Fertilization

Regular feeding of indoor plants with fertilizers should become a common procedure for you, since many so-called plant diseases are caused precisely by improper care associated with lack of nutrition.

Basic elements of soil nutrition of plants

Nutrients are found in the soil as mineral and organic compounds. Plant nutrients are obtained from the soil in dissolved form through the root system. However, it is possible to provide plants with nutrients to a certain extent through the leaves (root feeding). We will tell you about the most important macro- and microelements, in which their lack and excess is manifested.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is part of complex compounds from which protein is built - the basis of living matter. Nitrogen is also part of chlorophyll, which plays an important role in plant photosynthesis. Nitrogen is especially necessary for leaves, with a lack of nitrogen, the leaves turn pale green, then turn yellow, plant growth is delayed, the leaves grind.

From a lack of nitrogen, first of all, the lower leaves of the plants turn yellow, then gradually yellowing covers the entire plant.

Excess nitrogen - the leaves become dark green, large and juicy, flowering (and ripening of fruits in lemon, orange, etc.) is delayed. In succulent plants (for example, cacti, aloe, etc.), excess nitrogen causes thinning of the skin, which bursts, leading the plant to death or leaving ugly scars. To feed plants with nitrogen, nitrogen mineral fertilizers (ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate) and organic fertilizers (manure or slurry) are used.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is part of the so-called nucleoproteins - the main component of the cell nucleus. Phosphorus provides energy processes in plant cells.

With a lack of phosphorus, the leaves become dark green, acquire a somewhat bluish tint, brown or red-purple spots appear, which gradually capture the entire leaf. First of all, the old lower leaves are affected, then the process spreads to the entire plant. The growth of shoots and roots slows down greatly, new leaves are small, flowering is delayed.

With an excess of phosphorus, which is quite rare, the absorption of iron and zinc is impaired in the plant - myzilk chlorosis appears on the leaves. Phosphorus mineral fertilizers include superphosphate, phosphorite flour, etc.

Potassium

Potassium is involved in nitrogen metabolism (helps the plant absorb carbon dioxide from the air) and protein hydration in cells. Potassium is especially necessary for flowers, with a lack of potassium, flowers do not form or they are very small.

With a lack of potassium, ammonia accumulates in the cells, from which tissue death begins (leaves turn yellow from the edges and begin to gradually fall). Plant growth is dramatically delayed. A characteristic sign of potassium starvation is a light border over the entire surface of the leaf. Moreover, yellowing begins from the top of the leaf and further down between the veins to the petiole. In addition, with a lack of potassium, plants are more easily exposed to fungal diseases.

With an excess of potassium, a slowdown in growth can also be noted. At the same time, the leaves acquire a darker shade, and the new leaves grind. Excess potassium leads to difficult absorption of elements such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron, etc. Potassium mineral fertilizers include potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, 40% potassium salt, etc. If it is found that the plant has a lack of potassium, then it is best to use potassium humate in the form of irrigation or spraying.

Sulfur

Sulfur - is one of the sources of building cell proteins. Necessary for the normal growth and development of the plant.

With a lack of sulfur, the leaves become light, the growth and development of the plant is suspended. In general, the picture is very similar to signs of a lack of nitrogen, with the only difference that yellowing, which occurs gradually, begins with younger leaves. At the same time, the yellowed leaves almost do not fall.

With excess sulfur, the leaves gradually turn yellow from the edges and shrink, turning inward. Then they brown and die. Sometimes the leaves take on a lilac-brown tint rather than yellow. Special sulfur fertilizers are not introduced into the soil, since sulfur is contained in both manure and superphosphate, which are introduced into the soil (in purchased soil mixtures).

Calcium

Calcium is also very necessary for plants - it participates in carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism, ensures the permeability of cell walls.

Lack of calcium weakens root growth, the tops of the stems and young leaves die off. At the same time, young leaves (first of all) pale and curl, become as if corrugated, then die. Lack of calcium leads to a decrease in soil pH, while the plant ceases to absorb other nutrients. Against the background of a lack of calcium, signs of "general fasting" can be noted. An excess of elements such as nitrogen, potassium and magnesium leads to a lack of calcium. Calcium is especially needed for cacti with large or multiple spines.

Excess calcium leads to a violation of the absorption of the same elements, respectively - nitrogen, potassium, as well as boron and iron. What manifests itself as mesenteric chlorosis of leaves and the appearance of light shapeless spots of dying leaf tissues.

Magnesium

Magnesium is part of chlorophyll and is involved in plant photosynthesis.

With a lack of magnesium, the leaves turn pale, mesenteric chlorosis is possible, which manifests itself in the fact that yellowing begins on the leaf blade between the longitudinal veins, first these are small spots that increase in size, then wide stripes, the veins themselves remain green. Then the leaf acquires an orange and reddish tint, turns brown and dies. Flowering is delayed, plant growth slows down. The lack of magnesium manifests itself primarily on the old lower leaves of plants.

With an excess of magnesium, the roots of the plant begin to die, the plant ceases to absorb calcium, and such symptoms occur that are characteristic of a lack of calcium. Magnesium is obtained from organic fertilizers. Magnesium deficiency primarily occurs on acidic soils.

Iron

Iron is involved in the formation of chlorophyll and proteins. Since the degree of solubility of iron of plants digested by roots directly depends on the acidity of the soil, the amount of easily digestible iron is greater in soils with an acidic pH reaction. Therefore, iron deficiency is rather formed on alkaline soils.

