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Other Microelements
Your plants need certain
trace elements and nutrients to make the best use of soil, water,
and air. An important thing to remember about trace minerals is
that plants can't always use the most common forms. If your garden
store supplies them, get the chelated forms of the trace minerals.
Chelated minerals have already gone through the chemical changes
that make the minerals usable to your plants. (Kind of like Lactaid
milk for the lactose intolerant, if you know what I mean.)
Magnesium (Mg) and Iron
(Fe) are the "chlorophyll helpers." They're both important
to the plant's production of chlorophyll. Magnesium, in fact, makes
up the core of the chlorophyll molecule. Dolomitic lime and epsom
salts are good sources of magnesium. To supply your plants with
iron, try spraying liquid seaweed or chelated iron.
Calcium (Ca) and boron
(B) are essential to any plant's plumbing system. Calcium is essential
for proper water uptake, and both are important for proper cell
formation. Calcium is present in gypsum, lime, and oyster shells.
Boron is available in borax and a chelated boron spray.
Sulfur (S), zinc (Zn),
and manganese (Mn) are the "catalysts" that help other
nutrients such as nitrogen become usable by your plants. Gypsum
and flowers of sulfur are good sources of sulfur. The others are
available in chelated form, usually as a spray.
Overwhelmed? Chill out.
Remember, all of the above can be found in a simple plant food sprays.
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