer is generally not advisable. If a flower shows nutrient deficiency in summer that affects its growth, you can spray the leaves with a 0.1% urea solution.
3. Fertilizing concentration. When fertilizing, strictly control the concentration, because the nutrient elements applied are all dissolved in the water; once the concentration reaches a certain level, it will cause fertilizer burn to the flowers, thus affecting their growth and even causing the whole plant to die. ① Different flowers require different fertilizing concentrations. Flowers such as arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum), mini monstera (Monstera deliciosa 'Borsigiana'), and red emerald philodendron (Philodendron erubescens) are fairly tolerant of fertilizer, so they can be fertilized more heavily; flowers with fine, slender roots, such as four-season wave (Russelia equisetiformis), spiderwort species (Tradescantia), begonia species (Begonia), and coleus (Coleus scutellarioides), have poor fertilizer tolerance, so they should be fertilized more lightly. ② For hydroponic flowers, the concentration applied should also be decided according to the strength of the plant's growth vigor; generally speaking, plants with strong growth vigor tolerate fertilizer better and can be fertilized relatively more heavily, while the opposite calls for lighter fertilization. When indoor hydroponic flowers suffer from nutrient deficiency, fertilizing should be stopped or the fertilizing concentration reduced, so as to avoid fertilizer burn.
4. Dealing with fertilizer burn. If after fertilizing the flower's branches and leaves look weak and listless, the leaves lose their luster, and the roots rot and smell foul, these are signs that fertilizer burn has occurred. Once the above situation appears, promptly cut off the rotted roots, replace with clean water, and keep the plant in a dark place for care, changing the water once a day, and check the flower's roots, promptly cutting off rotted roots, until new roots sprout again, then return to normal care.