The effects of essential nutrients to plants

Plant Nutrients 101 – The effects of essential nutrients to plants
According to the studies, less than 50% of the country’s home gardeners use any type of fertilizer on their lawns or gardens. What’s unfortunate about this statistic is that it means gardeners aren’t getting as many flowers or as much produce as they should. And they’re probably fighting disease and insect problems that could be avoided. Well-fed plants are healthier, more productive and more beautiful.

plant-nutrients

Plants should be fertilized because most soil does not provide the essential nutrients necessary for optimum growth. Even if you are lucky enough to begin with great garden soil, as your plants grow, they absorb nutrients and leave the soil less fertile. Remember those tasty tomatoes and beautiful roses you grew last year? It took nutrients from the soil to build those plant tissues. By fertilizing your garden, you replenish lost nutrients and make sure that this year’s plants have the food they need to flourish.

There are 6 main nutrients that plants require. Plants obtain the first 3 main nutrients(carbon, hydrogen and oxygen) from air and water. The other 3 are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.