Ammonia-smelling solution or ammonia for indoor plants: use as a nitrogen fertilizer and to repel pests. Types of fertilizers suitable for orchids and how to use them Ammonium chloride application for orchids
Today on the market you can find a variety of fertilizers for indoor plants. We will talk about natural fertilizers that are popular for feeding flowers at home. The most popular household fertilizers are sugar, banana peel, yeast, wood ash, eggshells, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia and succinic acid, to name a few.
All of them have their own characteristics and rules of use. The effectiveness of the use of natural home fertilizers causes heated debate and discussion among flower growers. Their reviews can be drastically different from each other. Therefore, for now, we can conclude that the use of home fertilizers is a purely individual matter.
We will try to shed light on some of the secrets of using such natural dressings.
We also invite our readers to a discussion and a balanced approach. Please share your experience with this or that fertilizer in the comments.
banana peel fertilizer
Very popular natural fertilizer for indoor plants and flowers. Banana peels, which are mercilessly thrown away by us, contain many nutrients, such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and nitrogen. Many housewives speak positively about this fertilizer and use it to feed cyclamen, violets, begonias and other plants.
There are several ways to prepare banana peel fertilizer.
- A clean banana peel is crushed, placed in a liter jar up to half and filled with water. Infuse for a day, then drain, bring the volume to 1 liter and water the houseplants. The main disadvantage of this method is the unpleasant smell of the infusion.
- A clean banana peel is dried (for example, in an oven or on a radiator). Then grind in a coffee grinder. The resulting powder is scattered over the top layer of soil in a pot, and then watered with water (about 1 time per month). Another use is to break dried banana skins into small pieces and place them in the bottom of the pot over the drainage during transplantation.
- Cleanly washed banana peel finely chopped and buried in the ground as deep as possible. The disadvantage of the method is that the decomposition of the peel does not occur so quickly. In addition, it is difficult to calculate the required amount of peel for a plant.
- Banana cocktail for spraying. For cooking, you need to mix the dried peel from 4 bananas with 2 tsp. eggshell powder (2-3 pieces) and 20 g of magnesium sulfate (magnesia). Dilute the resulting solution with 900 ml of water and shake well. The prepared composition must be stored in the refrigerator. It is recommended to spray plants once a week.
Plant nutrition with sugar
Common natural fertilizer. The main benefit of the application is that sugar is a source of glucose (obtained in the process of decay), which is so necessary for the basic life processes of plants.
To prepare a nutrient solution 1 tbsp. a spoonful of sugar is diluted in 500 ml of water. To simplify the procedure, you can simply sprinkle the soil in the plant pot with sugar, and then water in the usual way. It is recommended to feed indoor flowers with sugar no more than 1 time per month.
Considering that all the value in sugar for plants lies precisely in glucose, you can use ordinary glucose tablets, which are sold in pharmacies. The recommended ratio for the nutrient solution is 1 tablet of glucose per 1 liter of water. The frequency of feeding or spraying is also not more than 1 time per month.
Feeding with sugar is an excellent source of energy, as well as a builder for the plant. With only one caveat. Glucose is well absorbed only if carbon dioxide is present in the right amount. With its deficiency, sugar that has entered the soil can become a source of nutrition for various root rots, molds and other unhealthy processes.
Therefore, it makes sense to use sugar as a top dressing only in conjunction with one of the EM preparations (for example, Baikal EM-1). Preparations with effective microorganisms increase the amount of beneficial microflora in the soil, and the absorption of glucose increases markedly.
Fertilizing plants with dormant coffee
Immediately you need to make a reservation that not all indoor flowers love coffee. Sleeping coffee increases the acidity of the soil, and this is not required by all plants. Coffee top dressing is useful for azaleas, some types of lilies, rhododendrons, and some others.
In addition to acidity, drunk coffee has a good effect on soil structure. It becomes looser and lighter, and, consequently, the level of oxygen rises.
Tea brewing can become an analogue of coffee grounds. However, there is also a drawback here. She can attract black flies.
Fertilizing houseplants with wood ash
This is a unique fertilizer for both garden and indoor plants. Depending on the method by which it is obtained, the chemical composition of the ash may vary. However, any ash is an excellent source of trace elements, which are so necessary for the proper development of plants. These are potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, etc. Moreover, potassium and phosphorus are contained in the ash in an easily digestible form for plants, which distinguishes ash from other fertilizers.
