Plant Fertilizers. A Brief definition. Plant Food! Plant Fertilizers. A Brief definition. Horticulture Revision Committee May 2007

What IS fertilizer? It is PLANT FOOD.

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

3 Major elements nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium

N P K ! The MAJOR elements!

NITROGEN! (N) The UPPER or ABOVE GROUND part of the plant! MAKES MY LEAVES TURN GREEN The UPPER or ABOVE GROUND part of the plant!

PHOSPHORUS! Feeds the ROOTS! The underground part of the plant! Also helps to promote BLOOMS!

POTASSIUM! (K) Potassium is an ALL AROUND element that helps the development of cells, roots, stems and most EVERYTHING to help a plant grow!

Up! Nitrogen! Down! Phosphorus! All around! Potassium!

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!

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.