Plants grown carefully in pots on a balcony or roof sometimes stall: leaves turn yellow, no new buds appear and growth stops. A gardening report in the Kolkata daily Ei Samay says that watering alone will not fix this; the soil and nutrition need attention too.
Before feeding, loosen the top layer of soil in the pot with a small trowel. This breaks up hardened soil, lets more air reach the roots and helps fertiliser added afterwards get down to them.
Once the soil is loosened, well-rotted cow manure or vermicompost can be added, but the amount should suit the plant and the size of the pot; too much fertiliser can harm rather than help.
Experts say seaweed products can also be used for pot plants where needed. They contain potassium, magnesium and other nutrients and trace elements. Seaweed extract comes in liquid or dry form and can be added to the soil or sprayed on the leaves; following the dose and instructions on the pack is the safest course.
The report cautions that leaves can turn yellow even with the right water and fertiliser, and the cause is not always a nutrient shortage: soil pH, watering mistakes or the lack of one particular nutrient may be to blame. So it is wrong to add more fertiliser without knowing why. Spraying fertiliser or nutrients in strong sun can spot or scorch the leaves, so check the plant's light, water and soil before using them.
Photo: Micha.kkvs2k / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) (potted flowers on a balcony)
Source: Ei Samay
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