Folair feeding

[Jon]

Hi I was wondering if someone might have some info on folair feeding ?
Such as fertilzer , how often and results.

Best regards,

Jon

[Charlie]

Hi Jon,

Foliar feeding has the advantage of providing nutrients to the plant more quickly than feeding though the roots. You can see results in a matter of days if the nutrient fed through the leaves was needed by the plants.

The drawback is that the hibiscus cannot absorb as much of most nutrients as it needs if only fed through the leaves. Foliar feeding should be considered an extra boost but not as a replacement for feeding through the roots.

There is also the danger of phytotoxic reaction if too strong a solution is applied to the leaves. That danger exists when feeding through the roots but is less because there is a buffer effect provided by the soil or potting mix. Applying potassium nitrate, for instance, can burn the leaves if the dose is too large.

Generally speaking, it is safe to apply half the strength to the leaves as you know is safe to apply to the roots. The best practice is to always test a new spray on a few leaves and wait for at least a week to see if there was any negative reaction to the new spray. Once you know it is safe then you can apply that formula to the leaves of all the plants. Also, sunlight can react with anything sprayed on the leaves so it is always best to spray in the late afternoon or on a cloudy day.

Charlie

[Jon]

Thanks for the info Charlie it was very helpful....

[Nievesgirl]

Great info Charles , I just receive hibiscus booster and I would love to try it as a folair feeder.
My gator pride and Voodoo look a little off since they been here so long with out fertilizer.

[Charlie]

The fertilizer should help but just keep in mind that a little bit used often is better and less risky than using a lot only occasionally. The booster can cause leaf burn and defoliation if used in stronger doses than the plants can use.

Charlie