The Correct Methods and Taboos of Fertilizing Flowers

Some of the flowers we grow do not need fertilizer, but plant growth cannot do without nutrients. Today the editor will share this with everyone.

The Do's of Fertilizing Flowers

(1) Fertilize according to category. Foliage plants should be given more nitrogen fertilizer to keep the leaves tender and crisp green; flowering and fruiting plants should be given more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to make the plants bloom early and fruit early; bulbous plants should be given more potassium fertilizer to help the bulbs plump up.

(2) Fertilize at the right time. When the flower's leaf color turns pale and growth slows down, that is the right time to fertilize. Apply different fertilizers and different amounts according to the different growth stages of the flower. For example, at the seedling stage, mainly apply nitrogen fertilizer, using the method of frequent application of dilute fertilizer, to promote rapid and robust growth of the seedlings; after the plants are established, the fertilizer concentration can be appropriately increased, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be added.

(3) Combine base fertilizer with top dressing. Base fertilizer is mainly organic fertilizer, which supplies nutrients persistently and stably, and can improve soil structure and physical and chemical properties and raise soil fertility. Top dressing is mainly chemical fertilizer, which has the characteristics of containing many nutrients, acting quickly and supplying nutrients intensively, and is a necessary supplement to base fertilizer.

(4) Apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer evenly. For example, favoring nitrogen fertilizer alone easily causes excessive vegetative growth of branches and leaves, delaying flowering or preventing flowering altogether; favoring phosphorus fertilizer alone will inhibit the absorption of nitrogen and potassium, making the plant grow poorly and easily causing iron and zinc deficiency; favoring potassium fertilizer alone will inhibit the plant's vegetative growth and cause magnesium deficiency.

(5) Fertilize when the soil is moist. Fertilizing when the soil is dry easily causes the physiological loss of water in the branches and leaves of the flowers, making them wither, and in severe cases causes the plant to die. Conversely, fertilizing on rainy days, because the soil has a high water content and a poor ability to absorb and retain fertilizer, makes the fertilizer easily washed away by rainwater, and will also cause excessive vegetative growth of the plant's branches and leaves.

(6) Apply foliar fertilizer as appropriate. During the vigorous growth period of the plant or when trace elements are lacking, spraying foliar fertilizer as appropriate can promptly supplement the insufficiency of nutrient absorption by the flower's roots. However, for foliar top dressing, the concentration must be strictly controlled, to avoid the leaves.

(7) Cover with an appropriate amount of soil after fertilizing. Many people are used to applying fertilizer on the surface soil layer. This not only easily causes the fertilizer to volatilize and be lost, but also harms the roots. Especially in hot and dry weather, volatilization is faster and root damage is more serious. Therefore, after fertilizing, an appropriate amount of soil should be covered, to prevent the loss of fertilizer nutrients and improve fertilizer efficiency.

The Don'ts of Fertilizing Flowers:

(1) Fertilizing newly planted plants. Newly planted plants have many root wounds. If stimulated by the outside, the wounds will not heal easily, which will cause root rot and may even lead to the death of the plant.

(2) Fertilizing diseased and weak plants. Diseased and weak plants have weak growth vigor, poor photosynthesis and slow metabolism, and a low capacity to absorb fertilizer. If fertilizer is applied carelessly, it will instead easily cause fertilizer damage.

(3) Fertilizing during the flowering period. Fertilizing during the flowering period will promote excessive vegetative growth of the plant, easily causing excessive growth and resulting in bud drop and flower drop.

(4) Fertilizing during the dormant period. Flowers stop or slow down their growth during the dormant period. If fertilizer is applied, it will break the dormancy, prompt the plant to continue growing, and affect flowering the following year.

(5) Fertilizing directly under the root crown. When planting flowers, do not place the plant's root system directly on the base fertilizer; instead, add a layer of soil on top of the fertilizer, otherwise it is not only unfavorable for the fertilizer to be fully absorbed and utilized, but also harms the root system. In addition, when top dressing, depending on the plant's growth, apply it in holes at an appropriate distance from the roots, to facilitate absorption by the root system.

(7) Applying concentrated fertilizer. When fertilizing flowers, the amount of fertilizer must be strictly controlled. Avoid excessive concentration or excessive dosage, otherwise it will harm the plant's root system and in severe cases cause death. Generally, "apply dilute fertilizer frequently" should be followed.

(6) Applying raw fertilizer. Applying organic fertilizer that has not been fully decomposed to flowers not only easily spreads pests and diseases, but also, during the decomposition process, the organic fertilizer will ferment and generate heat, harming the plant's root system.

That is all for today's sharing. I hope this article is helpful to everyone.