Successful Guide To Growing Tropical Plants Vol. 2 - Fertilizers

Now that you potted your new tropical plants,
let them adjust in their new pots for about
2 weeks, it's time to talk about fertilizers.

Fertilizers are sold as....

•Granular
•Liquid
•Organic
•Synthetic

Granular fertilizers are usually slow release
fertilizers meaning that they release the nutrients
to the plant over a period of time.

Liquid fertilizers are added to water and are
immediately available to your plants by absorption
through the roots.

Organic fertilizers are derived from animal or
vegetable waste, or contain minerals which
organically exist in nature already.

Synthetic fertilizers are inorganic, or man-made
fertilizers.

All fertilizers have 3 numbers on their packaging
representing the percentage of each nutrient present.

These 3 elements are called Primary Macronutrients
because they are consumed in larger quantities by plants.

•The first number represents Nitrogen (N)
•The second number represents Phosphorus (P)
•The third number represents Potassium (K)

Any fertilizer labeled 15-9-12, for instance, contains....

•15% Nitrogen
•9% Phosporus
•12% Potassium

The 3 Secondary Macronutrients include....

•Calcium (Ca)
•Sulfur (S)
•Magnesium (Mg)

But any good fertilizer also contains Micronutrients.
They are called Micronutrients because they are
required by plants in much smaller amounts than
Macronutrients.

Micronutrients include....

•Boron (B)
•Copper (Cu)
•Iron (Fe)
•Manganese (Mn)
•Molybdenum (Mo)
•Zinc (Zn)
•Chloride (Cl)

Sometimes we look at plants and think they are
sick because they show yellowing leaves or other
signs which disturb the appearance of the plant.

But all your plants need is a change in their
"diet and menu" you are giving them,
namely fertilizers.

This Ezine was a trip back memory lane visiting
chemistry class.

In the next Ezine I want to talk about organic
fertilizers and organic soil additives which benefit
your tropical plants tremendously.

Next, for your FREE Gift, Grow Your Own Tropical Garden, which includes useful tips on how to grow tropical plants in any climate, visit Tropical House Plants.

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www.bestindoortropicalhawaiianhouseplants.com