Unlike potassium chloride(ready-made chemical preparation), ash does not acidify the soil. For many plants, this factor is decisive. For example, plants that do not tolerate an acidic environment can get sick from improper feeding. Wood ash is absolutely safe in this regard and can be an excellent substitute for mineral fertilizers.
Top dressing with wood ash improves the composition of the soil, making it looser. Ash contributes to the favorable development of microorganisms, as well as the formation of humus.
For the preparation of fertilizer you need 1 tbsp. dilute a spoonful of ash in 1 liter of water. Also, you can simply mix the ash with the soil when transplanting. This method will not only make the soil nutritious, but also protect the plant from infection.
Yeast fertilizer for indoor plants
Did you know that yeast is an excellent growth stimulant for houseplants? This is especially true for plants weakened as a result of a transplant or a disease, as well as during the flowering period.
Yeast secrete a huge amount of nutrients that stimulate the growth and flowering of plants - B vitamins, phytohormones, auxins and cytokinins.
Benefits of yeast supplements proven by scientists. As a result of their application, the activity of microorganisms in the soil and the release of carbon dioxide increase, which equates yeast top dressing to full-fledged mineral fertilizers. That is why this method is used by many professionals.
Preparation of yeast solution. Dissolve 10 grams of fresh yeast in 1 liter of slightly warm sweetened (1 tablespoon of sugar) water. The solution should be infused for about two hours. The resulting infusion should be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:5 and used for watering plants - in winter and autumn 1 time per month, in spring and summer 1 time in 10 days.
Other sourdough options. Fertilizers can be fermented using wheat grains, hops and ordinary bread. The general principle is to boil the main ingredient, add sugar and leave in a warm place to sour. Then this mass is diluted with water and used to fertilize plants.
Yeast top dressing has a beneficial effect on the root system of plants and increases the strength for flowering.
succinic acid
Succinic acid is obtained in the process of processing natural amber. This substance has a lot of useful properties, including for indoor plants. Outwardly, it looks like citric acid - a white powder with sourness. The use of succinic acid as a top dressing strengthens the immunity of flowers, helps in the absorption of nutrients. Succinic acid cannot be called a complete fertilizer. However, as an auxiliary substance, it is often used for rooting cuttings, when soaking seeds, as well as when watering and spraying.
Ficuses, begonias, chlorophytum, citrus fruits and fat women are especially fond of top dressing with succinic acid.
Important! Top dressing with succinic acid can be used no more than 1 time per year! Spraying can be done a little more often, but do not get carried away.
Eggshell
Eggshell is as popular a natural fertilizer for indoor plants as it is controversial. The fact is that the calcium contained in it is in a hard-to-reach form. In addition, not all indoor plants like calcium, and its excess can lead to chlorosis.
Therefore, feeding with eggshells should be started gradually, with small dosages.
Application methods. Eggshells are either mixed with the soil during transplantation or made into an infusion to water the plants.
I must say that this is a very controversial way to feed indoor flowers. Although the eggshell can perfectly cope with the function of drainage when planting.
Fertilizer with ammonia
Ammonia, or a solution of ammonia in water, is used by many as a nitrogen fertilizer. However, they must be used very carefully. Nitrogen is an essential element for the production of chlorophyll and plant growth. Ordinary organic matter entering the soil is not immediately absorbed. And ammonia is an emergency remedy and immediately replenishes the nitrogen deficiency. This substance is instantly absorbed by the plant without any processing by bacteria.
Ammonia is considered a kind of elixir for tired plants. By analogy with humans, ammonia "invigorates" the plant, "brings it to life."
Solution preparation. 1 st. dilute a spoonful of ammonia in 1 liter of water and water the plant.
To prepare the tincture, you need to take a handful of onion peel, pour 1 liter of boiling water and boil for 5 minutes. When the solution has cooled, you can water and spray the plants.
Castor oil supplement
Castor oil, oddly enough, is also considered a useful top dressing for plants. Such top dressing is especially effective on flowering plants during the setting of buds. For 1 liter of water, take 1 teaspoon of oil, shake well and water during flowering and fruiting.
I would be grateful for the feedback. Didn't use it myself. Although this method is described by many well-known flower growers. Also, this method is referred to as the old one.
