How plants get their nutrients
A look inside how our plants feed.
Written By: Zane Long
When we sit down at a nice table, to a nice meal, spread our napkins, loosen our utensils and enjoy a great meal; we are not able to instantly use the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals necessary to our survival. We need to break down the food that we eat and with the help our digestive acids and microorganisms, only then are we able to use the available vitamins and such. Our plant friends are the same way. Here is a look into the life of feeding our vegetable friends.
How do our plants get their food?
It is all because of microorganisms!
No matter if you use liquid or dry plant food our friends cannot immediately use the nutrients we have put in the soil. It is said that when you take a handful of compost you are holding more microorganisms in that one handful than there are people on this planet! And that is the key to our entire process.
When you provide plant food to the soil you must first make the nutrients soluble—in a form that the plants can use. This is where the microorganisms come in. The nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (potash)—the three number mix of any plant food you will buy (ex. 5-10-5, 3-4-4) are the three main ingredients needed for plant growth and production.
Breakdown of how nutrients become usable to plants.
1. The microorganisms in the soil are the first ones to the plant food you have distributed into the soil. The microorganisms will eat the N-P-K—nitrogen, phosphorous, potash in the soil first.
2. After they die they will break down and the soluble form of the microorganisms is what our friends will use to feed themselves.
3. The N-P-K becomes available and in a form that the plants can absorb because the microorganisms have eaten the nutrients and are the nutrients. In their degradation they become just right for plants to use to live and thrive.
And so our veggies eat the microorganisms in the soil that are full of our plant food.
Life is a delicate balance and cycle. The microorganisms eat the available nutrients in the soil and then die. The plants in the soil will then feed on those microorganisms, and in doing so feed us. And then it starts all over again. We are without a doubt dependent on those little microorganisms to help our plants grow up to give us great food. So the next time you feed your roses or your veggies just think that billions of microorganisms are making the growth and sustainability of your plants possible. And in doing so bring joy, prosperity, happy gardeners, and content stomachs.
Written By: Zane Long
When we sit down at a nice table, to a nice meal, spread our napkins, loosen our utensils and enjoy a great meal; we are not able to instantly use the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals necessary to our survival. We need to break down the food that we eat and with the help our digestive acids and microorganisms, only then are we able to use the available vitamins and such. Our plant friends are the same way. Here is a look into the life of feeding our vegetable friends.
How do our plants get their food?
It is all because of microorganisms!
No matter if you use liquid or dry plant food our friends cannot immediately use the nutrients we have put in the soil. It is said that when you take a handful of compost you are holding more microorganisms in that one handful than there are people on this planet! And that is the key to our entire process.
When you provide plant food to the soil you must first make the nutrients soluble—in a form that the plants can use. This is where the microorganisms come in. The nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (potash)—the three number mix of any plant food you will buy (ex. 5-10-5, 3-4-4) are the three main ingredients needed for plant growth and production.
Breakdown of how nutrients become usable to plants.
1. The microorganisms in the soil are the first ones to the plant food you have distributed into the soil. The microorganisms will eat the N-P-K—nitrogen, phosphorous, potash in the soil first.
2. After they die they will break down and the soluble form of the microorganisms is what our friends will use to feed themselves.
3. The N-P-K becomes available and in a form that the plants can absorb because the microorganisms have eaten the nutrients and are the nutrients. In their degradation they become just right for plants to use to live and thrive.
And so our veggies eat the microorganisms in the soil that are full of our plant food.
Life is a delicate balance and cycle. The microorganisms eat the available nutrients in the soil and then die. The plants in the soil will then feed on those microorganisms, and in doing so feed us. And then it starts all over again. We are without a doubt dependent on those little microorganisms to help our plants grow up to give us great food. So the next time you feed your roses or your veggies just think that billions of microorganisms are making the growth and sustainability of your plants possible. And in doing so bring joy, prosperity, happy gardeners, and content stomachs.
My compost pile is getting really rich this summer! And the cucumbers are growing up that three sided support and producing like crazy; the tomatoes are weighing down the vines; all this rain may have caused problems for many but the gardens have loved it! Janet
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