Just like people, plants need to have the right balance of nutrients to thrive. The growing medium your plants are in is their source of nutrients and this is especially so where the plant is in a container. It is recommended that the compost is replaced and refreshed regularly to maintain the soil fertility.
Some of the feeds on offer are to correct an imbalance in the soil. Tree start is high in lime, so it is not suitable to be planted directly; however, when mixed into an existing bed, it can give the soil structure and reduce its acidity. More commonly, people have to add an ericaceous growing medium or a liquid feed to keep their acid-loving plants looking their best. A compost which is peat free can still be used for growing Rhododendrons and similar plants so long as a feed is used to correct the imbalance.
Feeds are classed as organic or inorganic. Granular feed such as Growmore, which is synthetically made of chemicals and minerals, is inorganic; Bonemeal is an animal extract, so it is classed as organic.
Inorganic fertilisers are quickly absorbed by the plants as they are more soluble. The downside is that this also makes them more susceptible to being leached away in wet environments. Organic fertilisers are more complex. It will take longer for the plant to extract the nutrients it requires, however the long term implications are that the general soil fertility will increase and the plant will be more robust. An organic fertiliser is better for the environment, uses less energy to produce and is generally the more economic option.
Granular feeds include the chemicals Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium in equal measure, often know as N P K. Which is what a plant needs for root growth, better foliage and fruit production. Bonemeal contains Nitrogen and Phospherous naturally and this makes it good for establishing trees, shrubs and fruit bushes. All feeds can be used either at the time of planting or worked into the soil as an after plant feed.
Did You Know?
The Dig For Victory campaign was a government initiative set up to combat food shortages during world war two. It was launched in 1940 and was so successful that by 1945, Britain was producing 75% of its own food. Allotments and small holdings were planted up in public spaces and in many domestic gardens. To support this, a fertiliser was needed, which would work quickly and be easy to apply. This is how Growmore started. The fertiliser contained the three basic chemicals a plant needs in equal measure: 7 % Nitrogen (N), 7% Phosphorus (P), and 7% Potassium (K). This is the same mix used today.
Posted 31st Jul 1:13pm
