ARE YOU STARVING YOUR AFRICAN VIOLETS?
by Nancy Robitaille
African violets can survive very tough situations. Rooms that are too cold or too hot, insufficient light and even very little food. But for plants that are healthy and vigorous the following things are necessary—and in the correct forms.
If you are using only one type of fertilizer for extremely long periods, you may be starving your plants.
PRIMARY NUTRIENTS:
All fertilizers carry three numbers on their packaging. These are the PRIMARY NUTRIENTS, those which will carry the plant to its ultimate. These primary nutrients are Nitrogen for green foliage, Phosphorus for healthy roots and bud count and Potassium for the general health of the plants.
SECONDARY NUTRIENTS:
Each fertilizer container will have some of the SECONDARY NUTRIENTS which are very important to the development of your plant, as well. Different fertilizers hold varying amounts of secondary nutrients and trace elements. Secondary Nutrients are Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur.
Calcium (Ca)—Calcium cements the plant’s cells to one another. Roots must have a good supply of calcium. Calcium neutralizes organic acids in plants and protects plants by acting as a buffer against stress caused by soil toxicity or extremes of acidity or alkalinity. Calcium also makes nutrients available to the plant for higher energy.
Magnesium (Mg)—Magnesium can also be obtained by using Epsom salts. Magnesium is the center core of the chlorophyll molecule in plant tissue. When deficient in magnesium, a shortage of chlorophyll results and plants becoming stunted and are poor in health.
Sulfur (S)—Sulfur releases larger amounts of energy to the plant. It also ensures maximum seed development.
| What if your plant looks like it belongs --  ?
Leaves are pale -- slow growth, just doesn't look like it's thriving. It may be lacking nutrients even though you are fertilizing it. Make sure you are giving it all the nutrients it requires and it will reward you with beautiful leaves and lots of flowers. |
TRACE NUTRIENTS:
Other elements of fertilizers are TRACE NUTRIENTS which include:
Iron (Fe)—Even though iron is often found in large quantities in most soil mixtures, the form that it takes does not allow plant roots to use it. This plant nutrient works closely in association with nitrogen and sulfur helps to form chlorophyll molecules.
Boron (B)—African violets need only a very small quantity of boron. An ideal amount of boron would be 6-8 parts per million. Boron helps roots in the uptake of water. Boron also assists the plant’s defense mechanism and prevents a large amount of absorbed water from evaporating and escaping from the plant back into the atmosphere.
Manganese (Mn)—Very small amounts of Manganese will allow it to perform its three functions in a plant. Manganese aids in the formation of the chlorophyll molecule. It makes other plant foods more accessible to the plant and it causes germination to occur more quickly when propagating African violets from seed.
Copper (Cu)—Copper’s role in plants is played in the way that chlorophyll molecules react when light strikes them. Copper is also an energizer since it activates enzymes for starting several important plant processes which produce healthy plants.
Zinc (Zn)—Zinc provides proper growth and function of plants. The lack of this plant food causes yellowing or chlorosis of leaves. Zinc is essential for plant growth and it controls the synthesis of indoleacetic acid which regulates plant growth. Zinc is also active in many enzymatic reactions and is necessary for chlorophyll synthesis and carbohydrate formation. Deficiencies first appear on younger leaves.
Molybdenum (Mo)—Like Zinc, is an activating compound which causes certain plant-growing processes to occur. Molybdenum is from a Greek word “molybdos” meaning lead. Molybdenum is a trace element for virtually all life forms. It functions as a co-factor for a number of enzymes that catalyze important chemical transformations in the global carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles. Thus, molybdenum-dependant enzymes are not only required for the health of plants and people, but for the health of its ecosystems as well. The biological form of molybdenum is present in almost all molybdenum-containing enzymes and an organic molecule known as the molybdenum co-factor.
Chlorine (Cl)—Its presence is necessary for the growth of plants. Chlorine is required for certain photo-chemical reactions in photosynthesis. Chlorine uptake affects the degree of hydration of plant cells and balances the charge of positive ions. Deficiency causes wilt.
You May Get Better Results Using a Variety of Fertilizers
When buying fertilizers buy nutrients, not the fertilizer. Study the label and know what is included. Elements other than the top three, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are very important too.
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