{"id":1198,"date":"2019-04-28T05:25:09","date_gmt":"2019-04-28T12:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalgarden.co\/?p=1198"},"modified":"2022-08-03T20:20:06","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T03:20:06","slug":"using-nutrients-for-the-best-quality-crops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalgarden.co\/knowledge\/using-nutrients-for-the-best-quality-crops\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Nutrients for the Best Quality Crops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’re growing plants you know the importance of using nutrients to achieve healthy plants and high yields. However, what’s the right way to use nutrients?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with most items, there’s not one cookie-cutter answer. The type and amount of nutrients you should apply depends on the crop you’re growing, the age of the crop, your growing methods, and a number of other factors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that said, some basic knowledge will help you understand how to add nutrients in a way that results in high-quality crops. In this article, we’ll cover some common nutrients and what they do for plants. We’ll also answer some common questions regarding nutrient applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do Plants Need Nutrients?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just as with humans, plants need minerals to complete the processes they need to survive. While we can survive for a while on white bread, nutrient deficiencies will eventually become apparent. The same applies to plants. All plants need access to more than just water, sunlight, and air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some nutrients, such as nitrogen and magnesium, are required for basic plant growth. Other trace elements help plants respond to their environments and complete processes such as the development of flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Plants Use Nutrients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One way to get an idea of how you should fertilize your plants throughout their growth stages is to learn a bit more about how different nutrients are used<\/a>. Below is an overview of the different processes nutrients perform within a plant. Understanding these jobs will help make sense of why each nutrient is necessary throughout the growth stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant Growth and Structure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Plants use both sulfur and nitrogen for structural purposes. These nutrients are part of the carbon compounds within a plant. Therefore, they help strengthen plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nitrogen is required in high amounts for vegetative growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Structure and Energy Storage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Phosphorus, boron, and silicon are responsible for energy storage and transfer. They also add more structural strength to plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant Adjustment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Potassium<\/a>, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, and sodium are key to helping plants send signals. These signals help plants react to changing conditions such as changes in temperature or water availability. Having good levels of these nutrients ensures your plant is adaptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Redox Reactions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, you have nutrients involved in reduction-oxidation, or redox, reactions. These include nickel, zinc, iron, molybdenum and copper. These are responsible for reduction reactions and oxidation reactions within a plant. In other words, they make it possible for photosynthesis to work properly and for the plant to get the energy it needs.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Feeding Hydroponic Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common methods of growing good bud is through a hydroponic approach. This method gives growers control over variables such as nutrient availability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a hydroponic system, nutrients must be administered with precision every day. Growers must watch how the plant responds to a nutrient level and adjust the dose accordingly until it\u2019s perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeding Soil Based Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re feeding nutrients to plants in a soil-based<\/a> system, you don’t have to apply as often. This is because the soil holds elements and slowly releases them over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The general rule-of-thumb is to provide nutrients once every other watering, but some growers wait for every third or fourth watering. Rather than guess, take a soil sample to determine the fertility present in your soil. Based on this measurement, determine the right concentration and frequency using a feed chart. Monitor and make careful adjustments over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Precise tracking and nutrient dose adjustments are both signs of a skilled grower. That\u2019s what leads to the best crop production in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting the Nutrient Ratio Right<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the first challenges that new growers<\/a> face when purchasing nutrients is deciding which product is best for their grow. There are a variety of organic and conventional<\/a> products available. All the options can be overwhelming!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter what product you choose, you must change the nutrients you’re applying throughout your plant’s life. This is because a plant’s nutrient needs<\/a> change throughout its life cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the early vegetative parts of the growth cycle, nitrogen is the most important. This is because nitrogen is key to boosting vegetative growth. A fertilizer with a high nitrogen, low phosphorus, and mild potassium usually performs best. The Grow product from Green House Feeding<\/a> is a good choice since it has an NPK ratio of 4-1-2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later on, when plants start entering the flowering phase, nitrogen isn\u2019t as important. At this point, the focus turns to phosphorus and potassium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The length of the flowering stage also plays a role in the proper fertilizer. Plants with short flowering periods require a lot of potassium right away, so a product like Green House Feeding Short Flower<\/a> is a good choice. For plants with a longer flowering period, choose a product with a more balanced amount of nitrogen and potassium. The Long Flower<\/a> product provides this balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you have the right fertilizers, your work isn’t over. You still have to provide them to your plants in the proper dosage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeding the Right Amount of Nutrients to Your Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even when you have the perfect nutrient supply and you decide on the right ratio of nutrients to use in your plants, you still have to feed them to the plants in the right intervals. That means understanding basic feeding durations and knowing how to read the signs of either too many nutrients or too few<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s also helpful to understand mobile versus immobile nutrients. Mobile nutrients can move throughout the plant, so deficiency symptoms occur in older growth. Immobile nutrients cannot move, so deficiency symptoms occur in new growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are common symptoms of nutrient toxicity and deficiency<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too Many Nutrients (Toxicity)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n