Nutrients for Desert Plants
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, copper, boron, chlorine, iron, zinc, manganese and molybdenum
Whether you're planting a desert garden over a wide area or a desert container garden, you need to remember that plants need nutrition for growth, flower and seed production. In fact, there are 16 elements required for normal growth. Three of these occur naturally in air and water: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Six other elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and sulfur can be found in the soil. Called macronutrients these six elements are used in large amounts by plants.
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are considered primary nutrients, while magnesium, calcium and sulfur are considered secondary nutrients.
In addition to these elements, seven other elements, called micronutrients can also be found in the soil. These micronutrients include copper, boron, chlorine, iron, zinc, manganese and molybdenum. Plants use these elements in much smaller amounts, but they are still necessary for plant growth.
Three other elements, used in very small quantities by plants, include cobalt, selenium and silica.
Periodic Table of Elements.
Each element has a unique abbreviation (part of the Periodic Table of Elements). The abbreviations are used to describe concentrations in fertilizers (such as ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate and potassium chloride.
When checking the contents of specific fertilizers, you will see the abbreviations used, although sometimes, the entire element name is printed. To the right of the element abbreviation or name will be a concentration percentage.
Here is a list of plant nutrient elements and their abbreviations:
- Boron (B)
- Calcium (Ca)
- Carbon (C)
- Chloride (Cl)
- Copper (Cu)
- Hydrogen (H)
- Iron (Fe)
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Manganese (Mn)
- Nitrogen (N)
- Oxygen (O)
- Phosphorus (P)
- Potassium (K)
- Sulfur (S)
- Zinc (Zn)
Most of the nutrients required by plants are dissolved in water and then absorbed by the root systems. Only two percent is actually derived directly from the soil. The remaining 98% comes from the water-nutrient solution.
Some nutrients can be absorbed into the solution easily. Some nutrients actually act as a restrictive element, preventing other nutrients from being absorbed. The pH factor also seriously affects nutrient absorption.
High pH means the soil is alkaline and it will cause many nutrients to flow away from the soil and plant roots.
Soil with a very low pH factor is considered acidic and may cause high concentrations of elements, in some cases high enough to injure or kill the plant.
Although plants absorb most of their nutrients from the soil, some nutrients can be absorbed by leaves. This can be accomplished by spraying a diluted solution directly onto the leaves. But be careful. A too-highly concentrated solution can injure leaves.
Fertilizers are nutrients that can be applied to the soil surrounding plants, or, in some cases, directly to the leaves.
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