Planting Tips

Chapter 9 What are the effects of the three elements of fertilizer on flowers

Of the various mineral elements needed for plant growth and development, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are the most important.So nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are called the three elements of fertilizer.

Their effect on the flower hand is:
Nitrogen (N): Nitrogen fertilizer is also called leaf fertilizer.It can promote rapid plant growth, luxuriant branches and leaves, dark green leaves.In the seedling stage of flowers or foliage flowers, nitrogen fertilizer should be applied mainly.Generally, it is applied from spring to early summer. If nitrogen fertilizer is applied in the later stage of plant growth and development, the stems and leaves will grow excessively, and it will be difficult for the branches and buds to mature, which will seriously affect the flowering and fruit setting.Too much wilting and fat, the stems and leaves are weak and vulnerable to pests and diseases.Therefore, the application of nitrogen fertilizer should be stopped before the plants enter the reproductive growth potential (flower bud differentiation period).

Phosphorus (P): Phosphorus fertilizer is also called fruit fertilizer.It can promote the differentiation of flower buds and pregnancy buds, make the flowers rich in color, firm and full, and promote the growth of plants.Phosphate fertilizers are usually most effective when applied in the later stages of plant growth and development.Therefore, before flowering and after the fruit is hung, phosphorus fertilizer can be applied.Plants have the ability to store phosphorus fertilizers in their bodies and adjust their use according to growth needs.Therefore, it can be applied to the base fertilizer at one time, and phosphorus fertilizer will not cause fertilizer damage due to excessive application like nitrogen fertilizer.

Potassium (K): Potassium fertilizer is also called root fertilizer.It can make the stems and roots grow strong, not easy to lodging, and enhance the resistance to diseases and insect pests and cold resistance.Potassium fertilizer is an indispensable fertilizer in the early stage of plant development, and more potassium fertilizer can be applied at the seedling stage, shoot-out stage and after transplanting seedlings.In the late stage of plant development, potassium fertilizer is helpful for photosynthesis, especially for the bulb production of flower bulbs.Therefore, in the whole growth process of flowers, potassium fertilizer is indispensable.For flowers that have been kept indoors for a long time, photosynthesis is weakened due to insufficient light, and a large amount of potassium fertilizer can be applied.Potassium fertilizer will not cause fertilizer damage due to excessive application.How to fertilize flowers There are two types of flower gardening in the family: potted plants or garden plants, and the fertilization should also be different.Although the garden planting is different from the field, but the ground temperature is high, the area is large, and it is easy to absorb water and fertilizer, so the frequency of fertilization can be less, and the fertilizer will not cause fertilizer damage if it is slightly thicker.Potted plants are different. Due to the limitations of the environment, on the one hand, there must be no shortage of fertilizers to prevent deficiencies; on the other hand, it is necessary to prevent excessive fertilizers from causing fertilizer damage to the plants.

Therefore, be careful when fertilizing potted flowers. It should be based on the fertilizer habits of different flowers and the needs of different growth and development stages, as well as temperature, light and seasonal changes. And texture, timely and appropriate.There are three methods of fertilizing potted plants:

(1) Applying base fertilizer means applying base fertilizer.It is a fertilizer applied to the soil when planting seven pots of flowers and trees.It is very important to apply basal fertilizer to potted flowers. If the basal fertilizer is sufficient, you can apply less topdressing, or even special chemical fertilizers can be used as topdressing.The base fertilizer is mainly late-acting organic fertilizer, and dry fertilizer is mostly used.Decomposed dried human manure, barn manure, cake fertilizer, fully fermented decomposed chicken feathers, chicken manure, rabbit manure, hair, etc. can be used as base fertilizer.When potting or repotting, apply the base fertilizer on the drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, and cover with a layer of soil to prevent the roots of the flowers from contacting the fertilizer and damaging the roots.Hoof horns are used as base fertilizer, which can be placed directly on the bottom of the pot when the flowers are potted.The ratio of the three elements of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium used as base fertilizer is preferably 5:3:2.Inorganic fertilizers (chemical fertilizers) can be used as base fertilizers, such as 0.2% ammonium sulfate and 0.1% urea for nitrogen fertilizers, 0.5% superphosphate and phosphate rock powder for phosphate fertilizers, and 0.1% potassium sulfate and potassium chloride for potassium fertilizers. Just in the soil.

