line up out precisely what 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer does for your plants and how to properly apply it .
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You ’ve in all probability seen recommendations for using a 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer on your plants because it ’s a reliable all - around choice for most exercise . But what do those numbers actually mean ? Here ’s a look at what that 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer is in reality delivering to your plant in terms of central nutrients , plus must - know lead on how and when to use thisfertilizer for best results in your garden .
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What Is 10-10-10 Fertilizer?
The three number on a fertiliser recording label suggest the amount ofnitrogen ( N ) , Lucifer ( P ) , and K ( K)in the bag . These are the three principal macronutrients needed for sizeable works growth .
The numbers sort out by dashes are the percent by weightiness of each food in the ware . For 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer , 10 percent of the ware is a nitrogen source , 10 percent is a phosphoric source , and 10 percent is a potassium generator .
manifold the pct by the weight of the purse or product tells you on the button how much of each food you are buying . The guaranteed psychoanalysis label ordinarily number the N - atomic number 15 - K components as total atomic number 7 , uncommitted phosphate , and soluble potash .
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For exercise , a five - pound bag of 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer will have the following :
The guaranteed analytic thinking loge on a fertilizer label also displays other nutrients of pregnant economic value in the Cartesian product , but those quantity are n’t include in the three - number N - phosphorus - kilobyte rating . A oecumenical - intention plant food might also contain magnesium , boron , iron , zinc , or other micronutrients .
While 10 - 10 - 10 is a balanced or general - aim fertilizer , its uses are no dissimilar from those of other fertilizer with the same proportion . A fertilizer with 4 - 4 - 4 , 5 - 5 - 5 , or 20 - 20 - 20 is the same ratio , just different assiduousness . A product with an N - P - K rating of 20 - 20 - 20 is more highly concentrated ( so you ’ll use less per lotion ) than a 10 - 10 - 10 or a 4 - 4 - 4 .
When to Use 10-10-10 Fertilizer
plant food with a 1:1:1 ratio , like 10 - 10 - 10 , are call balanced plant food and are sometimes call ecumenical - purpose fertilizers . They are excellent for multiple uses , fromfeeding houseplantstoboosting vegetable garden . If you are only going to have one plant food sitting on the shelf , a 10 - 10 - 10 product is a good choice .
While we think of the first turn , nitrogen , as feeding gullible , leafy growth and the second identification number , phosphorus , as promote blooms and rooting , plants need all three main macronutrients for blossom , growing root , and sustain firm , vigorous growth . Thus , a balanced fertilizer will endure all of these works needs .
A 10 - 10 - 10 fertilizer is also a great alternative forplants originate in containers . We do n’t get land tests on our potting admixture , and the nutrients in a skunk can quickly deplete . Choosing a balanced fertilizer takes some guess out of providing supplemental nutrition to yourpatio plants .
Marty Baldwin
Best Practices for Using Fertilizer
While it seems like fertilizing plants is comparatively straightforward , there are a few tips to remember for the best results .
1. Don’t Fertilize in the Fall
In area that receive frost , flora indurate their new outgrowth and toughen up to ready for freezing temperatures . New development trip by a late fertiliser app often does n’t go through the set cognitive process and is more likely to bedamaged by freezing temperature .
2. Get a Soil Test
The soil in regular out - in - the - yard garden can be a mystery . Fill dirt is often brought in during household construction and may be anything fromgood topsoilto sand and Harlan Fisk Stone . Subdivisions are often built on old , worn out farming fields . Even gardens in the country may yield a surprise .
Arrange for a grime testand know what your garden postulate before strain for the fertiliser . reach your state ’s telephone extension serve to find out how and where to station a soil sample distribution . The cost is nominal , and you could save yourself fertilizer and prison term .
No matter which product you choose , read and espouse the directions on the recording label for app amount and frequency . product limit a volume per orbit , like half a cup per 10 feet of rowing . You may see ½ pound per 100 square feet or , forliquid dressed ore plant food , 2 tablespoons per gal of water . Do n’t give in to the temptation that more is secure . redundant plant food can burn plantsand cause water lineament problems downstream .
4. Choose Slow-Release for Nitrogen
Of the three principal macronutrients — N , P , and K — N is most often deficient . Not only do plants use a destiny of it , but it ’s also more mobile in the soil than the other major nutrients . This think of that nitrogen can well move with the water in the dirt visibility , whether in a container or your garden , and be ravish out of the root word zone , a process experience as leaching .
To help combat the leaching issue , many fertilizers coat some of the nitrogen product ( and sometimes other nutrients ) in a polymer , which assume a while to thaw , create a slow - release result .
