Whether you plan on growing plants with a traditional soil-based method or hydroponics, you have probably heard of the NPK ratio.
The NPK fertilizer ratio represents the essential three nutrients for the plants’ growth – Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
It’s an essential component of a nutrient mix in any hydroponic system as it introduces the much-needed macronutrients.
Still, you need to find a balanced fertilizer for each plant type, as the ratio can vastly differ from one nutrient solution to another.
Join us as we dig deep into the world of NPK nutrients, so you can prepare the right mix for your garden.
About Organic Fertilizers And Synthetic Nutrient Solutions
The main nutrients found in any NPK solution are also known as macronutrients. They are found in nature and along with oxygen, these elements will affect the growth of your plants.
However, the ratio in an NPK solution can drastically differ depending on what you are trying to achieve. It also requires some changes during the growing phases that the plants go through.
So, the ratio isn’t the same if you want to entice root growth as it would be for flowering and blooming later on in the plant’s development.
The NPK relation is usually shown as three numbers, for instance, 10-10-10.That is a simple ratio that has the same amount of all 3 elements, or macronutrients.
There are many different ratios available, for example, you can find an 8-16-36 ratio, a 5-10-25 ratio, and many other mixtures that each have their specific application.
Simply by having a higher ratio of one of these elements, the whole solution will be either Nitrogen-based or based on the other two elements primarily.
Unlike balanced solutions, a nutrient mix containing a higher concentration of one of these elements can greatly affect the plant’s growth.
While you will mostly be using a synthetic fertilizer with a pre-arranged concentration of each of the NPK elements, you can also use compost and manure as organic fertilizers.
High Nitrogen Concentration in NPK
Among the three major nutrients, a high concentration of Nitrogen is mostly used as a lawn fertilizer because it is known for growing grass with a lush green color. The same is important for your garden, as nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for your leafy green veggies.
Not only does it make the plants greener, but it also serves a purpose in the leaf development. High concentrations of Nitrogen can also mean lower chances of leaf diseases that also include dry leaves and color changes. Nitrogen contributes to chlorophyll development and the process of forming proteins.
Nitrogen concentration in an NPK solution can also be enhanced by adding a secondary solution to the mix. This is often Calcium-Nitrate, and it introduces a bit more NItrogen to the mix if you can’t find an NPK fertilizer with the right NItrogen amounts that you want.
One of the best organic fertilizers that contain high Nitrogen rates is organic cotton seed meal with a 7% Nitrogen concentration.
Phosphorus Concentration In an NPK Ratio
A higher concentration of Phosphorus in a primary nutrient solution guarantees proper plant root growth. It also affects blooming and provides higher yield in a nutrient mix enriched with more phosphorus molecules.
It helps regulate protein synthesis in plants, making it an essential macronutrient for ensuring healthy growth. For soil planting, phosphorus helps add hardy properties for the plants to last through the wintertime and low temperatures.
As for hydroponics, a nutrient mix with an NPK ratio around 5-10-10 can enrich the fertilizer tank with additional phosphorus. This would help the plants develop from seedlings in controlled conditions where there’s no soil-based phosphorus.
Potassium Concentration In an NPK Ratio
Every starter fertilizer contains a certain level of potassium concentration. Still, potassium is usually found in most soil types, so its use benefits hydroponic growing systems the most. It helps plants remain healthy and tackle diseases.
Moreover, potassium helps the plant develop a sturdy and hardy root system and temperature resilience.
So, in case you are using a hydroponic system, or soil that’s not naturally rich in potassium, the 8-16-36 ratio is one of the best you can use.
If you are using compost or manure, these make an organic source of potassium that you can add to existing potassium found in soil.
Other Plant Nutrients That Go Along With NPK Fertilizer
Along with the macronutrients found in an NPK solution, some secondary nutrients and micronutrients need to be added for proper growth.
As we mentioned earlier, secondary nutrients like Calcium-Nitrate need to be added to the fertilizer mix if you need to raise the nitrogen level.
This is due to differences in solubility, and the main secondary nutrients include magnesium and sulfur. Adding magnesium can be crucial as it enables the plant and its roots to absorb other nutrients more efficiently. Also, it helps the plant develop more carbs and sugars that are essential for proper blooming.
Micronutrients are those that can be added to the mix in a greater variety, but in lower quantity than macronutrients. These are also some of the essential elements for plant growth, and they include:
- Iron
- Copper
- Boron
- Zinc
- NIckel
- Manganese
- Carbon
As oxygen is provided through certain growing systems, and the macronutrients through the NPK fertilizer, it’s time to discuss the intake of micronutrients. Plants need these to grow and thrive.
Sometimes these elements are found directly in the soil, but you may need a soil test in order to figure out the exact elements you need to add.