Feeding with hydrogen peroxide
The disinfecting properties of hydrogen peroxide have been known for a long time. But it turns out that it is useful for plants too. For example, it is used to process peat for seedlings. Apparently, during the decomposition of peroxide, oxygen is released, which causes the formation of growth stimulants in the soil and the death of pathogenic microorganisms.
It is recommended to use for sluggish weakened plants as a growth stimulator. To do this, 20-25 ml of 3% peroxide is diluted in 1 liter of water. The resulting solution is watered and sprayed on the plant. The procedure can be repeated after a few days, until the revival effect appears.
Top dressing with iodine
Iodine is also an excellent growth stimulant. This microelement is useful not only to people, but also to plants. In microdoses, it has a beneficial effect on the appearance of the plant, helps it get out of a state of stress. To prepare the solution, you need to dissolve 1 drop of iodine in 1 liter of water at room temperature and pour it over the plant along the edge of the pot so as not to burn the roots. You don't need to water a lot. It is recommended to apply no more than 50 ml of the solution once. If the soil in the pot is too dry, you must first spill it with water.
Plant nutrition with aloe juice
Aloe is a wonderful immunomodulator. Many treatises have been written about its beneficial properties for humans. But it turns out that it is also good as a natural fertilizer for houseplants. It has been noticed that indoor flowers grow faster after feeding with aloe juice. To do this, you need to take 1 teaspoon of fresh aloe juice per 1 liter of water, and water the plants with this solution. If you take pharmacy juice in ampoules, then the nutrient solution is made in the proportion of 1 ml of juice per 1 liter of water. Such top dressing can be done once a month.
Some flower growers use this recipe: 6-7 branches of aloe should be cut into small pieces, put in a 3-liter jar and pour warm boiled water. Infuse for a week in a dark place. Then 200 g of the resulting infusion is diluted with three liters of water and indoor flowers are watered under the root.
Feeding plants with milk
A drink that brings great benefits to plants. Milk is a whole complex of useful substances - calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, etc. Milk solution in a ratio of 1:10 is watered and sprayed with indoor flowers. After such milk dressings and baths, the metabolism of plants increases and resistance to fungal diseases increases.
Dairy dressings also have another feature. Almost all insects are lactose intolerant. Therefore, spraying with milk is a good protection against many pests. In addition, the resulting thin milky film on the leaves creates a barrier to the penetration of pathogens.
Many indoor plants (ferns, roses, etc.) love dairy top dressings, with the exception of succulents.
Plant nutrition with vitamin B
Vitamins are of no small importance not only for the proper functioning of humans, but also for plants. B vitamins have a positive effect on metabolism and the development of the root system. Studies have shown that the use of vitamin B helps the plant make better use of soil nutrients. And this in turn affects the faster growth and health of plants, the rapid germination of seeds, the formation of larger flowers.
Treatment of indoor plants with vitamin B is carried out both by watering and spraying. A positive effect is achieved with systematic use.
However, vitamin B should not be applied during the dormant period of plants. This is an excerpt from the book "Floriculture", G. E. Kiselev, second edition, corrected and supplemented, State Publishing House of Agricultural Literature, M. 1952, p. 92).
Mode of application. Dilute 1 ampoule of vitamin B1 (thiamine) in 1 liter of water at room temperature. Use a solution for soaking, watering and spraying.
Vitamin B3 (PP, nicotinic acid) is used for plant shock therapy. Diluted in the same proportion. Can be used simultaneously with other vitamins. However, not more than once every 10 days.
Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a good immunostimulant. The dosage is the same, not more than 1 time in 10 days.
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin, cobalamin). Its use is especially relevant in the autumn-winter period, when there is little light and not enough fresh air. The dosage is the same.
There are imported preparations with vitamin B1. After making the solution according to the instructions, you can water the plants with this solution (both seedlings and adult flowers as a top dressing).
Almost all plants respond well to vitamins. Petunias, violets and other flowers are very fond of such vitamin dressings.
Without belittling the role of full-fledged complex fertilizers, it must be admitted that interest in natural home fertilizers is noticeably increasing. People want to make the most of nature's possibilities by caring for their favorite plants.
The only thing worth adding - do not overdo it! Both deficiency and excess of nutrients can harm the plant and even cause their death.
There is a general rule for all indoor flowers - do not feed newly transplanted plants for two months. Fresh soil always has enough nutrients.
