PlantPlantNutrient RequirementsNutrient Requirements

We will look at:We will look at:

Macro NutrientsMacro Nutrients

Micro NutrientsMicro Nutrients

pHpH

Physical RequirementsPhysical Requirements

NutrientsNutrients

Nutrients are chemicals plants need to growNutrients are chemicals plants need to grow

Macro Nutrients are ones needed in large Macro Nutrients are ones needed in large amountsamounts

Micro Nutrients are ones need in small Micro Nutrients are ones need in small amountsamounts

NutrientsNutrients MACRO meansMACRO means

BIG!BIG!

NutrientsNutrients MICRO meansMICRO means

Small!Small!

Macro NutrientsMacro Nutrients

Some come from the air or waterSome come from the air or water CarbonCarbon OxygenOxygen HydrogenHydrogen

These 3 are readily available to plantsThese 3 are readily available to plants

Macro NutrientsMacro Nutrients Some come from the earthSome come from the earth

Nitrogen (N)Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P)Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K)Potassium (K) Calcium (Ca)Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg)Magnesium (Mg) Sulfur (S)Sulfur (S)

N – NitrogenN – Nitrogen

Promotes soft, tender, Promotes soft, tender, green growthgreen growth

Too little causes Too little causes chlorosischlorosis (yellowing of (yellowing of leaves)leaves)

Too much causes weak, Too much causes weak, spindly, darker-than spindly, darker-than normal growthnormal growth

P - PhosphorusP - Phosphorus

Promotes root growth, flower and seed formationPromotes root growth, flower and seed formation

Too little causes poor growth, weak roots, and poor Too little causes poor growth, weak roots, and poor floweringflowering

Browning or purpling of leaves can be a sign of low Browning or purpling of leaves can be a sign of low PP

K - PotassiumK - Potassium Increases disease resistance, strengthens roots, and is Increases disease resistance, strengthens roots, and is

needed for chlorophyll, starch, and tuber developmentneeded for chlorophyll, starch, and tuber development

Too little causes reduced growth, especially between Too little causes reduced growth, especially between nodesnodes and and marginal burnmarginal burn (browning of leaf edges) (browning of leaf edges)

Too much causes N deficienciesToo much causes N deficiencies

Ca – CalciumCa – Calcium

Promotes bud growth and retards end rot of Promotes bud growth and retards end rot of many fruitsmany fruits

Often added as Lime to balance soil pHOften added as Lime to balance soil pH

Too much makes the soil to alkalineToo much makes the soil to alkaline

Mg - MagnesiumMg - Magnesium

Helps with seed productionHelps with seed production

Often lacking in foliage plantsOften lacking in foliage plants

Too little causes less growth, cupped leaves, Too little causes less growth, cupped leaves, fewer seeds, and marginal chlorosisfewer seeds, and marginal chlorosis

S - SulfurS - Sulfur

Often added to decrease pHOften added to decrease pH

Too little is extremely rare and causes the Too little is extremely rare and causes the whole plant to yellowwhole plant to yellow

Micro NutrientsMicro Nutrients

AKA AKA Trace ElementsTrace Elements Absorbed from the soilAbsorbed from the soil

Boron (B)Boron (B) Copper (Cu)Copper (Cu) Chlorine (Cl)Chlorine (Cl) Iron (Fe)Iron (Fe) Manganese (Mn)Manganese (Mn) Molybdenum (Mo)Molybdenum (Mo) Zinc (Zn)Zinc (Zn)

pHpH

A scale from 0-14 that measures the A scale from 0-14 that measures the alkalinityalkalinity (high #) or (high #) or acidityacidity (low #) of a substance (low #) of a substance

If Soil pH is not right, plants can’t absorb the If Soil pH is not right, plants can’t absorb the right nutrientsright nutrients

Most plants prefer a 6.0-7.0 pH rangeMost plants prefer a 6.0-7.0 pH range

Physical RequirementsPhysical Requirements

TemperatureTemperature

LightLight

HumidityHumidity

Air FlowAir Flow

Temperature RangesTemperature Ranges

Optimum – range where a given plant grows Optimum – range where a given plant grows bestbest

Tolerant – range where a given plant can live, Tolerant – range where a given plant can live, but little or no growth occursbut little or no growth occurs

Temperatures outside the tolerant range can Temperatures outside the tolerant range can damage or destroy a plantdamage or destroy a plant

Some Like It HotSome Like It Hot

Cool Season PlantsCool Season Plants Like 60-80Like 60-80o o FF Most leaf and root vegetables, azaleas, rhododendronsMost leaf and root vegetables, azaleas, rhododendrons

Warm Season PlantsWarm Season Plants Like 75-90Like 75-90o o FF Melons, most grains, tomatoes, peppers, and most Melons, most grains, tomatoes, peppers, and most

summer annual bedding plantssummer annual bedding plants

The Future’s So Bright I Gotta The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear ShadesWear Shades

Some plants need full SunSome plants need full Sun Corn, RosesCorn, Roses

Some plants need partial Some plants need partial ShadeShade Radishes, DogwoodRadishes, Dogwood

HumidityHumidity

HumidityHumidity is a measure of moisture in the air is a measure of moisture in the air

Most plants need a relative humidity of 40-Most plants need a relative humidity of 40-80% to grow80% to grow

Humidity over 80% can lead to disease Humidity over 80% can lead to disease problemsproblems

Air FlowAir Flow Plants need access to moving air to aid in pollination Plants need access to moving air to aid in pollination

and to dry leave surfacesand to dry leave surfaces

Grasses are usually only pollinated by windGrasses are usually only pollinated by wind

Drying of leaves reduces mold and fungal problemsDrying of leaves reduces mold and fungal problems

Too much wind can be a problemToo much wind can be a problem

We have looked at:We have looked at:

Macro NutrientsMacro Nutrients

Micro NutrientsMicro Nutrients

pHpH

Physical RequirementsPhysical Requirements