Fertilizers for indoor plants, plants

It is difficult to imagine our apartment or private house without green living creatures, comfortably nestled in pots somewhere on the windowsill. Someone grows flowers, enjoying their appearance and aroma. Someone is more attracted by houseplants because of juicy-green elegant leaves of various shapes and sizes. Experienced lovers of indoor plants skillfully combine flowering and non-flowering species, creating stunning beauty mini-greenhouses. Blossoming flowers and greenery of plants bring coziness and home warmth to offices, shops, production shops. Room flowers and plants save us from depressions, educate in the person kindness and responsibility. What would we do without them?

However, to plants in the pots pleased with abundant flowering and bright greens, they need to help in this. For indoor flowers growing in pots, one of the most important conditions for successful development is the receipt of nutrients. Therefore, fertilizers for indoor flowers, plants must be brought in time and in the right amount. Without them the plant can not bloom, the leaves and stems will be pale, it will often ache and grow poorly. To prevent this from happening, the procedure for the introduction of mineral fertilizers should become a habitual matter.

Irreplaceable top dressing

All fertilizers for indoor plants are divided into several main types: mineral, organic, combined and bacterial. The mineral dressing group is represented mainly by ready-made compounds, including elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, boron and many others. But the minus is that they affect the salinity and acidity of the soil. And also can not give the whole complex of nutrients to the plant. Organic fertilizers include the products of vital activity of animals and plants. In simple terms, it is sapropel, manure, peat, bird droppings, compost and others. The only drawback is that because of the unpleasant odor they are difficult to use at home. Approach in this case can only horny shavings or flour. Bacterial fertilizers are considered environmentally friendly, but they are used mainly in large areas. And at home, their use is very problematic.

It is also important in what form, solid or liquid, fertilizers are introduced to indoor flowers and plants. Most growers prefer liquid fertilizers , since they are very easy to use. It is enough to add water, mix and pour the resulting mixture with a plant. The plus of this method is that the plant quickly receives the necessary substances and immediately absorbs them. Less is a short exposure time. With solid fertilizers a little more difficult, but the benefits are greater. Although they are digested for a longer time, the next fertilizing will have to be done only after 8 weeks. Not to mention the fact that it is very difficult to damage the plant.

But not all indoor flowers, fertilizer plants are the same. For some, special formulations are required. For example, azalea grows in acidic soil, so feeding should be in certain proportions of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and the necessary trace elements. And such a plant as epiphytic bromelia is suitable only for liquid fertilizer, which does not contain salts - to avoid clogging of pores. Since it absorbs nutrients with water through the leaves. In general, before you feed the plant, find out: for sure the fertilizer will suit him.

Another rule in this process is not to overdo it. It is always better to underfeed than overfeed. Overabundance of nutrients can lead to the fact that the plant will cover with spots, lose leaves or completely wither. In a word, with top dressing you need to be more careful. Produce them from spring to autumn - during the active growth and flowering of pets, in the required proportions and with the recommended periodicity.

The lack of certain micro- and macroelements, like their overabundance, can lead to unfortunate consequences, since in any case it causes certain changes in the development of the plant. The large content of one nutritive element can not compensate for the lack of the other. And even on the contrary, cause a negative reaction. Even worse, if due to the overabundance of one component, the other is poorly absorbed. And to put an accurate diagnosis of the shortage of this or that element is difficult. First, because the shortage of some of them has the same signs. So, deficiency of iron, magnesium and nitrogen is manifested in the yellowing of the leaves. Secondly, do not notice a violation in nutrition can be due to the specific features or the physiological state of the plant. For example, the defeat of his flat mites leads to the same consequences as the lack of calcium in the soil.

Composition of fertilizers for indoor plants

Nowadays it is not a problem to choose the right combination of fertilizers for indoor plants. True, for this you need to carefully study the elements contained in them. The fertilizer composition, as a rule, includes three main components necessary for normal growth and development of plants: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the right proportions. And in very good top dressings are also important micronutrients.

So, nitrogen takes part in the structure of the protein - the basis of living matter, and is part of the component (chlorophyll), which plays an important role in the photosynthesis of plants. This element is needed mainly in leaves. From its lack they become pale green, then turn yellow, stop growing and grow smaller. Excess of nitrogen leads to the appearance of beautiful, large, dark green leaves, but the absence of flowering and fruiting. And in succulents from its overabundance the skin peels, bursts, and this can even lead to their death. This component is contained in nitrogenous mineral (ammonium nitrate) or organic (manure, slurry) fertilizers.