If you've had experience caring for your indoor flowers, please share! Tell us what plant nutrition you use.
is an important event. The beauty and health of the orchid depends on how moisturizing will be. Not observing or doing it with violations, novice flower growers are surprised at the drying and death of their pet. Even if it is possible to take measures in time in this case, they will save her, but she will not gain color for a long time.
For watering orchids (but with the recommended and without fanaticism), it is recommended to use ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, cytokinin paste and yeast, but it is strictly forbidden to use a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Organic fertilizers are also contraindicated for the flower: manure and compost, as their use leads to damage to sensitive roots.
To make it bloom blue
Some flower growers water the orchid with colored water. As a result, the pet acquires a blue tint on leaves, roots and flowers. They act imprudently, causing harm to her. It depends on how strong he is, whether she survives or not. Why paint the buds blue, using ink or blue for watering, if such a procedure is harmful? The natural shade always looks more natural and richer.
What kind of water should be used?
An orchid is a plant that in nature lives in conditions of heavy rains with a relatively small amount of salts. How to water an indoor flower? The best is rainwater, but when it gets into the ground, it is enriched with salts. It is difficult to predict their concentration, as it depends on the region, type of soil, etc.
Reference. Orchid roots are sensitive to cold water. If you pour it with water that is not at room temperature, it will experience stress.
It also threatens if you do not pay due attention to the quality of water. Tap water is a "storehouse" of unnecessary salts. It is not suitable for watering orchids. To remove salt and improve its quality, there are special methods. Which?
It is not always and not everywhere possible to collect it in order to use it later in watering orchids. When collecting it, make sure that it is clean. The collection is carried out outside the city, where cars practically do not drive and where there are no traces of civilization. Once you find the perfect spot, keep it clean at all times.
Advantages:
- Cheapness.
- Naturalness of rain water.
Flaws:
- Difficulties in finding a place to collect.
- The impossibility of organizing special conditions for storage.
boiled
Having boiled water, flower growers achieve temporary removal of rigidity from it. Salt turns into scale. If everything is normal with the hardness of the water in the region, boiling is the ideal method.
Advantages: Simplicity.
Flaws: Ineffective if the tap water in the region is too hard.
distilled
If the grower has two or three orchids, you can buy distilled water in a flower shop. It is diluted with tap water, but taking into account the following nuances:
- Strongly hard water - 1 hour tap + 2 hours distilled.
- Medium hardness - 1 hour tap and distilled.
Advantages: Possibility of independent control over the content of salts.
Flaws: The high price of distilled water.
filtered
On a note. Stores sell flow filters and jugs. Both remove salts, making the liquid immediately after filtration suitable for irrigation.
Sometimes a single filtration is not enough, as the water is hard.
Advantages:
- Simplicity.
- Low cost filters.
Flaws:
- Slow filtration speed.
- The need for periodic replacement of cartridges, so as not to harm the flower.
settled
This method is the least expensive and optimal. A day after pouring water into a bottle, it is ready for use. The main thing is not to shake it, as there is always sediment at the bottom.
Is it possible to use solutions?
Not all solutions that flower growers use to ensure abundant flowering, leaf growth, etc. other plants are suitable for watering orchids. Which ones can and can't be used?
Hydrogen peroxide is a stimulator of growth and death of pathogenic microorganisms. It is used for soil treatment and substrate disinfection. It saturates the roots and leaves with oxygen, resuscitates the flooded orchid, whose roots have begun to rot. In order not to harm, but to help the plant, the proportions are strictly observed when mixing peroxide with water.
- Pest Control: 2 tbsp. l. 3% water peroxide per liter of water. The resulting solution is sprayed or watered with an orchid.
- Resuscitation: per 1 liter of water 3 ml of peroxide.
- Regular watering: 5-10 drops of water per liter of water.
Potassium permanganate
You can not water the orchid with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Yes, it is effective when fighting mold in the soil and fungus, but not in the case of Phalaenopsis orchids. Potassium permanganate causes them to burn their roots.
Yeast
It also helps to reanimate the plant if the roots are almost all rotted. The main thing is to make the yeast solution for irrigation correctly and not to apply it more than once a month. Top dressing is done as follows: in ten liters of warm water, one pack of dry yeast (10 g) and 3 tbsp. l. granulated sugar. After mixing, the mixture is infused for two hours, and then the orchid is watered with it.
