Successful hanging plant care and fertilizer
Fertilizer
Unlike plants growing in the garden soil, container plants do not have access to an abundance of nutrients. This is because you can only apply so much compost to the container. The plant will quickly use up all the nutrients and trace elements and fertilizer will need to be added to the plant.
Types of fertilizer
Fertilizer is available in two forms, sold form for sprinkling and liquid form for watering. It is simple to mix liquid fertilizer with water. Controlled release fertilizers are best as they reduce chances of damaging the plant through over fertilizing.
Once in the soil they release amounts of nutrients periodically, over 10-12 weeks in the compost. They come in granular form and they can be mixed in the compost or sprinkled a few weeks after the plant is planted. Fertilizer sticks are inserted in the compost close to the root stock.
The diameter of the container and the number of plants in it will determine how many sticks to insert into the compost. Compound fertilizer is ideal for flowering plants as leafy plant fertilizer will cause foliage.
Plants meant for consumption should not be fertilized in the same way decorative plants are. Herbal brews which encourage growth can be applied throughout summer. Hoof/ horn chip and biological fertilizer can be mixed into the compost and enhance nutrients.
Avoid mineral fertilizer as it contains high concentration of nitrates which are not suitable for vegetables meant for consumption.
Good fertilizing points
In situations where there is continuous rainfall ( which washes all nutrients from the soil) liquid fertilizer (diluted in water) should be applied two times per week. Additionally you can apply leaf fertilizer which is absorbed by the plant leaves. Refrain from applying fertilizer in sunny conditions because this results in leaf burns. Irrigate the plant arrangement first before applying fertilizer otherwise the roots will be scotched.
The plant leaves should not come into contact with the granules or water containing fertilizer. If this happens quickly rinse the leaves with clean hose water. Apply fertilizer in small quantities over a period of time. Do not fertilize plants that are to be over wintered from the first month of autumn.
This allows their shoots to become ripen before they are moved into their winter home. Place liquid fertilizer in a reservoir when the plants are are being irrigated automatically