NPK: The basics of fertilization
This mention NPK is present on all fertilizer packaging. These three letters correspond to the abbreviations of three chemical elements meeting the nutritional needs necessary for the proper growth of plants.
- NOT For Nitrogen : It promotes the growth of stems and leaves (aerial parts of the plant) and encourages photosynthesis.
- P For Phosphorus : It promotes the natural resistance of plants as well as their root development.
- K For Potassium : It also promotes the natural resistance of plants as well as their flowering and fruit ripening, and promotes the absorption of nutrients at the root level.
HOW TO READ AN NPK FORMULA?
The three numbers following the NPK correspond to the concentration of each chemical element in the fertilizer.
Thus, Liquid Gold Leaf contains 9% Nitrogen, 5% Phosphorus and 16% Potassium
THE NPK RATIO
Fertilizers have varying concentrations of these different NPK chemical elements. To compare and characterize them, we will look at the ratio of the three chemical elements.
THE Liquid Gold Leaf has an NPK ratio of 1.8 – 1 – 3.2. It is therefore a fertilizer with a low concentration of Phosphorus and a higher concentration of Potassium.
THE Plant-Prod has a ratio of 1 – 1 – 1, it is therefore a balanced fertilizer, equally concentrated in each element.
This ratio is interesting to know, because it allows you to choose and use a fertilizer that meets the needs of your plants at a given time. If you wish to promote:
- There growth aerial parts (stems, leaves), choose a fertilizer concentrated in Nitrogen ( N ): for example one with an NPK ratio of 2-1-1 or 3-1-1 for example
- Rooting and the robustness of the plant, choose a fertilizer concentrated in Phosphorus ( P ): ratio of 1-2-1 for example
- There bloom and the resistance of the plant and better absorption of nutrients by the roots, choose a fertilizer concentrated in Potassium ( K ): ratio of 1-1-3 for example
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FERTILIZER?
If you want to favor or help the development from a particular part of the plant, you can head towards a concentrated fertilizer in the chemical element of interest. For example, on young plants, we might want to encourage the growth of roots and aerial parts and thus opt for a fertilizer with a high concentration of Nitrogen and Phosphorus. Conversely, if you want to promote inflorescences or the ripening of berries, you can opt for a fertilizer with a high concentration of Potassium.
You can also go to a balanced fertilizer (ratio of 1-1-1) if you want a global development of the plant without trying to target a specific aspect of its growth. In addition, a point that is close to my heart is the ecological commitment of brands and their products. Currently, I only use products from Biotechnology ( Grow A + B and the roots + ) which are produced in France and for the most part usable in organic farming.
FERTILIZER DOSAGE
I strongly advise you to follow dilution recommendations on the packaging of your fertilizer so as not to overdose your intake (which risks having the opposite effect to that expected).
You can, however dilute more than indicated your initially highly concentrated fertilizer to water your young plants and cuttings! For example, for a fertilizer that recommends diluting 1.5mL of fertilizer in 1L of water for adult plants, you can dilute 0.75mL of fertilizer in 1L of water to water your young plants!
I hope you enjoyed this article 🙂 If you have any questions, don’t hesitate!