Plant

Nutrient Requirements

We will look at:

Macro Nutrients

Micro Nutrients

pH

Physical Requirements

Nutrients

Nutrients are chemicals plants need to grow

Macro Nutrients are ones needed in large

amounts

Micro Nutrients are ones need in small

amounts

Nutrients

MACRO means

BIG!

Nutrients

MICRO means

Small!

Macro Nutrients

Some come from the air or water

Carbon
Oxygen
Hydrogen

These 3 are readily available to plants

Macro Nutrients

Some come from the earth

Nitrogen (N)
Phosphorus (P)
Potassium (K)
Calcium (Ca)
Magnesium (Mg)
Sulfur (S)

N Nitrogen

Promotes soft, tender,

green growth

Too little causes

chlorosis (yellowing of
leaves)

Too much causes weak,

spindly, darker-than
normal growth

P - Phosphorus

Promotes root growth, flower and seed formation

Too little causes poor growth, weak roots, and poor

flowering

Browning or purpling of leaves can be a sign of low

P

K - Potassium

Increases disease resistance, strengthens roots, and is

needed for chlorophyll, starch, and tuber development

Too little causes reduced growth, especially between

nodes and marginal burn (browning of leaf edges)

Too much causes N deficiencies

Ca Calcium

Promotes bud growth and retards end rot of

many fruits

Often added as Lime to balance soil pH

Too much makes the soil to alkaline

Mg - Magnesium

Helps with seed production

Often lacking in foliage plants

Too little causes less growth, cupped leaves,

fewer seeds, and marginal chlorosis

S - Sulfur

Often added to decrease pH

Too little is extremely rare and causes the

whole plant to yellow

Micro Nutrients

AKA Trace Elements

Absorbed from the soil

Boron (B)
Copper (Cu)
Chlorine (Cl)
Iron (Fe)
Manganese (Mn)
Molybdenum (Mo)
Zinc (Zn)

pH

A scale from 0-14 that measures the alkalinity

(high #) or acidity (low #) of a substance

If Soil pH is not right, plants cant absorb the

right nutrients

Most plants prefer a 6.0-7.0 pH range

Physical Requirements

Temperature

Light

Humidity

Air Flow

Temperature Ranges

Optimum range where a given plant grows

best

Tolerant range where a given plant can live,

but little or no growth occurs

Temperatures outside the tolerant range can

damage or destroy a plant

Some Like It Hot

Cool Season Plants

Like 60-80o F
Most leaf and root vegetables, azaleas, rhododendrons

Warm Season Plants

Like 75-90o F
Melons, most grains, tomatoes, peppers, and most
summer annual bedding plants

The Futures So Bright I Gotta Wear

Shades

Some plants need full Sun

Corn, Roses

Some plants need partial

Shade

Radishes, Dogwood

Humidity

Humidity is a measure of moisture in the air

Most plants need a relative humidity of 4080% to grow

Humidity over 80% can lead to disease

problems

Air Flow

Plants need access to moving air to aid in pollination

and to dry leave surfaces

Grasses are usually only pollinated by wind

Drying of leaves reduces mold and fungal problems

Too much wind can be a problem

We have looked at:

Macro Nutrients

Micro Nutrients

pH

Physical Requirements