Is It Better to Buy Substrate or Fertilizer?
What is a substrate?
The term substrate refers to "soil" that is industrially prepared and mixed. On the gardening market, you can find a wide range of substrates - from substrate for geraniums, for orchids, substrate for strawberries, blueberries, through substrates for tomatoes to substrates for ornamental woody plants.
Good advice: Determine what you want to grow and choose the best substrate accordingly.
What is fertiliser?
Fertiliser is what nourishes plants. It contains various chemical elements that reach the plant either through the leaves or from the soil via the roots. The chemical elements that plants absolutely need to live are:
- nitrogen (N)
- phosphorus (P)
- potassium (K)
- calcium (Ca)
- sulphur (S)
- magnesium (Mg)
Furthermore, fertiliser contains trace elements of other substances that are present only in small amounts, but are very important for the plant. These include chromium, iron, molybdenum and others.
Why do plants need nitrogen?
Fertiliser containing nitrogen can be called, in quotation marks, "plant food". Its use is particularly suitable in spring and summer, when you need plants to start growing (a tree grows leaves, the lawn becomes denser, balcony plants grow mass which will later bloom). However, nitrogen shouldn't be overdone. Otherwise, plants would be fragile and less resistant to pests. For example, in autumn and winter we don't use nitrogen fertiliser at all, because there's no need for plants to grow. They would exhaust themselves unnecessarily.
Why do plants need phosphorus?
Phosphorus is to a plant something similar to what vitamin C is to humans. It keeps the plant in good condition. It supports flowering and fruiting. It is used throughout the growing season (the growing season begins with sowing and ends with flowering or harvest), but is most used in summer, so that flowers bloom and fruits ripen well.
Why do plants need potassium?
Potassium strengthens the plant and ensures it stays fit. The intensity of fertilisation increases from the end of August. During this period, plants prepare for winter and frost, and potassium helps them strengthen their tissues.
How to Fertilize Properly?
The correct fertilizing procedure is as follows:
Spring: Fertilize predominantly with nitrogen fertilizers (nitrogen should be the dominant element).
Summer: Treat your plants to fertilizer enriched with phosphorus and potassium for flowering.
Autumn: Stop fertilizing with nitrogen and give your plants potassium, which helps them get through the winter period well.
If you come across the term single-component fertilizer, it means it contains only one element; multi-component fertilizers contain several elements, while complex or complete fertilizers contain all elements, including trace elements.
Each element is contained in the fertilizer in a specific ratio to the others. Each plant also requires different amounts of these elements depending on the season. That's why there are fertilizers designed for spring, summer, and autumn.
Types and Kinds of Fertilizer
The nutrients contained in the substrate will be depleted by plants after a few weeks, and to keep them flowering or fruiting beautifully, it's important to replenish nutrients in the form of fertilizer. Decide on your fertilizing method when planting.
Generally speaking, for indoor growing or growing in containers up to 7 liters, it's better to choose liquid fertilizers. If you're gardening outdoors or in large pots, it's better to choose slow-release fertilizers.
Complete fertilizers are those that combine the 3 basic elements needed for growth. These are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). You'll most often find these fertilizers labeled as NPK fertilizers. They're used for basic soil fertilization before you plant your plants in the soil. The ratio of basic elements differs for fertilizing in each season, so it's important to check which season the fertilizer you're buying is intended for. NPK fertilizers aren't very suitable for fertilizing fruit vegetables and flowers, as these are plants sensitive to chlorine. This fertilizer should ideally be used for vegetables, orchards, field crops, ornamental plants, and vineyards.
Liquid Fertilizers
Liquid fertilizers are appreciated by gardeners who don't want to spend much time fertilizing. You simply dissolve them in water, and by watering, you fertilize your plants. A fertilizer dispenser is usually included in the package, making it easy to mix the right concentration according to instructions.
Soluble Fertilizers
These are among the cheapest, but their preparation is somewhat more complicated. It's good to weigh the first dose and remember how much fertilizer goes into the watering can. If you have any fertilizer left in the package, close it well and you can use it again next year.
Long-Acting Fertilizers
You'll usually encounter them in the form of tablets or granules. They can be added to pots already when you're planting seedlings. They work for approximately 4 months, so this is a fertilizer you can safely add to pots or use on ornamental lawns. The price of these fertilizers is somewhat higher than the two types mentioned above, but you'll save a lot of time and effort with them.
Organic and Mineral Fertilizers
Organic fertilizer can be of plant or animal origin. They may also be labeled as bio fertilizers. They're ideal for growing plants outdoors and for hand watering.
Mineral fertilizers are created by mixing various compounds, so they contain an ideal ratio of biogenic and trace elements. These fertilizers have a longer shelf life and precise composition. They're often used for hydroponic plant cultivation.
Types and Varieties of Growing Media
If you want to grow quality produce or beautiful flowers in your garden or at home, you need to know which growing medium to use.
Types of Growing Media
Many beginner gardeners make the mistake of planting seeds in regular horticultural substrate. However, this has too many nutrients, which "push" the seed into a plant unnecessarily early, so while you'll see results sooner, the downside is that the flower or crop will be too fragile and will set flowers late. Therefore, it's essential to know what nutrient requirements the plant has and choose the most suitable growing medium accordingly.
Organic Growing Medium
Compost, for example, is considered a common organic growing medium. If you choose it as a sowing substrate, remember that it shouldn't have too many nutrients. That's why it's often lightened with peat, for instance, which is low in nutrients, light, and fine. However, ecological gardeners avoid peat-based substrate because it's a non-renewable resource and its reserves are diminishing due to mining. For lightening, coconut fibers (created by processing coconuts) can also be used - in this case, it's coconut coir substrate.
Mineral Growing Medium
You can imagine mineral substrates as small pebbles that contain no nutrients and are commonly used in hydroponics as well. Their greatest advantage is that they absorb water well and maintain sufficient air between them. Due to their loose consistency and other properties, mineral substrates are suitable for seed germination. However, be careful with very small seeds, which could fall too deep through the gaps and fail to germinate. Small seeds should be as close to the surface in the substrate as possible.
Our tip: If you want to use mineral substrate for very small seeds, pour a layer of this substrate into the bottom of the container and add fine organic substrate on top of it, into which you'll plant the small seeds.
After 14 days, dilute the mixture in 3 liters of clean water and you can start fertilizing. This mixture is suitable not only for geraniums, but also for all other flowers. However, don't use the "brew" as a replacement for regular watering.