A novelty in flower shops is the preparation of cytokinin paste. The main active ingredient in it is the phytohormone cytokinin. It stimulates cell division. If desired, they make pasta on their own, but at the same time they take all precautions, as they prepare it from hazardous substances. It is kept in a cool and dark place, and children are not allowed to play with it. Special properties of cytokinin paste:
The consumption of the paste is small: 100 grams is enough to process not only domestic, but also garden flowers. The optimal time for top dressing is the end of winter - the beginning of spring.
Cytokinin paste is a drug that cannot be used at random, without following the recommendations from the manufacturer and without applying nitrogen and complex fertilizers. Otherwise, there is a high risk of drying and death of the orchid. It is not recommended to use the paste if the orchid is sick, affected by pests and is under stress.
Ammonia
You can fertilize an orchid using ammonia, i.e. clear white liquid with a pungent odor. He is a source of nitrogen, i.e. the most important element for her. It is needed to establish the process of photosynthesis.
Reference. If there is a lack of nitrogen in the substrate, the production of chlorophyll will be disrupted and chlorosis will develop. The leaves turn pale, turn yellow, and eventually die.
The orchid is watered with an ammonia solution under the root. In five liters of water, dilute 3 tbsp. spoons of ammonia. It is used when watering every three weeks, until warning signs appear. Sometimes flower growers apply this fertilizer only in February-March once every 15-20 days to support the orchid during the period of active growth and before the formation of buds.
Fitolavin
Phytolavin is a systemic drug designed to protect plant crops from bacterial diseases. It is recommended for those who grow fruit trees and seedlings of vegetable crops, plants in a greenhouse, open ground. It is not suitable for protecting orchids from bacterial diseases.
What is wrong with care?
Orchids die due to improper watering. To avoid this, watering should not be plentiful, and fertilizing is applied carefully.
What to do if you moisturized incorrectly?
If you water the orchid incorrectly, and excess moisture will provoke root rot, the leaves will wrinkle, and the buds will fall off. In this case, the flower is removed from the pot. Sometimes it's easier to cut a plastic container in two than to extract the roots in a different way. All root processes are cleaned of the substrate, and then they are soaked in water for 15-20 minutes. After complete drying, the soaked roots are removed with nail scissors or sharp secateurs, and then the orchid is planted in a new pot.
Useful video
Watering orchids, basic rules:
Conclusion
Without proper watering and fertilizing, the orchid does not please with flowering! The main thing is to take precautions and fertilize it with the correct frequency.
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Almost every house has indoor plants. Recently, phalaenopsis, in other words, an orchid, has become very popular among indoor plants. There are many types and colors of orchids. This is a very beautiful, bright and long-flowering plant. Some people think that the orchid is a very capricious flower that requires a lot of attention. But in fact, the orchid is unpretentious. The main thing in her care is to carry out proper watering and fertilize.
than phalaenopsis?
Top dressing and, as with any other flowers, are important. The development of the root system depends on the correct application of fertilizers. If the root system of the flower is powerful, developed, this will contribute to the emergence of new leaves and peduncles. It is important to know that all fertilizers and top dressings should be water soluble and less concentrated.
Fertilizer during the growing season of orchids
The role of leaves in the life of a plant is enormous. The more leaves, the stronger and more powerful the peduncle will be, and the longer the flowering period of phalaenopsis will be. Nitrogen fertilizers are necessary for the formation and growth of new leaves. Complex fertilizers, which, in addition to nitrogen, also contain phosphorus and potassium, can be used if nitrogen prevails in the composition. Nitrogen is responsible for the growth of leaves, phosphorus is responsible for the formation and development of the root system and peduncles, and potassium is responsible for the general condition and health of the plant.
To prepare the solution, it is better to use a double dose of water. This will make the solution less concentrated. If phalaenopsis is overfed with fertilizers, then sticky secretions may form on the leaves, the leaves will begin to turn yellow, and the buds and flowers will fall off. If this happens, you must stop fertilizing the plant for six months.
During the growing season, the plant should be fed with the following frequency: in summer, 2 times a month, in winter, 1 time per month. For a year, you can fertilize the plant up to 6 times.
