Successful Guide To Growing Tropical Plants Vol. 3 - Organic Fertilizers

Today's issue of 'Successful Guide To Growing
Tropical Plants' deals with one of my favorite
topics, organic fertilizers.

The subject of organic fertilizers is so broad that
I'm only focusing on a few products no gardener
should be without.

These products may be used on everything you
grow, including tropical plants, annuals, perennials,
vegetables, and more.

You may use these organic soil additives and fertilizers
alone or in combination with synthetic fertilizers.

Organic fertilizers are animal or plant products, or
by-products which are available in granular and liquid
forms.

Blood Meal....

• Dried, powdered blood
• One of the highest organic sources of Nitrogen
• Follow package instructions
• Too much can burn plants with excessive Ammonia
• Completely soluble
• Can be mixed with water and applied as liquid fertilizer
• Deters animals in your garden, like rabbits, as well
• Can be used as composting activator
• Sprinkle it around roots at planting time, or
• Top-dress by working into soil around plants already planted


Symptoms of Nitrogen deficiency....

• Overall poor plant growth
• Yellowing leaves due to reduced Chlorophyll
• Lower leaves more affected
• Rest of plant is often light green


Bone Meal....

• Slow release fertilizer made from crushed bones
• Provides Phosphorus and Calcium
• Finely ground bone meal provides fast release of nutrients
• Sprinkle it around roots at planting time, or
• Top-dress by working into soil around plants already planted


Symptoms of Phosphorus deficiency....

• Lack of, or poor, flowering
• Leaf tips turn brown or black
• This is followed by lower leaves turning dark-green or reddish-purple


Fish Emulsion....

• Organic fertilizer high in Nitrogen
• Typical N-P-K analysis is 5-2-2
• Can be applied as soil drench or foliar feed
• Look for fish emulsion that has been deodorized
• Any "after-scent" is short lived


Blood meal, bone meal, and fish emulsion are the three gardening
products widely used by many gardeners, including myself.


Another widely used product is....

Guano....

• Excrement of seabirds and bats
• Contains high levels of Phosphorus and Nitrogen
• Added to soil deficient in organic matter

The topic of organic fertilizers can be covered in hundreds
of Ezine articles being such an extensive subject.

The above mentioned soil additives and fertilizers, blood meal, bone meal, fish emulsion, and guano will make your tropical plants look their best and reward you with lush foliage and
colorful, vibrant inflorescenses (flowers).

In the next Ezine the subject is the use of Seaweed.
This powerhouse Seaweed gives your plants an
"Adrenaline Rush" resulting in picturesque
tropical plants you usually see only in
gardening magazines and catalogs.

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

Copyright © Bob Walsh Enterprises 2010
www.bestindoortropicalhawaiianhouseplants.com

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.

Copyright © Bob Walsh Enterprises 2010
www.bestindoortropicalhawaiianhouseplants.com