Whats in Plant Food?
The three essential nutrients in plant food are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Each plays a role in building healthy plants. Nitrogen encourages growth of leaves and stems while phosphorus and potassium increase flowering and root growth. Most plant foods also have trace elements, small amounts of other nutrients that are needed to grow healthy, beautiful plants. Plant foods are labeled according to the percentages of each of the ingredients they contain, always in the same order: N–P–K . The label indicates the relative amounts of the three essential nutrients with an analysis formula (for example: 15-30-15, 18-24-16, or some other combination). Selecting a Plant Food There are several types of plant foods. Some gardeners use more than one so that they can feed their plants most appropriately. Select what is right for your flower gardens by comparing the features and benefits of each and considering how you plan to maintain your garden. Many gardeners get excellent re