(2) Topdressing Fertilizer applied during the growth and development of flowers to supply the needs of plant growth is called topdressing.Topdressing is usually based on various chemical fertilizers, and liquid fertilizers are often used; it can also be applied with 1 part of the original solution of fermented urine, bean cake water, fish intestine water, rice washing water, etc. to 10 to 20 times the water.In recent years, all-element, high-concentration, compound special fertilizer sheets have appeared on the market, which can be used as top dressing.It has the advantages of quick effect, high nutrient content, clean and hygienic, odorless and tasteless, sterile and insect-free, convenient storage and use, etc., and is very suitable for family gardening.The principles to be mastered in applying top dressing: apply more nitrogen and potassium fertilizers during the vegetative growth period, and more phosphorus fertilizers during the flower bud formation period; loosen the soil before fertilization, and water the next morning after fertilization; apply after spring, not after autumnal equinox; Apply, but do not apply when the buds are cracking; apply before rain and sunny days, but not after rain; apply when the climate is dry, and not during mildew rain; apply when the pot soil is dry, and do not apply when the pot soil is wet; apply when the climate is suitable for vigorous growth , do not apply when growth is stagnant in hot weather; do not apply when new planting, leggy, or dormant; thin fertilizers are applied frequently, and heavy fertilizers are not applied; chrysanthemums and jasmines that like fertilizer can be applied more from light to thick, and barren-resistant conifers It is better to apply less if it is light than thick; apply before flowering and after flowering, not in full bloom; apply in the morning and evening, not at noon; apply more for strong seedlings, and less for weak seedlings;

(3) Root topdressing is foliar fertilization.Spray the top and bottom of the flower leaves with chemical fertilizer solution to supplement the deficiency of root fertilization.

Foliar fertilization has the characteristics of fast absorption and quick effect.The best time is early morning or evening.Pay attention to spray evenly on both sides of the leaves, and spray with low concentration multiple times to prevent the leaves from being burned by excessive concentration.Only water-soluble fertilizers can be used for top dressing outside the root. The commonly used types and concentrations are as follows: 0.2% to 0.5% urea; 0.2% to 0.3% ammonium sulfate; 0.3% potassium sulfate; 1% to 3% superphosphate; Potassium hydrogen 0.1% to 0.3%; boric acid 0.1% to 0.25%; ferrous sulfate (or ferric citrate) 0.2% to 0.5%.What principles should be mastered in flower fertilization? The flower proverb says: "Live depends on water, and grow depends on fertilizer." Reasonable fertilization is one of the key issues in potted flower maintenance.If fertilization is appropriate, the seedlings will be strong and leafy, and the flowers and fruits will be large; if the fertilization is improper, the branches and leaves will shrink, the plants will be weak, and even die.

Therefore, family gardening and fertilization must grasp the principle of "timely, appropriate and appropriate".The so-called timely means that fertilization must grasp the season.Generally, spring and summer are the vigorous seasons for flower growth. Fertilizers should be applied frequently, and the high temperature and hot summer should be suspended or applied less.After autumn, the flowers grow slowly, so less fertilization should be applied.Most of the flowers in winter are in a dormant or semi-dormant state (except those that bloom in winter), so fertilization should be stopped.At the same time, it should be noted that once the leaves of the flowers are found to be pale and the plants grow weak, it means that there is a lack of fertilizer, and it should be applied in time to meet the needs of flower growth.The so-called appropriate amount of fertilization must be "thin fertilizer and frequent application, depending on the growth and determining the amount". "Thin" is 7 parts water and 3 parts fat. "Diligence" is applied every 7 to 10 days.

"Look at the growth and determine the dosage" is "four more, four less, four no, and three taboos".

"Four more" means more application when the plants are yellow and thin, more application before germination, more application when pregnant buds, and more application after flowering.

"Four less" means that the plants are fat and strong, less application, less application when germination, less application when flowering, and less application during the rainy season.

The "four nos" are not to apply when the plants are too long, not to apply when they are newly planted, not to apply in hot summer, and not to apply during the dormant period.

The "three taboos" are to avoid applying concentrated fertilizers, avoid applying hot fertilizers (high temperature in summer, fertilization is easy to damage the roots), and avoid applying raw fertilizers.

Generally, from the beginning of spring to the beginning of autumn (do not apply in dog days), thin fertilizer and water can be applied every 7 to 10 days, and after the beginning of autumn, it can be applied every 15 to 20 days.The so-called proper, flowering and fertilization should not be excessive.If too much fertilization is too thick, the roots of the flowers will lose water, causing the leaves to gradually brown, and the new shoots will slowly dry out until they die. Fertilization will cause fertilizer damage.Applying fertilizers that are not fully decomposed (raw fertilizer) will introduce pathogens into the soil, heat up the soil, and "burn to death" the plants.In the seedling stage, in order to promote the growth of seedlings, more nitrogen fertilizers can be applied; in the budding stage, in order to promote the growth of flowers and fruits, more phosphorus fertilizers should be applied.Loosen the soil before fertilizing to facilitate the infiltration of fertilizer water.Fertilization time is best in the evening, especially in summer, when the temperature is high at noon, and fertilization is easy to damage the roots.

After fertilization in the evening of the same day, water in the morning of the next day, commonly known as "returning water", to dilute the fertilizer solution so that the plants can easily absorb it and avoid fertilizer damage.

(End of this chapter)