Phosphorus is also an important element in plant nutrition. With its help, energy processes occur in the cells of pets. The lack of phosphorus affects mainly the leaves, which first become dark green with a bluish tinge. And then on them appear brown or red-violet stains. The defeat process begins with the old lower leaves and gradually captures the entire plant. At the same time, the growth of shoots and development of the root system slows down, new leaves cease to form, and flowering is delayed. The excess of phosphorus is extremely rare. But if this happens, then this again affects the leaves: mesyltic chlorosis appears when small spots appear on the leaf plate between veins. If necessary to feed plants with phosphorus superphosphate, phosphorite flour and so on are used.

The plant has ceased to bloom or instead of bright beautiful flowers something unsightly and shallow has appeared, which means that it lacks potassium . For the same reason, begin to yellow first, and then fall off the leaves. Since the lack of potassium in the cells is an accumulation of ammonia, and it in turn leads to the death of tissues. A clear sign of potassium starvation is a sharp delay in the growth of plants, as well as a light border along the entire surface of the leaf. Moreover, the lack of potassium makes the plants very vulnerable to fungal diseases. There is also a danger in its oversaturation: the absorption of calcium, magnesium, zinc and other elements is difficult. Potassium mineral fertilizers include potassium chloride, potassium sulfate.

Sometimes even with the right fertilizer, room flowers still look bad. In this case, it is worth considering the introduction of microelements into the soil, which in small doses will give a positive effect.

Lack of calcium in the diet leads to a weak growth of the roots, the tips of the stems and the dying of the young foliage, as well as the poor assimilation of such elements as nitrogen, potassium and magnesium. It is especially important for cacti having large or multiple spines. Lack of sulfur also affects the growth and development of plants, only the leaves suffer the most with its deficiency. They gradually turn yellow, but do not fall off. Iron starving, first of all, affects the young leaves. Initially, they form mesyltic chlorosis, and then the entire leaf plate becomes white. One of the most important components for plants is manganese . It plays a big role in photosynthesis and color breathing. Therefore, its lack of soil affects the deterioration of the general condition of plants, and leaves in particular. The symptoms of starvation are very similar to the lack of iron, with the only difference being that leaf veins remain green while the rest is discolored. Zinc deficiency can only be found in acidic soils. From this, the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow and become spotted, and bronze shades appear in their color. And they themselves become small and fat. Stamens are also affected. With the lack of magnesium , the development and flowering of the plant is delayed. The first sign of fasting is the appearance of mezzhilkovogo chlorosis, and then the leaves acquire a yellow, orange, red or purple hue. They bloom and die. The lack of copper in the soil is observed with an overabundance of phosphorus fertilizers. This microelement increases the resistance of the plant to fungal diseases, participates in photosynthesis and respiration. At its lack, the leaves are deformed and fade, and then the whole flower dies. Born starvation affects primarily the young parts of the plant. From its lack they rot and die, the leaves become brown, twisted and die, the stems are thinned, and the flower stalks fall.

Fertilizer regulations:

  1. You need to bring in a certain amount of fertilizing! It is usually indicated in the recommendations for growing flowers. And let it be better than fertilizers, the more.
  2. It is not recommended to feed patients who are not rooted or are at rest.
  3. Flowers that receive little light, need to be fertilized less often, since they do not use nutrients in full, and the soil will be wasted for nothing.
  4. Do not fertilize plants in hot weather, avoid getting a solution or mixture on leaves and stems (except for cases of foliar feeding).
  5. To fertilize plants sensitive to salts (orchids, ferns, etc.), and young flowers use a solution of weak concentration.
  6. In different periods of growth, plants require fertilizers with a large amount of this or that component. So, in the beginning of vegetation - nitrogen prevails. And in the period of planting and development buds - phosphorus and potassium.
  7. The frequency with which fertilizers are introduced can vary from 1 time per week to 1 time per month. It depends on the season of the year, the type and size of the plant, its nutritional requirements, the volume and composition of the substrate. In winter, once a month, only non-flowering plants that do not have a period of rest are fertilized. During the growing season such flowers are fed, as a rule, 2 times a month, fast-growing - once a week, and slowly growing - once a month.
  8. Do not forget that for 1 to 2 hours before applying fertilizers, the earthen plant must be thoroughly soaked with water.
  9. The role of fertilization should not be underestimated. But before you do this, look at the plant. Fertilizing houseplants, plants, remember the main rule - everything must be respected!