Plant Nutrients 101
Sun, water, carbon dioxide… all a plant needs in order to thrive, right?
Well, not quite. Many of us have been taught that plants only require these three components, but they really need so much more.
Plant nutrients are the chemical elements that a plant needs in order to successfully complete its lifecycle. There are 16 identified plant nutrients. These can all be categorized as either a macronutrient or a micronutrient. Macronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are found in a plant’s dry matter with quantities ranging from a tenth of a percent to more than 5%. Micronutrients are typically found in much smaller concentrations, but play a very important role in regular plant functions, nonetheless.
Micronutrients are responsible for thousands of chemical reactions like pollen germination, respiration, photosynthesis, and so much more. Macronutrients are used in other vital tasks like forming proteins, RNA, DNA, and chlorophyll. Macronutrients also work to maintain a plant’s water balance, transport sugars and starches throughout the plant, and carry out photosynthesis, among many other activities.
Plants cannot carry out these functions without the presence of the necessary nutrients, which is why it is crucial to provide your plants with more than just H2O and sunlight. This is where SteadyState comes in to help. SteadyState fertilizers give your plants a blend of the elements needed for a successful lifecycle. We have curated specific fertilizers for herbs, houseplants, and gardens, along with simple instructions on how to apply our products so that your plants achieve optimal growth.
Plants exist because of the 16 essential plant nutrients that allow them to grow, function, and reproduce. However, nutrients are not only essential to plant life; we all rely on nutrients to live, which is why the responsible management of nutrients is so important. Without nutrients, there would be no life on Earth!