If the plant was bought in a store, then it can be fertilized for the first time no earlier than six months after the purchase. Since the soil in which the flowers are planted is saturated with fertilizers. You need to make sure that all fertilizers applied by the manufacturer are completely dissolved or washed out.
Before you feed a flower, you need to carefully moisten its substrate. If fertilizer is applied to dry roots, they may be damaged. Real burns form on the roots. This may cause the plant to die.
When buying nitrogen fertilizers for orchids, you should choose those that do not use urea. It is best if the fertilizer is obtained from ammonia or nitrates. This is a more gentle option for phalaenopsos.
Fertilizer during the flowering period of orchids
After the phalaenopsis has formed new leaves, you need to take care of the growth of the peduncle. For this, it is necessary to use fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium. The concentration of nitrogen in complex fertilizers should be reduced. Otherwise, the plant will direct all its forces to the growth of leaves. You can use liquid ready-made fertilizers for flowering orchids. They are used only during the flowering period. This top dressing will increase the duration of flowering.
If the plant suddenly began to turn yellow lower leaves, then you definitely need to study its root system - it can rot from an excess of moisture. If everything is in order with the roots, then the phalaenopsis needs fertilizer.
Many amateur flower growers use folk remedies when caring for plants. A proven and cheap remedy is ammonia for indoor flowers. The use of an available pharmacy product has a positive effect on plants of many species.
It is useful to learn the rules for feeding with the use of ammonia and pest control methods for indoor flowers. All the nuances of using a solution with the smell of ammonia are reflected in the article.
Useful properties of the substance for indoor plants
Ammonium chloride is a colorless liquid with a specific, unpleasant smell of ammonia. The concentration of the composition is 10%. The drug is actively used not only by doctors (to bring an unconscious person to life), but also flower growers to care for plants at home, in the garden and in the garden.
Pharmaceutical agent is a combination of ammonia gas and water. Ammonia contains 82% nitrogen. Pharmaceutical agent is often used in floriculture, for processing and feeding horticultural, fruit and vegetable crops.
An important advantage is that, subject to the optimal concentration and frequency of applying a solution based on ammonia, it is almost impossible to “overfeed” the plants.
Ammonium chloride does not replace nitrogen fertilizers. You should not rely on a pharmacy remedy as a panacea for pest control, chlorosis and other problems. A product with a bright smell of ammonia is allowed to be used in optimal concentration, taking into account the type and age of indoor plants. Moderate dosage and suitable frequency of various types of treatment: spraying, watering, fertilizing the soil are useful for the growth and development of decorative leafy and decorative flowering species.
For what and in what cases is it used
Signs of nitrogen deficiency:
- leaves shrivel, turn yellow;
- the growing season proceeds with deviations, the bush grows weakly;
- pale shade of leaf plates;
- the stem is fragile;
- weak flowering.
Compositions based on ammonia are used for several purposes:
- soil fertilizer;
- spraying to destroy and repel pests of indoor flowers;
- improving the quality of vegetation;
- strengthening of the stem and leaves against the background of insufficient intake of nitrogen from the soil.
Pharmacies sell a product with the smell of ammonia at a concentration of 10%. In separate recipes for flower growers, a different indicator of the strength of the product is indicated - 25%. The drug is sold in stores as a technical variety.
Ammonia is a cheap, affordable means for feeding plants in a green corner, a greenhouse, a greenhouse, open ground crops, shrubs and fruit trees. The composition is always on sale, the consumption is minimal, which significantly reduces the cost of growing plants of various types.
The effect of ammonia on plants and soil
Opinions about the advisability of using and the benefits of a pharmacy remedy are mostly positive. Many amateur flower growers, vegetable growers and gardeners use ammonia when caring for crops of various species and genera.
The main benefit of the pharmacy is associated with a high nitrogen content, which plants absorb only from the substrate. A deficiency of a useful substance leads to a decrease in the rate of the photosynthesis process, insufficient production of chlorophyll.
Important nuances:
Warning! Excess nitrogen in the soil provokes the active growth of green mass, often to the detriment of flowering. It is no coincidence that during the budding period, the amount of nitrogen fertilizers is sharply reduced, including weakly concentrated compositions based on ammonia. During flowering, if top dressing of a particular type of indoor flowers is allowed, the rate of potassium and phosphorus is increased, with a deficiency of which the buds are small, bright colors do not please the eye for long.
