Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 138 5/24/17 12:11 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 139 5/24/17 12:11 PM

138 chapter 3

important for root crops, such as beets, carrots, and

onions, as well as for encouraging flower and fruit

production. That’s why fertilizers that contain bone

meal and rock phosphate are often recommended

for use on root crops: both are rich in phosphorous.

Potassium helps trigger certain plant enzymes

and regulates a plant’s carbon dioxide uptake by

controlling the pores on a leaf’s surface, called

stomata, through which gasses pass. Potassium

levels influence a plant’s heartiness and vigor.

Making a Choice

To make your decision easier, you have two basic

choices when it comes to natural fertilizers for

your container garden. Let’s talk about each of

them in turn.

Complete Granular Fertilizer Blends

There are dozens of different brands of complete

granular fertilizer blends. Most combine assorted

plant, manure, animal, and mineral-based

ingredients, and depending on the brand, they

may have an N-P-K ratio of 4-5-4 or 3-3-3

or something similar. What makes them

“complete” is that they contain a combination

of ingredients that provides some amount of

all three macronutrients, in addition to many

trace nutrients, vitamins, and other things. All of

these products have different formulations and

compositions, so be sure to choose appropriately

according to what plants you’re growing. Some

complete granular fertilizer blends are even

tailored for specific crops, such as tomatoes or

flowers or bulbs, and are labeled as such.

Dierent plants have dierent nutritional needs. These

radish roots and other root crops, for example, require

the right level of phosphorous to form properly.

Vegetables such as Swiss chard, lettuce, spinach, and

other leafy greens utilize nitrogen to produce optimum

leaf growth.

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Caring for Your Containers 139

For the best results, add granular fertilizer

to your containers according to the label

instructions. Many gardeners find they get the

best results by fertilizing their containers with

granular fertilizers two or three times throughout

the growing season.

With granular products, it’s possible to have

too much of a good thing. Even natural fertilizers

can be easily overapplied, leading to nutrient

deficiencies, pH imbalance, and/or fertilizer

“burn” (yes, even some natural fertilizers are

capable of this). To avoid these issues, don’t apply

too much, too often. Again, be careful to follow

all label instructions.

Liquid Fertilizers

Liquid fertilizer products are absorbed into plants

via both their roots and their foliage. In general,

nutrients provided to plants via a liquid solution

are more readily and rapidly available for plant

use. Like all fertilizers, water soluble ones provide

plants with some of the necessary nutrients for

increasing yields and improving growth and vigor,

but not all liquid fertilizers are created equal.

While chemical-based, water soluble

fertilizers certainly supply plants with the

macronutrients specified on the label, these

products are made from salts that can harm

beneficial soil organisms. Instead of chemical

salt-based fertilizers, look for organic or

natural-based liquids, which will reduce the

risk of fertilizer burn and offer a more balanced

“diet” for your plants. In addition to the three

macronutrients, most natural liquid fertilizers

also contain dozens of trace nutrients, vitamins,

amino acids, and plant hormones, each of which

plays a vital role in the health and vigor of a

plant.There are many different types of liquid

fertilizers available on the shelf of your local

garden center, or, in some cases you can even

make your own. Here are some of the most

popular types of natural liquid fertilizers.

Fertilizer spikes are another easy way to add fertilizer to

your container garden. These are formulated especially

for tomatoes, peppers, and other fruiting crops and are

pushed down into the soil around the base of the plant.

Natural liquid fertilizers are absorbed into plants

through both their roots and their foliage. Mixing liquid

fertilizers in a watering can is the simplest way to

apply them.

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