Nitrogen
Nitrogen is used to form
basic proteins, chlorophyll, and enzymes for the plant cells. In
short, a plant can't grow without it. Your plants use the nitrate
or nitric form of nitrogen immediately because they're soluble.
But watering can wash them away. The ammonium types of nitrogen
will take from two weeks to three months for the plant to use, but
won't leach out of the pot.
When using fertilizers,
check the package to see which kind of nitrogen you're getting.
The "N" number of the "N-P-K" formula will tell
you the percentage of nitrogen, by weight, in the mix. A "quick
release" fertilizer will contain nitrates so your plant can
use them right away. "Slow release" indicates the ammonium
form of nitrogen. Ammonium nitrate is actually a half-and-half mix
of nitric oxygen (quick release) and ammonium nitrogen (slow release).
The best organic sources
for nitrogen are alfalfa meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, and guano.
Budget-conscious gardeners can try the following trick. The next
time you have fish for dinner, save the heads and the bones. Place
these in the bottom of a windowbox or large planter before putting
in the potting soil. The fish bones will act as slow release nitrogen
fertilizers for your plants. Sound gross? Try collecting seagull
turds (guano).
When fertilizing, remember
that too much nitrogen can be as bad as too little. Plants can suffer
nitrogen burn or grow so much foliage that they never flower.
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