All plants require nutrients to grow, and every plant has its own unique nutritional needs. Fertilizer promotes healthy, thriving plants, but in order to achieve these results, it helps to understand what it is and how it works. The guide below explores what you should know about using fertilizer.

What’s the Purpose of Fertilizer?

Flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other plants cannot grow quickly or effectively without the right nutrients. Fertilizer is used to supplement nutrients when there is not enough in the soil. Plants require a variety of chemicals to grow, the most important of which include the primary macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. These occur naturally in the soil, often recycled from dead plants. As living plants use them up and soil erodes, small, weak, and young plants will struggle to grow. Adding fertilizer provides a reliable supply of nutrients that can help plants grow bigger and stronger at a faster rate.

How Does It Work?

Each chemical used in fertilizers plays a different role in plant growth:

• Nitrogen: This is considered the most important component for growing plants. Nitrogen allows plants to capture sunlight through photosynthesis, supporting growth. Plants need this chemical in the highest quantities.
• Phosphorous: Another critical component of growth, phosphorous plays a role in converting nutrients into food. This promotes healthy root growth, flowering, plant quality, and seed formation.
• Potassium: Potassium helps regulate the opening and closing of the stomata, which controls the plant’s use of water. Potassium makes water use more efficient; improves the plant’s resistance to pests and disease; stimulates early growth; and may increase the size and quality of the flower, fruit, or vegetable.

When plants don’t get enough of these nutrients, it can stunt their growth, reduce their crop yield, and leave them vulnerable to disease. If you put down fertilizer, however, nutrients are absorbed through the roots and used by the plants to fuel growth. This prevents problems caused by deficiencies while helping plants thrive.

Bags of fertilizer typically list the percentage of each chemical they contain using three numbers, called the N-P-K (nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium) ratio. For example, a 16-12-10 bag would consist of 16% nitrogen, 12% phosphorous, and 10% potassium. The remaining percentage is filler that makes it easier to apply to soil. 

If you need high-quality fertilizers to encourage lush, healthy plants, come to Bolivar Farmers Exchange in Polk County, MO. They make their own fertilizers and offer bulk fertilizer and professional application services. As the go-to feed and farm supply shop for over a century, they are dedicated to offering great products, friendly customer service, and affordable prices. Learn more about their services online and call (417) 326-5231 if you have any questions.