How to fertilize potted flowers? Teaching you the correct fertilizing method
For the growth and development of potted flowers, in addition to the necessary conditions of light, temperature, air and water, an adequate supply of nutrients is also required. No matter how good the soil is, after a certain period of planting, the nutrients in the soil will be completely depleted. If fertilizer is not replenished in time, the flowers will show weak plants, withered leaves and other phenomena. Therefore, fertilizing is a very critical task in the process of caring for potted flowers. So when should you fertilize, and how should you fertilize to achieve better results?
Generally speaking, there are three commonly used types for home flower growing:
Base fertilizer: during seedling raising and repotting, thoroughly decomposed fertilizer prepared in advance is mixed into the soil in a certain proportion to provide for long-term growth needs. The fertilizer is generally homemade organic fertilizer, such as decomposed cake fertilizer, bone meal, roasted melon seeds, etc., and the results are all very good. It should be noted that the roots of the flowers should not come into direct contact with the fertilizer, otherwise the plant can easily be burned to death by excessive fertilizer.
Top dressing: during the growth period of the flowers, because the pot soil is limited, the base fertilizer loses its strength after a long time and can no longer provide enough nutrients for the plant. At this time, according to the needs of the flowers at different growth stages, various fertilizers should be selectively supplemented. Chemical fertilizers or organic fertilizers can both be used. When using chemical fertilizers, avoid the plant stems and scatter them into the pot soil; or dilute the fertilizer and water the plants with it. Chemical fertilizers are simple to use and quick to take effect, but long-term use will make the pot soil harden and the soil poor in air permeability. Homemade organic fertilizer, however, has relatively complete nutrients, a long fertilizer effect, and can also improve the soil. Here it is recommended that everyone use more organic fertilizer and as little chemical fertilizer as possible. When using homemade organic fertilizer, it can be diluted with water and used to water the plants, or it can be shallowly buried around the plant, also avoiding the roots and stems.
Foliar fertilization: this method can promptly rescue plants that show phenomena such as malnutrition due to neglected management. It is convenient and quick, economical and effective. The method is to dilute the fertilizer to a certain proportion, then use a sprayer to spray it directly onto the leaf surface of the plant, relying on the leaves to absorb it.
In addition, during the fertilizing process, attention should also be paid to grasping the timing: when top dressing and foliar fertilization are carried out, they should be done when the soil in the pot is dry, as the plant's absorption effect is best at this time. Before fertilizing, the soil should also be loosened first, so as to help the fertilizer water seep down quickly and reduce the loss of fertilizer.