Soil test results can tell you everything you need to know about nutrient deficiencies and micronutrients that you might need to add when planting.
Adding these beneficial elements to your soil or hydroponic nutrient solution can ensure healthy growth and higher yields.
How To Use NPK Fertilizer Solutions To Entice Plant Growth?
Knowing about the main macronutrients and micronutrients to include in a fertilizer mix just isn’t enough for proper plant growth. It takes more knowledge about using the three nutrients along with organic fertilizers to make a perfect mix for thriving plants.
Here are the main steps to follow when using NPK fertilizer solutions:
- Learn to interpret the amount of NPK in a synthetic fertilizer
- Recognize the deficiencies and correct them
- Balance the NPK ratio for specific plants
A soil test is one of the best ways to figure out if you need to amend your soil and what to add to it.
On the other hand, hydroponic systems mostly depend on providing the needed amount of NPK solution through the standardized needs of different plants.
Interpret The NPK Amount Actually In Your Fertilizer
You might run into a fertilizer with a 5-10-10 (16) designation. This means that the entire fertilizer blend only has 16 percent of NPK macronutrients for every 100-grams of fertilizer, and of that amount nitrogen (N) makes up 20%, phosphorus (P) 40% and potassium (K) 40%.
For example, nitrogen would only have 0.2 or 20% concentration in the NPK ratio (5 = nitrogen amount, 5+10+10 = 25 total and 5/25 = .2 or 20%) – and you can work out the same for the other two elements, IE 10/25 = 40%.
Now, flowering plants might need more potassium in a mix, and so you need to figure out its true amount in the bag of fertilizer nutrient mix to see if it will provide the proper amount for your plants.
We know the amount of potassium in the NPK ration from the problem above (40%) and we know that the NPK elements make up 16% of the total fertilizer. So we can multiple 16 by .4 to get 6.4% of the bag is made up of potassium.
You can use this percentage to ensure that you introduce just the right percentage of each NPK macronutrient-based on your plant type and demands.
How To Spot NPK Element Deficiencies
Using too much synthetic fertilizer can damage the plant, and so can a deficiency of a certain macronutrient. Luckily, you can recognize this in time by observing your plant’s health condition, and react by adding more of the lacking nutrient in the fertilizer mix.
Each one of the major nutrients manifests its lack through the plant itself. If you happen to notice a yellow color on the leaves of the plant, it could be due to a nitrogen deficiency, and adding more nitrogen to the mix can help your plant regain green leaves and healthy growth.
Phosphorus deficiencies can be seen by observing a darker color in the leaves. Lack of phosphorus could endanger the roots or stems, as it can be manifested through another sign of phosphorus deficiency – a purple color appearing on the stems.
Finally, if you notice that the fruits or flowers aren’t developing properly, it could be due to the lack of potassium. Knowing how to balance everything in the fertilizer and doing a soil test before you start planting can help you prevent encountering the lack of any macronutrient.
Balancing The NPK For Specific Plants
Using organic fertilizers might make it harder to balance the macronutrient ratio, but with synthetic fertilizers, it gets easier to do so. One of the advantages is that you will know the exact amount of each nutrient in a mix by using a calculating method like we’ve discussed.
While granular organic fertilizers are dropped in soil and watered to decompose and release the nutrients, it’s a bit different from synthetic ones. So, with synthetic fertilizers, first, calculate the exact amount in 100 grams of a fertilizer solution.
Next, you can apply soil testing to see if it lacks any natural nutrients. Finally, based on the plant you are growing, add the amount of any macronutrient in increments of 100 grams of fertilizer solution if needed.
If you are growing lettuce or similar leafy veggies, include a higher amount of nitrogen in your solution. To entice flowers and fruit production, use a higher concentration of phosphorus. Ultimately, for proper stem and roots growth use a higher concentration of potassium.
Final Thoughts
In the end, using both organic and synthetic fertilizers require some balancing depending on the soil type and the needs of the plant. This guide will help you find an appropriate fertilizer and bring on the growth of your plants.
Understanding the NPK ratio is a crucial first step toward growing healthy plants, but don’t forget to add secondary nutrients and micronutrients along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What is the ideal ratio of NPK fertilizer?
The perfect combination of an NPK fertilizer for flowering plants is in a 3-1-2 ratio. However, every plant type has different demands while growing, so for proper fruit production use a higher level of Phosphorus, and a higher amount of Potassium for sturdier root growth for hardy plants.
How do you use a balanced NPK solution?
Using a balanced NPK solution is best for hydroponic systems as the equal amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium are highly soluble, so they work best in water-based systems.
Is NPK essential as fertilizer for all plant types?
Yes, these are the macronutrients that every plant will need to properly grow and develop. Along with them, you will also need a mixture of secondary nutrients and micronutrients added to ensure growing a healthy plant and getting higher yields.