Plant fertilizers: mineral and organic products

Plants, like people, need nutrients to grow. The correct amount of fertilizer is crucial for creating an optimal NPK ratio. NPK refers to the proportions of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in a fertilizer. These are the ingredients a plant always needs as a stable base.

Organic fertilizers

Organic fertilizers are made from natural sources, including bacteria, fungi, insects, and other organisms. These natural resources stimulate soil life. After organic fertilizers are applied to the soil, they are processed so that plants can absorb the nutrients from them. The plant itself regulates when, how much, and in what order it absorbs the nutrients. Together, these two factors increase the plant's resistance to:

• pests,
• viruses,
• diseases.

Some manufacturers believe organic fertilizers have a minor drawback: they can have an unpleasant odor. This is because they are made from natural plant and animal materials.

The opposite of organic fertilizers are mineral fertilizers. But what are inorganic fertilizers?

Mineral fertilizers

Mineral fertilizers, more commonly known as inorganic or synthetic fertilizers, are not entirely composed of natural resources. This is because they are manufactured industrially. However, all the ingredients contained in fertilizers are also found in nature. The advantage of synthetic fertilizers is that they are produced in such a way that the nutrients can be absorbed directly by the plant and therefore do not require processing like organic fertilizers. They are also easily dissolved and incorporated into plants.

Furthermore, farmers have the opportunity to develop their own nutritional formula tailored to the plant's needs. Unlike organic fertilizers, where the plant itself "selects" one or more elements to absorb, inorganic fertilizers are used for a more targeted application of nutrients.

All necessary ingredients are calculated in the fertilizer application schedule, and all requirements can be precisely met with just one fertilizer. In this case, there is no need to "choose" a product.

The disadvantage of mineral or inorganic fertilizers is that they don't affect soil life. Mineral fertilizers also contain proportionally more salt than organic fertilizers. If fertilizer is applied incorrectly and salt accumulates at the plant's roots, this can lead to root damage. Therefore, it's important to pay attention to this when using mineral fertilizers.

What fertilizers are best for plants?

The best fertilizer for a plant depends on many factors. Factors to consider include the growing environment, nutrient requirements, plant sensitivity, and application method. When choosing a fertilizer, we recommend seeking expert advice.