Hello i just bought some fertilizers and i was wondering if anyone knew what the numbers (0-0-0)mean? And how do i use them to tell when to add them to a plant?
The numbers represent the analysis of the 3 major nutrients in the fertilizer. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the three main nutrients needed by plants, each one affects plant growth differently. They always appear on the label in the same order: (N)Nitrogen - (P)Phosphorus - (K)Potassium. This explanation is sort of over-simplified, but it might help to give you some idea of what it's all about; Nitrogen - helps plants to produce clorophyll, so it's good for lots of nice green foliage. Phosphorus - helps with root development and improves a plant's ability to produce more and bigger flowers. Potassium - sort of boosts the effect of the other two, and helps plants to be generally stronger and more disease resistant. When in doubt, I usually just stick with what is generally called a "balanced" fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 15-15-15. :-D **edited to correct a spelling error
let me "muddy the waters" so to speak, for a moment. kalalaukid has posed a question here that although ZuZu's answer is correct, leaves me wondering if... the same applies to liquid fertlizers? For example, a 100-pound (43 kg) bag of 5-10-10 fertilizer consists of 5 percent nitrogen (5 pounds, or 2.3 kg); 10 percent phosphorus (10 pounds, or 4.6 kg); and 10 percent potassium (10 pounds, or 4.6 kg). So, added together,the bag has 25 pounds of plant-usable nutrients. The remaining 75 pounds (34 kg) consists of only carrier, or filler. So, in liquid fertilizer, does the same hold true, and a liquid filler is used? Never thought of this, nor has the question ever been asked of me...being organic, I have only basic knowledge of store bought fertilizers, bagged, or liquid.
Ya know, 8) I have wondered about that, too, Phil . . . I wonder if the NPK percentages on the label of a mix-it-yourself spray-on fertilizer would reflect the point-of-delivery numbers, inclusive of the inert ingredients (water) added by the user. Of course, there may also be small amounts of other things, such as micro-nutrients and a sticking agent of some type. Those chemicals in commercial bagged fertilizers can be pretty scary, and most of the inert fillers added to them are there to dilute the concentration and help users avoid burning the bee-jeebers out of their plants. Those filler ingredients can include sand and/or dirt, knowing that 75% of your bag of fertilizer might be sand kinda gets your attention, huh? Phil is probably very familiar with all of this info already, but for beginners with an interest in growing organic, this is a great article by Howard Garrett, with helpful info about organic alternatives, and it even includes his recipe for making your own sprayable Garrett Juice: CLICK HERE
