
Apart from the fundamental elements of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen acquired from water, air, and sunlight, plants rely heavily on primary nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, alongside micronutrients like copper, iron, zinc, and boron, to sustain healthy growth. Although soil serves as the primary reservoir of these essential nutrients, tropical soils often exhibit deficiencies in these elements critical for plant development. Consequently, the application of fertilisers becomes indispensable to augment soil fertility and furnish plants with the requisite nourishment.
Even in the presence of initially fertile garden soil, the progression of plant growth gradually depletes the soilโs nutrient reserves, necessitating the periodic replenishment of fertilisers. Fertilisers not only foster robust plant growth and ameliorate soil fertility concerns but also serve as a proactive measure against prevalent plant diseases and pest infestations. The dichotomy between organic and synthetic fertilisers lies in their nutrient delivery mechanisms. Organic fertilisers, hailing from natural sources such as minerals and decomposed organic matter, release nutrients gradually over an extended period, thereby fortifying soil structure and fostering the proliferation of beneficial soil microorganisms.
Conversely, synthetic fertilisers, derived from minerals or chemically synthesised compounds, boast water solubility, facilitating rapid nutrient absorption by plants and conferring an immediate growth stimulus. However, they offer scant benefits for soil enhancement and may pose risks of foliage burn and plant damage if improperly applied. Prudent fertiliser application entails meticulous adherence to dosage guidelines, ensuring uniform distribution to avert the perils of over-fertilisation, which can have detrimental consequences for plant health. Furthermore, maintaining a harmonious nutrient equilibrium is imperative to forestall nutrient imbalances and uphold the vigour of plants in the long run. Thus, by embracing judicious fertiliser practices, horticulturists can nurture thriving plant ecosystems while preserving soil vitality for generations to come.
๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ โ๐๐ผโ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ปโ๐โ๐
๐ญ. ๐๐ข ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐น๐น๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฟ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Follow the recommended dosage and frequency of application in the instructions. When in doubt, use less than you thinkโunder-fertilising is easier to fix than over-fertilising!
๐ฎ. ๐๐ข ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
Trace elements are as important as the primary macronutrients NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), but are needed in much lesser quantities. They help in plant processes and in the uptake of primary macronutrients.
๐ฏ. ๐๐ข ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐น ๐ฎ๐ณ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Water well to distribute the fertiliser evenly to the roots and to prevent reverse osmosis caused by a high concentration of salts, which draws water from the plant.
๐ฐ. ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ฒ ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐
To prevent over-fertilising when using chemical (NPK) fertilisers, try using ยผ of the recommended dosage every five days.
๐ฑ. ๐๐ข ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ
More is NOT always better, and more fertiliser does not always result in more growth. It may cause fertiliser burn, stunted growth, and the death of the plant.