Correct nutrition

The known mineral elements that make up the chemical composition of the earth are just over 100, but those truly indispensable for the correct physiological functioning of plants are only a dozen or so and they are called nutrients.

The most important, referred to as macroelements, are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) (these are the letters you will find on fertilisers for sale).

Let us take a detailed look at what macroelements are for.

Nitrogen has many functions, even if the main one is the formation of leaves, buds and roots. It is therefore fundamental throughout all the plant’s growth stages, for the formation of the green parts.

Phosphorus is important for energy transfer and helps with construction of the biological membranes. It is fundamental for flowers and fruits.

Potassium stimulates protein synthesis and regulates transpiration; it is used by the processes that produce flowers’ scents and colours and promotes lignification in tree branches and trunks.

It must be remembered that plant nutrition is regulated by the law of the minimum, whereby the absence or low availability of just one nutrient is enough to compromise development and growth of the plant.

Therefore the basic rule for fertilising our plants is a little but often.