Calendula, Scotch marigold. Photo Amanda Jarrett
The Three Numbers: N-P-K - Working with Ratios - Types of Fertilizers - Methods of Applying Fertilizers
Fertilizers & Working WIth Ratios
The Three Numbers: N-P-K
All fertilizers possess three numbers on their labels. Those three numbers represent percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash (potassium).
All fertilizers possess three numbers on their labels. Those three numbers represent percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash (potassium).
- The first number represents Nitrogen (N).
- The second number represents Phosphorus (P).
- The third number represents potash (Potassium) (K).
Working with Ratios
Have you ever seen an 8 foot tomato plant with few, if any, flowers and fruit? It's a typical dilemma when too much nitrogen has been applied (synthetic nitrogen, fish fertilizer and manure products). Selecting a suitable fertilizer depends on what you want to promote such as leaves, flowers, roots and hardiness. When one of the three numbers is higher than the rest, that dominant nutritional element encourages specific growth such as leaves or flowers. Coming back to that that sky high, unproductive tomato plant; once the plant grows a good framework of leaves and stems, reduce its nitrogen, but do give it a high phosphorus fertilizer such as 6-8-6. This will promote flowers … and tomatoes.
How to Work With Fertilizer Ratios
Have you ever seen an 8 foot tomato plant with few, if any, flowers and fruit? It's a typical dilemma when too much nitrogen has been applied (synthetic nitrogen, fish fertilizer and manure products). Selecting a suitable fertilizer depends on what you want to promote such as leaves, flowers, roots and hardiness. When one of the three numbers is higher than the rest, that dominant nutritional element encourages specific growth such as leaves or flowers. Coming back to that that sky high, unproductive tomato plant; once the plant grows a good framework of leaves and stems, reduce its nitrogen, but do give it a high phosphorus fertilizer such as 6-8-6. This will promote flowers … and tomatoes.
How to Work With Fertilizer Ratios
- to encourage foliage, stems and vigour:
- high Nitrogen ex: 10-5-5
- to induce flowering:
- high Phosphorus ex: 5-10-8
- to encourage root growth:
- high Phosphorus ex: 5-10-8
- to promote hardiness and vigour:
- high potash ex: 5-8-10
Complete Fertilizers:
Contains all three major nutrients ex: 6-8-3, 10-15-10. It is recommended to use complete fertilizers as all plant parts are being fed.
Incomplete Fertilizer:
When one or more nutrients are missing ex: 6-8-0, 22-0-0. Usually used when there is no need or there is an excess of one or more of the nutritional elements.
Balanced Fertilizer:
All three elements are the same percentage ex: 20-20-20, 5-5-5. All plant parts receive the same percentage of food so no one element is stimulating a specific type of plant growth. Suitable for established plantings and container grown plants.
Unbalanced Fertilizer:
The elements are not equal amounts ex: 6-8-6, 10-6-4. Used to stimulate either leaves, flowers, roots, hardiness, whatever is needed to promote specific plant development.
Contains all three major nutrients ex: 6-8-3, 10-15-10. It is recommended to use complete fertilizers as all plant parts are being fed.
Incomplete Fertilizer:
When one or more nutrients are missing ex: 6-8-0, 22-0-0. Usually used when there is no need or there is an excess of one or more of the nutritional elements.
Balanced Fertilizer:
All three elements are the same percentage ex: 20-20-20, 5-5-5. All plant parts receive the same percentage of food so no one element is stimulating a specific type of plant growth. Suitable for established plantings and container grown plants.
Unbalanced Fertilizer:
The elements are not equal amounts ex: 6-8-6, 10-6-4. Used to stimulate either leaves, flowers, roots, hardiness, whatever is needed to promote specific plant development.
Organic fertilizers are often sold as a fine dust applied to soil.
Types of Fertilizers
Choose from granular, water soluble, liquids, slow release, dusts, foliar, nutritional sprays, as well as organic and synthetic. Liquid (water soluble) fertilizers work fast, but don’t have longevity, however they are great quick fix for hungry, nutrient deficient plants. Granular and slow release types provide a steady source of nutrients over a longer period of time, but they take time to work. For nutrient deficient plants, use liquid fertilizer (kelp, fish, synthetic etc.) as well as slow release, granular food, to further aid in the plant's recovery. When using any type of fertilizer, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Choose from granular, water soluble, liquids, slow release, dusts, foliar, nutritional sprays, as well as organic and synthetic. Liquid (water soluble) fertilizers work fast, but don’t have longevity, however they are great quick fix for hungry, nutrient deficient plants. Granular and slow release types provide a steady source of nutrients over a longer period of time, but they take time to work. For nutrient deficient plants, use liquid fertilizer (kelp, fish, synthetic etc.) as well as slow release, granular food, to further aid in the plant's recovery. When using any type of fertilizer, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
The dripline of a tree is where the canopy ends.
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 Hose end sprayers allow easy applications of water soluble fertilizers.
Methods of Applying Fertilizers
Apply granular types evenly on the ground and not placed in mounds. Keep them away from plant stems, flowers, leaves and even woody trunks as they will damage plant tissue, including tree bark. The majority of these roots are located on the outer circumference of the plant’s canopy. This is referred to as the dripline, and it is where the branches end. When applying fertilizer in liquid form, apply on the plant as well as the dripline. They are absorbed and used quickly by plants and are good when deficiencies occur. Foliar fertilizers work even faster as the food is absorbed when sprayed on plant leaves. |
Check out:
Soil Building
Composting
Fertilizing & Feeding Plants
Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities
Organic Plant Foods
Soil Building
Composting
Fertilizing & Feeding Plants
Nutritional Deficiencies & Toxicities
Organic Plant Foods
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