Fertilizer is not just fertilizer

One topic that concerns all gardeners is plant health. Healthy plants are beautiful, grow vigorously and evenly, and can produce vibrant flowers and delicious fruits. To ensure that all your plants in the garden are always healthy, they need a lot of nutrients. It's not just about having the nutrients present in your garden soil or potting mix; it's also about the balance of these nutrients. Moreover, it's crucial that these substances are available in a form that plants can easily absorb. This requires the right amount of water, which serves as a carrier medium. The roots then take up both the water and all the dissolved substances, converting them into plant mass or storing them.

The nutrient content in the soil is constantly changing, primarily due to the plants themselves. Fortunately, not all plants have the same nutrient requirements. In fact, some plants add substances to the soil that others need for growth. This is why, for example, in agriculture, crop rotation can help balance nutrient loss in the soil, and this can also be implemented in a vegetable garden through green manure. In ornamental gardens, however, some plants are meant to stay in the same spot for many years. This is exactly why we need to continually replenish nutrients in the soil through fertilization.

Fertilizers are primarily differentiated into mineral and organic types. Mineral fertilizers provide nutrients like potassium, phosphate, nitrogen, and others in the form of salts, often sourced from mining. Well-known examples include blue ammonium sulfate and Epsom salts.

Organic fertilizers mainly use animal-based materials, such as manure, hair, horn, and bones, though plant-based materials are also used. These are either composted or used as green manure, planted directly in the soil and then incorporated. Common organic fertilizers include manure, compost, guano, and horn meal.

Mineral fertilizers are particularly useful for initial fertilization and when there are signs of nutrient deficiencies in plants. They are known for the precise addition of individual nutrients and their rapid availability to plants. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, provide a comprehensive, long-term solution, ensuring a steady, balanced supply of nutrients for the plants.