With a lack of iron, the formation of chlorophyll is suspended, the leaves become light yellow (chlorosis). This will not manifest itself as with a lack of magnesium, when yellowing occurs along the veins, and yellow spots form first between the veins, and then along the entire surface of the leaf. Leaf chlorosis begins with young leaves and then spreads to old leaves, covering the entire plant.

Excess iron happens quite rarely, while the growth of the root system and the entire plant stops. The leaves take on a darker hue. If, for some reason, the excess iron turned out to be very strong, then the leaves begin to die and crumble without any visible changes. With an excess of iron, the absorption of phosphorus and manganese is difficult, therefore, signs of a lack of these elements may also appear.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum participates in nitrogen exchange.

The lack of molybdenum manifests itself primarily on acidic soils. Since the content of chlorophyll in tissues decreases with a lack of molybdenum, yellow spots appear on the leaves, between the veins or along the edge of the leaf. The edges of the leaves curl and dry. Flowers of ugly shapes form in flowering plants.

Excess molybdenum leads to a violation of the digestibility of copper, with accordingly signs of a lack of this element.

Pine forest

Boron is involved in cell wall structure formation and nucleic acid synthesis. Boron is necessary for plants for the normal life of growth points, i.e. the youngest parts of the plant.

The lack of boron leads to the fact that toxic substances (quinones) accumulate in plant tissues, causing plant poisoning. With a lack of boron, the apical buds die off and rot, and young plants die. Leaves brown, deform and die. With a long lack of boron, young leaves appear small, stems and leaves thin, flowers fall or flowering does not occur at all.

The excess boron opposite begins with the old lower leaves. In this case, small brown spots appear on the leaves, gradually increasing and leading to the death of leaf tissues.

Manganese

Manganese increases the assimilation of carbon dioxide in plants, i.e. plays a large role in photosynthesis and respiration of plants.

The lack of manganese is manifested primarily on soils with a high calcium content, these are usually old, latched soils, especially if hard water was used in irrigation. With a lack of manganese, plants are slightly leafy. On the leaves you can see signs of chlorosis, while it will appear not as with a lack of magnesium or iron, but in the form of small yellow dots and spots. Then the leaves turn pale, and pale yellow necrotic spots appear in place of the dots. This is the so-called droplet chlorosis. It begins, as a rule, from the edges of the sheet, covering the entire sheet plate.

Excess manganese, in contrast to its lack, manifests itself more often on acidic soils. As a result of an excess of manganese in plant cells, the content of chlorophyll decreases, therefore, the symptoms will be the same as with a lack of magnesium, i.e. mesenteric chlorosis begins, primarily from old leaves, brown necrotic spots appear. The leaves shrivel and fly around.

Copper

Copper participates in the synthesis of proteins and carbohydrates, as well as in the processes of photosynthesis and respiration, increases the resistance of plants to fungal diseases.

A lack of copper is observed with excess phosphorus, i.e. with excessive application of phosphorus fertilizers. Also, a lack of copper appears on humus-rich soils or excessive application of humus fertilizers, since copper ions are bound by humus substances. With a lack of copper, the turgor of the leaves is lost, they curl, and the plant wilts. With a lack of copper, white chlorosis spots appear on the leaves. The apical leaves, from which a lack of copper begins to appear, are too large and pale in color.

Excess copper is also extremely harmful to the plant. It manifests itself in the fact that the plant is inhibited in development, brown spots appear on the leaves, and they die off. The process begins with the lower older leaves.

Methods of using trace elements

• Treatment of seeds in solutions of trace elements;
• Feeding plants through the soil and through the leaves during the period of plant growth and development;
• Addition of microelements to the mixture of organic-mineral fertilizers.

Signs of mineral excess

• Drooping leaves;
• White crust on the surface of the soil and the outer wall of the ceramic pot;
• Dry brown leaf spots, dry leaf margins;
• In summer, the growth of the plant is suspended, and in winter you can see weak, elongated stems.

Several important points in fertilizer dressing

• A lack or excess of micro- and macronutrients causes certain changes in the development of the plant. However, this may not appear immediately, but after a certain time of a hidden (latent) period.
• Excessive content of any element in the soil never compensates for the lack of other elements, but, on the contrary, can cause a negative reaction.
• An accurate diagnosis of a deficiency of an element is not always possible, primarily because the deficiency of some elements causes the same reaction. For example, the lack of iron, nitrogen and magnesium is manifested in the yellowing of the leaves (myzilky chlorosis). Also, the determination of nutritional disorders can be complicated by the species characteristics of plants or their physiological state. Often, a flat mite lesion causes the same pattern that occurs when there is a lack of calcium in the soil (slowing growth, twisting of leaves and their falling off).
• Very often it turns out that in the soil there is a shortage of some elements and an excess of others, or an excess of any element, causes difficulty in assimilating another. So the excess of magnesium leads to the non-absorption of calcium by the roots of the plant.

Similar symptoms of malnutrition

• The lack of nitrogen in the initial stage, when the old lower leaves begin to turn yellow, looks very similar to signs of a lack of lighting in autumn-winter time, which is also manifested in the yellowing of the lower old leaves.
• Lack of nitrogen in some plants leads to the formation of anthocyanin in the leaves, causing the leaf to turn reddish. When some types of ticks are affected, redness of the leaves may also appear along with their deformation (twisting).
• The lack of potassium, manifested in the wilting of the leaves, when they brighten and dry from the edges, can be mistaken for a violation in watering and exposure to too dry air.
• The lack of copper, manifested in the loss of turgor plants by tissues, twisting of leaves, is quite similar to the fact that the plant was dried out, not watering it enough, and possibly kept in a bright, hot place.

• Fertilization (continued)