How to Spray Plant Foliar Fertilizer
You may not know how to spray plant foliar fertilizer or when to apply it for optimal results in green plants. Let's learn about it together.
When is the Best Time to Apply Foliar Fertilizer
Foliar fertilizers are generally applied after 4 PM in the evening for the best results. This is because, by that time, it's closer to dusk, the light is weaker, and the temperature has dropped. The sprayed foliar fertilizer can stay on the leaves for a longer time without evaporating quickly, allowing the leaves to absorb the nutrient solution fully, thereby achieving the best fertilizer effect.
Best Practices for Spraying Foliar Fertilizer
The absorption effect of foliar fertilizer by plants is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, moisture, and light, mainly affecting the duration the fertilizer solution stays on the leaf surface. Therefore, spraying should be done during windless, sunny periods, such as before 9 AM in the morning or after 4 PM in the evening, with the evening spray being more effective. Do not spray before rain to prevent the fertilizer from being washed away by rain, reducing its effectiveness. If it rains within 3 hours after spraying, reapply on a sunny day, but at a reduced concentration.
Which Type of Foliar Fertilizer is Better
Foliar fertilizer application should be chosen based on the type of crop. For example, leafy vegetables like spinach, cabbage, and lettuce should use foliar fertilizers rich in nitrogen elements such as urea and ammonium sulfate; root crops like radishes, sweet potatoes, and garlic should choose foliar fertilizers rich in potassium elements like monopotassium phosphate or wood ash; and fruiting crops like eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes should choose balanced compound foliar fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, etc.
How to Spray Plant Foliar Fertilizer
Choosing Foliar Fertilizer Based on Crop Growth Stage
Foliar fertilizers should be chosen based on the crop's growth and development stage to supplement the required elements for optimal results. For example:
Apply amino acid foliar fertilizers during the seedling stage to promote root growth; use monopotassium phosphate more frequently before flowering to enhance flower quality and fruit retention; after harvest, perennial crops consume a lot of nutrients, and at this time, a multi-element compound foliar fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium can be补充 to benefit the growth in the following year.
Precautions
1. Fertilization should focus on frequent applications of light fertilizers, and the concentration of the fertilizer should be controlled. A low concentration would increase the number of applications and workload without meeting the requirements for supplementing plant nutrients. A high concentration, on the other hand, can burn the leaves, so the concentration must be controlled.
2. An auxiliary agent can be added to the foliar fertilizer spray to increase the adhesion of the fertilizer solution on the plant leaves, helping the plant absorb the nutrients better.
The above information covers how to spray plant foliar fertilizer and when to apply it for the best results, for your comprehensive understanding and reference!