| In
other words, a fertilizer helps plants to grow. Fertilizers
(also called plant food) contain three key ingredients
for plant growth - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
Typically, the percent of each of these ingredients
is located on the front of the package, it might read
something like, 29-3-4.
The
first number in the analysis is the nitrogen. Nitrogen
is what makes plants grow and green up.
The
second number is the phosphorus. Phosphorus is what
strengthens roots and allows new seeds to develop.
The
third number is the potassium. Potassium protects the
plant from disease and drought.
A
good way of remembering these numbers is Up, Down, and
All-Around. The nitrogen is listed first, and it allows
the plant to grow up; the phosphorus is listed second,
and it goes down to the roots; and, the potassium is
listed last, and it protects the plant all around. Plant
food can be absorbed either through the leaf system
or through the root system, depending on the type. |
