Nutrients for a greener garden

Find out how these natural nutrients and micronutrients can make your garden more lush than ever before.

1. Nitrogen (N)

• What it does: Helps new leaves, branches, and stems to form.
• Deficiency signs: Slow growth; small, pale leaves; weak, easily bent stems.
• How to correct: Feed with composted manure or liquid fish-based fertilizer.

2. Phosphorus (P)

• What it does: Supports strong roots with numerous branches and root hairs; encourages flower formation.
• Deficiency signs: Attacks by parasites on roots; poor flowering; reddish or purplish tint on leaves.
• How to correct: Amend soil with rock phosphate, light application of wood ashes, or bone meal.

3. Potassium (K)

• What it does: Improves overall functioning of the plant.
• Deficiency signs: Brown leaf edges; crinkled leaves, weak stems; fruit drop.
• How to correct: Spray with liquid kelp; topdress soil with powdered kelp, greensand, or apply wood ashes lightly.

Trace elements, often called micronutrients, are required for plant health, but only in tiny amounts. They include boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and several others. Many organic fertilizers are rich in micronutrients; using them will guard against deficiencies. Kelp meal, kelp extract, granite dust, rock phosphate, manure, and greensand are all good sources of micronutrients. Many complete synthetic fertilizers also contain them, but it's important to check the levels.

Micronutrient shortages often appear in leaves as chlorosis — yellowing of leaf tissue between the veins. Plants with a shortage of zinc show symptoms on the older, lower leaves. Those with a shortage of iron, manganese, or molybdenum show chlorosis on the young, upper leaves. Micronutrient shortages can also cause leaf veins to turn reddish; affected leaves often are smaller than normal, too.

Kelp, a type of seaweed, contains trace elements and minerals that promote blossoming, help plants absorb water, gives them greater tolerance to cold, and improves soil structure. Apply kelp supplements in conjunction with balanced fertilizer once or twice a month during the growing season.If you live near the shore, you can collect your own seaweed; the best is found right after a storm, when most seaweed washes ashore. Wash off all the salt, chop the seaweed into small pieces, and dig it into the soil as soon as possible, ensuring that the nutrients are still fresh.

Leave a used tea bag or tea dregs in water overnight and use the brew to water your potted plants that are in need of micronutrients.