What kind of fertilizer is best for my flowers? Should I use a liquid option or a granular fertilizer? And perhaps most importantly – should I use organic or synthetic fertilizer? If you’ve asked yourself any of these questions, you are in luck! We are here to help.
What do the numbers on the packaging mean?
This is what is known as “NPK values”. They are usually listed on the front or back of the fertilizer packaging. These values tell you about the critical ingredients of the product: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potash.
The NPK numbers represent the percentage of each given nutrient compared to the less essential nutrients and filler ingredients. There is no exact formula when it comes to determining the right NPK value for your plant.
However, whichever fertilizer you choose, it is crucial to follow the dosage instructions carefully! With too little fertilizer you will not see the results you are looking for, and with too much fertilizer you could cause a lot of damage to your plant.
Liquid fertilizer vs granular fertilizer
Liquid fertilizer is absorbed much more quickly than granular fertilizer. However, this isn’t always a good thing! Liquid fertilizers are much trickier to use than granular fertilizers, and they can easily lead to fertilizer burn, which can scorch your plant.
On the other hand, granular fertilizers are much more gentle and slow absorbing. You can think of granular plant fertilizers as a long term investment in your soil’s overall health! Granular fertilizers also help to ensure that your flowers will never suffer from fertilizer burn.
Organic vs synthetic fertilizer
Organic fertilizers have a great impact on soil
Organic fertilizers improve the texture of the soil, allowing the soil to hold moisture for longer. This creates the ideal environment for your plant to thrive.
Synthetic fertilizers can deplete the soil of nutrients, making them a counterproductive method of nourishing your plants. The health of your plant starts with the soil!
Organic fertilizers tend to work very slowly
The soil must break down the organic material of the organic fertilizer, making it absorb more slowly than synthetic fertilizer.
This also means that not only the plant itself becomes enriched but also the soil. This promotes the long term health of your plant. Remember, when you fertilize you should not only focus on short term results.
In contrast, synthetic fertilizers can overdo it and end up burning or otherwise damaging your plant. Your flowers will get overwhelmed or scorched. This negatively affects the overall health of your plant.
Organic fertilizers are easy to use
If you are switching from synthetic fertilizer to organic fertilizer, you have nothing to be worried about! Organic fertilizers are no more complicated to use than synthetic fertilizers.
Additionally, organic fertilizers are multi-use. They are strong enough to be used in your extensive outdoor or container gardens, but they are also gentle enough to be used on houseplants, both flowering and non-flowering.
Organic fertilizers are safe for your garden
When it comes to fertilizing flowers, you want to be extra careful with how you fertilize. You want to make sure that your friends and family, both young and old, are not encountering any dangerous or harmful chemicals when they go to look at your flowers.
Organic, non-toxic fertilizer also offers protection to any furry friends you may have running around your home, backyard, or garden. You never know what young children or animals can get into, so it is always better to play it safe.
Additionally, if you are eco-minded, it is essential to note that fertilizers often run off into bodies of water like rivers, lakes, or oceans. Using an organic fertilizer ensures that you will not accidentally cause harm to your local ecology and the world at large!
Conclusion
All of this is to say that whether you’re a flower novice or a gardening enthusiast, you should always try to be as well versed as possible when it comes to different kinds of fertilizers.
It will be beneficial to your garden for you to take the time to understand the differences between organic and synthetic fertilizers and how those differences can affect your flowers!
