Are you wondering if foliar spray has any benefits for plants? Many of you have been requesting and looking for ways to be more environmentally friendly in your gardening. I just want to say I get it, which is a worthy cause. So, let me introduce you to foliar feeding.
Foliar spray, also called foliar nutrition or foliar fertilization, is an ideal way to make your plants thrive and helps conserve and protect the environment.
Aside from the ecological benefit, we are going to discuss some questions you have regarding foliar fertilization. Aside from that, we will talk about why you should start using foliar fertilization (if you still have not).
What is Foliar Feeding?
Foliar feeding simply means spraying the fertilizer directly on the leaves (or foliage) instead of applying it to the soil.
By spraying the fertilizers in the foliage, nutrients are absorbed through the plant’s stomata, which are the openings in the leaves. In turn, the stomata are well-maintained, which is vital for the uptake of carbon dioxide and regulating water loss due to transpiration.
With that being said, you should already have an idea of how crucial foliar feeding is. If you are interested in knowing more about its benefits, read on.
What are the types of foliar spraying mixtures?
There are a lot of foliar fertilizers available in the market. Personally, I use water-soluble powder; then, I dissolve it in water. I suggest using rainwater for the extra benefits.
Read more: Benefits of Rain Water for Plants
When I do not feel like doing a lot of work, I buy liquid fertilizers because it is more convenient.
Remember, though, that If you buy fertilizer, strictly follow the directions, especially for foliar nutrition.
You can also make your foliar sprays using organic fertilizers like seaweed. Seaweeds have a lot of macronutrients in them, which your plants love. It is also effortless to use, and it is perfect for foliar applications. I wrote another article here about the benefits and uses of Seaweed for plants.
Benefits of Foliar Feeding for Plants
1. Foliar feeding is very efficient.
Compared to foliar feeding, applying fertilizers to soil can be ineffective and inefficient because the soil can negatively affect the fertilizers. Because of this, the nutrients and minerals may become compromised and limited.
According to the studies I have read, only 5 to 15% of the primary minerals from the soil reach the plants. The availability of trace elements in the soil, like nitrogen and potassium, is even lower.
Here are some factors that affect the absorption and availability of nutrients in the soil:
- The soil’s acidity. It has something to do with the pH.
- The soil’s physicochemical properties are also fundamental.
- The texture of the soil can prevent nutrients from reaching the plants.
This is difficult to address because most of these factors cannot really be controlled. This is the advantage of foliar fertilization. Foliar fertilization is independent of the quality of the soil.
There are other alternatives for soil that you may use for your garden. I wrote another article that discussed the Potting Soil Alternatives For Healthier Indoor And Outdoor Plants.
2. Foliar feeding stimulates the growth and development of the roots.
Based on my experience and the experiences of other gardeners, foliar fertilization definitely improves root growth.
When the roots are healthy, their capacity to absorb things is increased. Therefore, the plants will be able to get more water and nutrients because the roots can reach wide and deep parts of the soil.
As a result, plants can utilize most of the nutrients in the soil and absorb fertilizers more efficiently.
3. Foliar fertilization backs up the root.
Due to some reasons, the plant’s roots may not function properly. This may be due to soil compaction, disease, high concentration of salt, and Nematoda, among others. Because of this, there is a decrease in nutrient absorption, which affects the plants’ health.
So by using foliar fertilization, we compensate for the problem with the roots.
4. Foliar fertilization also solves other problems concerning nutrient deficiencies.
The consequences of nutrient deficiency-induced stress are extreme, and many things can cause nutrient deficiencies in plants. Some effects of minerals, water, nutrients, and sunlight deficiencies, among others, include
- Plant not functioning properly
- Photosynthesis is not occurring optimally
- Growth is interrupted
These effects affect the productivity of crops and the growth of your plants. Therefore, it is necessary to address these deficiencies quickly, and one way to do this is by foliar fertilization.
Quick intervention is one of the features of foliar nutrition. In foliar fertilization, the intervention’s effect is much faster than treating the soil because the nutrients are absorbed rapidly.
Applying fertilizers to the soil can take weeks, depending on the damage. You also have to do something about the deficiency, which is difficult if you are not an experienced gardener.
5. Controlling the growth of your plants is easier with foliar fertilization.
It is easier to vary or change the nutritional balances and the plant’s vigour in foliar nutrition.
If the robustness of the plant is too low, growth can be stimulated by adding nitrogen-rich substances to the foliar spray.
If the plant is too robust, growth can be slowed by foliar nutrition with low nitrogen but high potassium. By doing this, the growth hormones are inhibited, but the plant’s overall health is unharmed. The potassium will provide energy that will be used for fruits.
With foliar nutrition, the faith of your plants is in your own hands.
Another example is if you want to focus on stimulating flower growth, add boron to foliar nutrition and spray it at night.
6. The plant’s resistance is increased with foliar fertilization.
Generally, as long as the plants are well-fed, they are healthier. They also become more potent and less sensitive to diseases and pests. Therefore, plants have a higher natural resistance.
Adding elements like calcium and copper in foliar nutrition would help further enhance the resistance. These elements, including silicon, significantly strengthen the plant.
Foliar fertilization has also been recommended if your plants are recovering from pests and diseases.
7. Foliar fertilization saves a lot of time.
Foliar fertilizers already have the correct trace elements important for plants to thrive. Of course, these elements’ quality, concentration, and purity are essential to consider.
