Fertilizer; what you need to know
Fertilizer can help make your plants green and healthy, but what is it? Most fertilizers are made up of 3 different nutrients represented as 10-10-10. Your soil may lack these nutrients or they have been used up over time.
The first number (N) Nitrogen, the most important nutrient needed for plant growth and keeping your leaves green and healthy.
The second number (P) Phosphorus, it is used in root development and flower growth.
The third number (K) Potassium, for strong stems as well as flowers and fruit. There are many different types of fertilizers, but these 3 elements are fond and enumerated in all.
So a fertilizer for plants were new growth is most important factor,a high first number and lower second and third number (like 20-5-5) would be used
A fertilizer for plants where flowers are the most important factor would have a lower first number and higher second and third numbers (like 10-20-20)
A general use fertilizer would be balanced (like 10-10-10)
The NPK ratios are the same for liquid, granular or organic fertilizes.
Some fertilizers will also have micro-nutrients; calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulphur (S): copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), boron (B).
Micro-nutrients can help specific plants to be stronger and healthier.