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NUTRIENT MAGIC
Have you ever seen a neighbor out in their yard spreading different liquids and dry looking materials in their garden and before you know it their tomatoes and grass look amazing? Well, this is us telling you not to start yelling, "Witch!"
Just as we all need certain amounts of vitamins and nutrients to be healthy and strong to perform at our best, plants need certain nutrients as well. Healthy soil usually provides a substantial amount of these nutrients. Much of the time plants still need more. The three major nutrients that all plants require are nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. A catchy way to remember what each nutrient does for the plant is the saying "Up, Down and All Around."
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Nitrogen is a must for chlorophyll production to help make photosynthesis possible. Remember that chlorophyll is what makes plants green, so if a plant does not have enough nitrogen to make chlorophyll it will be yellow. If your plants are yellow they are not producing enough energy for themselves through photosynthesis . Nitrogen is also a major component in the production of amino acids which are the building blocks of plant proteins. Yes, many of the same important amino acids people can use for exercising and building muscle. Nitrogen could be named the "energy nutrient." Without the proteins it helps produce and chlorophyll to produce energy, plants will begin to yellow, wilt and eventually die.
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Phosphate is a vital component of DNA which is the genetic makeup of every living thing. Phosphate is what holds DNA together and enables it to replicate and develop new plant cells. New plant cells lead to healthy growth of roots, foliage and fruit. In fact, having adequately available phosphate is what promotes healthy root and stem growth. With a deficiency in phosphate, you will visually be able to see a plant size difference. This is the very reason phosphate can be viewed as a plants "foundation nutrient," if available it will help plants flourish.
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Potassium is used in nearly every plant process required for sustaining plant growth and plant reproduction. Plants use potassium for water utilization, resisting drought, as well as to produce sugars and starches. This nutrient can also be nicknamed the "quality nutrient." With an adequate amount, plants will visually have a more attractive color as well as provide bigger and tastier fruits and vegetables. As with all plant nutrients, if a plant has enough potassium the results will surprise you now and inspire you for later.
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