Make sure to take advantage of the effects every time you apply the foliar spray. Give the plants some time to absorb the nutrients and minerals. Remember, time is money.
8. Foliar nutrition saves a lot of money.
Because foliar fertilization has all the necessary nutrients, you will need less soil fertilization. This saves you a lot of money. This is a more cost-effective way of gardening.
Aside from that, you can add organic matter to your foliar spray. For example, if you live near the coast, you can quickly get seaweed. You can add this to your foliar spray if you have compost.
Just to repeat the benefits of foliar spray:
- Foliar feeding is very efficient.
- Foliar feeding stimulates the growth and development of the roots.
- Foliar fertilization backs up the root.
- Foliar fertilization also solves other problems concerning deficiencies.
- Controlling the growth of your plants is easier with foliar fertilization.
- The plant’s resistance is increased with foliar fertilization.
- Foliar fertilization saves a lot of time.
- Foliar nutrition saves a lot of money.
When and how often should you use foliar spray?
Before you apply the foliar spray, it is essential to note that the fertilizer must be diluted to avoid fertilizer burn.
It is also important to apply fertilizer when plants benefit from it. The perfect time to give foliar spray is when the temperatures are cool or when dew is present on the leaves. This could be in the evening or very early in the morning.
A cool environment ensures that the stomata on the leaves are open. In turn, the nutrients can be absorbed easily. Note that applying the fertilizer in the middle of the day is inefficient. In fact, it can actually damage the plant.
Disadvantages of foliar spray for plants
In the long run, foliar fertilization can be expensive if you do not utilize natural nutrition sources. Remember that plants will absorb all the nutrients you apply immediately. Because of that, you will most likely have to use more foliar fertilizers.
Cutting or limiting the number of foliar fertilization would decrease the efficiency. If that happens, you have to use soil fertilization at the same time.
Not applying foliar fertilizer will also damage your plant. Sometimes, gardeners focus too much on one part of the plant. When that happens, the side that received more than what is necessary gets burned. This scenario is prevalent for chemical-based liquid foliar fertilizers, so remember to strictly follow the directions on how to use it.
As mentioned above, applying foliar fertilizers during the morning and evening hours is best. Again, during this period, the plant’s stomata are open, allowing the uptake of nutrients easily. If foliar fertilizer is applied during the day when the stomata are closed, the nutrients will most likely not be absorbed.
What does a foliar spray do?
Foliar spray is the solution for plants that are suffering from any type of deficiency. Even though foliar nutrition is not a complete alternative for healthy soil, it can still benefit your plants.
How long does it take for plants to absorb foliar spray?
There has been a lot of research on how long plants absorb nutrients from fertilizers.
In one of the experiments, the scientist used urea in four plant leaves. Within 25 minutes, around 65% of urea was absorbed. Studies show urea was absorbed mainly through the leaves, particularly the younger ones and those on the side.
Does rain wash away foliar spray?
Yes, the rain may wash away the foliar spray.
You should know that the plants have cuticles on the leaves, which causes the water to bead up. This bead-up will prevent the penetration or absorption of water.
That said, the foliar products might just remain on the leaves. When the rain pours, these products will be washed away.
Mixing a wetting agent or a surfactant is important to prevent the foliar fertilizer from getting washed up. This mix will give the leaf surface full coverage. There are two ways to do this.
- First, putting at least two drops of liquid detergent into a gallon of water will help to wet the leaf surface. Then spray it on your plants religiously.
- Second, pour a small amount of insecticidal soap, or if you have a horticultural oil, the better. Remember to spray the sides and the bottom of the leaves.
Which is better foliar fertilizer or soil fertilizer?
None of them is better than the other.
Generally, foliar feeding is not intended to compete with or replace soil. It is meant to complement soil fertilization.
We can just consider foliar fertilizer as the better when we talk about applying a minimal amount of elements such as phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, and calcium. Foliar fertilization is better in that case because it is easily absorbed.
Foliar fertilization can increase the efficiency of the plant and improve its overall health. Since the uptake of nutrients from the soil can be very slow and inefficient, foliar fertilizers are used as a supplement because they act more rapidly and efficiently.
Take note that foliar fertilizer is only a short-term solution but an excellent one for plants under stress. It is still best to keep your soil healthy.
What kind of nutrients should I use for foliar feeding?
Any fertilizer intended for soil or hydroponic gardening is suitable for foliar spray. As mentioned above, foliar fertilizers are available in the market. You can even make your foliar fertilizer.
How should I select fertilizers for foliar feeding?
Before choosing and applying a foliar fertilizer, you must know your plant’s needs first. Whatever you do, it must be based nutritional requirements of the plant.
Remember, not all plants are the same. Some fertilizers are specifically formulated for a particular species of plants, and these fertilizers may not be appropriate for others.
A lot of fertilizers in the market now list examples of the plants that they are suitable for.
They also disclose their ingredients on the packaging. Most of the time, you will see three numbers on the package, like 20-20-20. These numbers refer to the concentration of nutrients in the fertilizer, particularly the NPK ratio.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Zany Plant World
Succulent and Houseplant blogJoin me in exploring the beautiful and colourful world of succulents and houseplants, one plant at a time! Zany Plant World blog aims to help newbies and fellow plant enthusiasts grow healthy and happy succulents and houseplants at home. Turning your house into an urban jungle oasis that can give you the zen vibes that we all need in this crazy and busy life.