Eat your vegetables. Make healthy food choices. Don’t forget to take your vitamins! We’ve all been told these things at some point, whether by our parent, our doctor, or our friends. But did you know that just like people, plants also have certain food groups that they need to ingest to keep them nourished and healthy? It’s a fact! Plants need a healthy diet of food groups that includes carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Plants get the first three nutrients – carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen – from the air and water around them. Fertilizer contains the other three nutrients – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – so adding fertilizer to your plants and flowerbeds will help them grow strong and flourish with beautiful foliage and root systems.
Let’s break it down and see just what these nutrients do to help plants:
Nitrogen (N) helps plants make the proteins they need to produce new tissues. This plant nutrient also aids in photosynthesis, the process by which green plants use sunlight to synthesize foods. Nitrogen also increases a plant’s production of seeds and fruit. And who doesn’t like to grow plants that produce a scrumptious bounty of fruit! If your plants lack nitrogen in their diet, they could experience stunted growth and yellowing or curling of older leaves.
Phosphorous (P) stimulates root growth, promotes blooming, improves vitality, and increases seed size in your plants. Phosphorus is associated with complex energy transformations and supports the formation of oils, sugars, and starches. Humans need an energy boost occasionally and plants do too! Plants suffering from a phosphorus deficiency become stunted in growth and can suffer from an abnormal dark-green color.
Potassium (K) helps regulate plant metabolism and aids in the building of protein. This plant nutrient helps with photosynthesis and fruit quality. Potassium affects water pressure regulation inside and outside of plant cells, and is important for good root development and reduction of diseases. Providing your plant with what it needs to build strength and protect against diseases can ensure a long-lasting, beautiful plant for years to come. A lack of potassium will result in stunted growth and general poor health; two results plant owners don’t want to happen.
So, whenever you select your healthy meals or take a supplement to aid in your health, don’t forget to think about your plants and their needs. Just like how people take supplemental vitamins to make sure they get all of the necessary nutrients from the foods they eat, your plants need the same consideration and treatment. Without nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, plants simply cannot grow healthily.
Let the professionals at The Grounds Guys® help you make fertilizer decisions that will add nutrients to the soil so your plants can reach their full potential. The Grounds Guys experts know the importance of adequate nutrients for lawn and plant growth. Contact the nearest location today to develop a fertilization program customized to your lawn’s needs.