Fertilizer what do the numbers mean

Other elements, such as iron, are just as critical to plant survival, but plants need them in much smaller quantities. Additionally, different plants have different needs.

This amount of iron is shown in the ingredient panel of the product label, but not in the N-P-K ratio. Plants derive all their essential nutrients naturally from air and soil, but soil can get depleted, especially in thriving lawns and gardens. Because plants use larger amounts of N-P-K, these nutrients need frequent replenishing. Other factors enter in, too. Nitrogen moves freely in soil, so water from heavy rains or irrigation steals nitrogen away in a process called leaching.

Fertilizer products step in and replenish used and lost nutrients so that lawns and gardens stay nourished. Each of the three nutrients in the N-P-K has its own special job to do. Nitrogen N spurs vigorous, leafy growth and rich green color in lawn grasses and other plants.

Without enough nitrogen, growth slows and lawns and plants turn pale. With too much nitrogen, flowering and fruit-bearing plants put their efforts into green growth and forfeit their blooms and fruit.

Inorganic, or synthetic, fertilizers typically have more concentrated NPK loads—in other words, higher NPK numbers—than organic fertilizers.

Gardeners can apply less synthetic than organic fertilizer to deliver an equal amount of nutrients. For this reason, synthetic fertilizers are more cost effective. Organic fertilizer is derived from natural ingredients that are minimally processed. They take longer to break down and provide your plants with a slow, steady feed of nutrients—sometimes over the course of many months.

In the case of accidental spill or overapplication, these fertilizers are less likely to damage plants or soil. As we mentioned earlier, there are 16 nutrients that are essential to plant growth.

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are macronutrients that are contained in most fertilizers. Plants get carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, through air and water. Calcium, magnesium, and sulfur are considered secondary nutrients, which means that they are important to plants, but plants need less of them than they do N, P, and K.

If you are planting seeds or seedlings, reach for a fertilizer engineered with seeds and seedling care in mind. Note: when the chemical numbers are even, we consider that fertilizer to be a general fertilizer product. For more mature plants a general fertilizer with would be a good option. Young Plants — Plants go through stages.

The first is a growth stage, and this applies to seedlings and younger plants. The foliage stage is next, and the plant focuses on growing leaves, developing branches, and gaining height, etc.

Most young plants do fine with a fertilizer. The Down To Earth is feeding the plant so that it grows above the ground, produces healthy roots, and is thriving. Nitrogen for the top, PPhosphorus for the roots, and potassium for the overall health of the plant. The Foliage Stage — The plant is ready to pack on leaves and develop branches. Nitrogen-rich fertilizer is helpful. Look for something higher in Nitrogen. For example, has a nitrogen boost but is still promoting root growth and plant health.

You can look at the numbers and imagine what is going on here. A larger plant with a lot of foliage and lots of flowers or buds. Another example is the fert-lome , which is a lawn fertilizer. Lots of green grass, not a lot of root support, and a little bit of plant health. At this stage, we have walked through the numbers and what they mean and what they do. So what happens when you have a plant problem, and you think fertilizer will help? The second or third-year potted plants are an excellent example of this scenario.

You planted the contain a year or two ago. The first year the blooms were crazy beautiful, but this year, there is not as many, and they are not as large?

And more is not better. For example, too much nitrogen will grow monster tomato plants, but you may not get any fruit. The master gardener at the county extension service can help you decipher the results and explain how much of each nutrient you need to apply. A balanced fertilizer with all the same numbers, such as may be okay for many situations such as flower and vegetable gardens, but only a soil test will tell for sure. Based on your test results, an application of lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower pH may be recommended.

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