Download Plant Food!

Plant Food!
Plant Fertilizers.
A Brief definition.
Horticulture Revision Committee
May 2007
August 2008
What IS fertilizer?
• It is PLANT FOOD.
August 2008
August 2008
Major elements
• Nitrogen, Phosphorus and
Potassium are the Major elements
all plants need.
• N-P-K example: 10-10-10
• Required in large amounts. They
must be added by applying NPK
fertilizer. 10-10-10, or 14-14-14, etc.
• Also called the Macronutrients
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3 Major elements
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
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August 2008
NITROGEN!
(N)
• MAKES MY LEAVES TURN GREEN
• The UPPER or ABOVE
GROUND part of the plant!
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PHOSPHORUS!
• Feeds the ROOTS! The
underground
• part of the plant!
• Also helps to
• promote BLOOMS!
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POTASSIUM! (K)
• Potassium is an ALL AROUND
element that helps the
development of cells, roots,
stems and most
EVERYTHING to help a plant
grow!
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Up! Nitrogen!
Down! Phosphorus!
All around! Potassium!
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Minor elements
• Elements that plants need in
minor amounts. They may or
may not need to be added to
the soil.
• Calcium, boron, iron and
others.
• Micronutrients!
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Leaching
• It is when the fertilizer
nutrients are leached out
(washed out) of soil over
time from excessive water.
• Caused from excessive
rain or watering.
• This is why you have to
keep applying fertilizers to
plants.
August 2008