The flowering of your plants will bring fruits, vegetables and flowers and is a wonderful time for you and your garden! Knowing exactly what nutrients plants require during the flowering cycle will allow you to produce the best results possible. In this article, we explain the three primary nutrients, secondary nutrients, and trace elements; the importance of high-quality water when flowering plants; the best Atami liquid fertilizers to use and our top tips to consider.
The three primary nutrients for plant growth
Regardless of whether you are growing peppers, chilies, tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, and spices or are just a fan of flower-bearing plants which attract all sorts of insects and pollinators, providing nutrients during flowering is key. Plants will use primary nutrients, secondary nutrients, and trace elements in a carefully well-balanced ratio that the plant uses as and when needed.
Nitrogen (N)
Responsible for producing those green, shiny leaves that catch the sun, allowing the plants to photosynthesize, store energy and produce sugars. Nitrogen that comes from a hard food source such as worm castings, blood meal, manure, compost, fish meal, some varieties of bat guano, and fish emulsion
Phosphorus (P)
Phosphorus is an important nutrient, especially during the seedling’s early growth stage, all the way up to flower and fruit production. Different organic forms of Phosphorus are found in chicken manure, fish emulsion and bat guano.
Potassium (K)
Potassium is required during the flowering stage and, when paired with Phosphorus, will cause fruits and vegetables to pack on size and weight. Kelp is an excellent source of Potassium that can be given to plants in liquid form.
Secondary nutrients and trace elements
Now that you are aware of the three main nutrients a plant needs, we can cover the secondary ones as well as the trace elements plants need.
Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca) and Sodium (S)
Magnesium is an important nutrient for healthy plant growth and is responsible for protein synthesis, enzyme activation, chlorophyll synthesis and transportation. Usually sold together as Cal Mag, Calcium has a role in maintaining the structure of cell walls and membranes. Sodium is the final secondary nutrient that is responsible for metabolic function, water use and osmotic pressure.
Trace elements are found in tiny mineral-sized amounts in the soil; however, plants require them in accordance, just as much as they do with N, P and K. There are six trace elements, which are Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Zinc (Zn).
The benefits of using flowering nutrients
● High amounts of Phosphorus and Potassium will boost yields.
● Flowers will produce brighter colors and enhanced aromas.
● Fruits and vegetables have the potential to become larger.
● Flowering fertilizers are available to buy in organic or hydroponic form.
When is the best time to add fertilizer to the soil to help boost flower production?
Well, this depends entirely on the time of year and what you are growing in the first place; however, usually once your plants have revealed their first set of pre-flowers, adding P and K dominant nutrition in both hard food and liquid format is well recommended.
Top dressing the soil
This just means scattering a layer of food on the surface of the soil. The organic food will begin to break down and decompose, becoming readily available to the roots over a duration of weeks. Worm castings is a common organic additive that is well known for enhancing the aroma and flavors of fruits and vegetables. If you want to know more about this great addition for you garden have a look at our blog about the topic here.
Liquid flowering nutrients
Flowering nutrients given to plants in liquid form will be used almost instantly in comparison to hard organic foods such as manure, compost, guano, or worm castings. Plants fed with bloom boosters and stimulators during the flowering period, have the potential to become exceptionally large and produce top-quality harvests.
We have a wide range of bloom stimulators such as B’cuzz Bloom Stimulator and bloom boosters such as Bloombastic, Rokzbastic or B’cuzz Blossom Builder.
The importance of high-quality water when flowering plants
The quality of the water that you feed your plants will play a massive role in the outcome of your crop. Starting with the best water source possible is not always practical and can be expensive in many cases. Below are a few different examples of water that can be used during flowering.
Reverse osmosis water
The softest type of water you can find, with an E.C level of 0, making R/O water optimal for hydroponic projects. Investing in a reverse osmosis pump and using three times the amount of tap water you would use can become expensive and impractical over time, but it is the ultimate water source as far as a low E.C goes.
Garden hose water
Garden hoses are usually the most convenient way for a gardener to consistently water their plants every day. If you have the right balance of bacteria, fungi and microorganisms already present in your soil, then giving the plants water from the hose will work fine.
Tap water
Perhaps the least preferred water source to drink or use for plants. However, some people must make do with well water, which can often have a remarkably high E.C level, meaning adding nutrients and adjusting your PPM, can be difficult. If you are using tap water, consider buying a reverse osmosis pump to remove as much salt as possible before feeding your plants, or mix it with distilled water to lower the E.C. levels.
Rainwater
Collecting your own rainwater is one of the most effective ways to save money and benefit from clean water. There are a few factors to consider when collecting rainwater, such as using sterile and clean buckets, filtering the water, correctly storing it, and aerating.
What is the best Atami liquid fertilizer nutrient for flowering plants?
We offer many products for flowering plants, depending on your style of growing. One thing for sure is that if you want the biggest and best crops possible, then try using Rokzbastic, Bloombastic, Bi-Bloombastic, ATA NRG Flower C, ATA NRG Bloom C, ATA NRG Flavor or B’cuzz Bloom Stimulator and B’cuzz Blossom Builder. All of them will help you achieve abundant and productive blooms, which will turn into delicious fruits.
Atami’s top tips to grow the best fruits and flowers
On the basis that you have a good balance in your soil of nutrients and beneficial microorganisms, sunshine, and fresh air, then nature will do the rest. There are a few variables to consider the next time you are flowering a crop.
Top tip #1 – Avoid bad quality water
This tip may sound obvious; however, those who live in the countryside may find that hard water high in minerals is the only source. Collecting rainwater may not be an option, but if you can do it. Our main tip here is to avoid using bad-quality water, such as stagnant water with an unpleasant smell or contaminated water.
Top tip #2 – Follow the grow guides
The most effective and simplest way to produce the ultimate crop is to follow our grow guides. We have carefully calculated the ratio of nutrients to feed your plants according to the various stages, from seedlings all the way to the ripening and harvesting stage.
Top tip #3 – Beneficial microorganisms
An excellent way to really supercharge the soil is to inoculate the medium with beneficial bacteria and fungi. The mycorrhizae, probiotic bacteria, and Trichoderma are great allies. If added as inoculants, they should be applied be directly to the soil near the roots or as an aerated tea. If you want to try an Atami product, our solid fertiliser Upgrade, also contains Bacillus sp. giving life to your soil.
Atami’s conclusion
Growing healthy plants is easy. Having the right amount of nutrients available in your garden will support and allow a great production of fruits and flowers. There are so many fertilizer products on the market for organic and hydroponic growers, and knowing the best one to use at the right time can be a little overwhelming.
Remember that the three primary nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are just as important as the secondary and trace elements, and growing the best quality crops is a balancing act. Before mixing your liquid fertilizer nutrients, always start with the best water source possible, and be prepared to add organic inputs back into the soil after each grow for recovering it.