Solution preparation
Before the first use of a nitrogen-containing agent, it is important to study the methods of use, find suitable recipes, clarify the concentration of the drug for a specific purpose.
Rules
Ten important points:
- Always add water (little by little) to the ammonia in the container, and not vice versa.
- Wear rubber gloves.
- Do not lean low over the container, do not inhale vapours. Be sure to wear a medical mask.
- Do not prepare the product stronger than the prescription.
- Adhere to the frequency of watering and spraying.
- Use ammonia-based working solution immediately after preparation.
- It is impossible to combine ammonia with other substances and preparations, except for iodine.
- It is strictly forbidden to use ammonia to treat plants for people diagnosed with vegetovascular dystonia.
- The solution with ammonia should not be used in a poorly ventilated area. Optimally - take out the flowerpots with flowers on the balcony or in the yard.
- In hot weather, processing is not worth it.
If undiluted ammonia gets on your hands, a chemical burn and skin irritation may occur. Be sure to rinse the problem area with running water, gently blot, consult a dermatologist.
Proportions
For indoor plants, a weak solution of ammonia is used: for 3 liters of slightly warm water, take 1 tbsp. l. ammonia. It is useful to water and spray many types of house flowers from the beginning of the growing season until autumn. Before using the working solution, it is important to clarify whether water procedures are suitable for a particular type. Some exotic plants, such as lithops or "living stones", should not be sprayed, otherwise the fleshy leaves will rot.
Nuances
It is important to know:
- the frequency of application of the working solution for watering and irrigating the leaves - 1 time per week;
- it is impossible to combine mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen (ammonium nitrate, karbofos) with fertilizing with ammonia, regardless of the strength of the finished product;
- it is allowed to increase the concentration of the home remedy gradually, when determining the reaction of a particular species to the pharmacy composition.
How to use
As a nitrogen fertilizer
Important nuances:
- Watering indoor flowers with a solution based on ammonia is an easy way to improve the condition of the green mass, support the production of chlorophyll. A solution of low concentration: for 1 liter of cool water, take 1 tsp. pharmaceutical agent.
- After a few weeks, with a good reaction of specimens from the green corner, you can slightly increase the concentration: take not a teaspoon, but a tablespoon of ammonia 10%. A stronger solution is harmful to indoor plants.
- Watering is carried out 1 time in 14 days according to the norm of liquid for a certain type. Too wet soil is an environment for the development of fungal infections.
Top dressing with ammonia, more precisely, a solution based on a pharmacy composition, benefits indoor flowers. A good effect is obtained when watering geraniums, room roses, zinnias, lilies, dahlias, violets, nasturtiums. It is important not to overfeed the flowers, otherwise fungal infections develop, an excess of nitrates accumulates in the underground part.
spraying
The procedure is less popular than watering with diluted ammonia as a fertilizer. Not all plants respond well to a solution with a pharmaceutical product.
Many pests are sensitive to the action of ammonia:
- slugs
- caterpillars;
- bear;
- onion and cabbage flies.
To scare away small insects, it is enough to prepare a standard remedy (3 liters of water + a tablespoon of ammonia), spray the leaves and the ground. Processing frequency - 1 time in 7 days.
The main rule when using a pharmacy product is do no harm. Improper use of ammonia, excess concentration, refusal of nitrogen fertilizers can harm plants.
It is important to adhere to safety measures, protect hands and respiratory organs. Vapors of ammonia can lead to poisoning, and a strong solution can provoke damage to the epidermis. Before starting the procedures for watering and spraying plants, be sure to wear gloves, a medical mask, and process indoor flowers in the fresh air.
Video about the features of the use of ammonia as a top dressing for indoor plants:
In nature, this "queen of flowers" is one of the most leisurely. On the one hand, it has a lot of sun, heat and moisture at its disposal. But on the other hand, there is a significant lack of nutrients, in which the epiphytic lifestyle is to blame. In artificial conditions (if we are not talking about an orchidarium and a greenhouse), growth rates slow down even more. And it is this feature that is extremely important to keep in mind when feeding orchids.
What fertilizer to choose?
Fertilizers can be mineral or organic; liquid, granular, in the form of sticks or tablets (we wrote about this in detail in the article). In addition, the percentage of minerals also differs.
When choosing between complex mineral and organic top dressings, the choice should fall on mineral. Why? In organic fertilizers, nitrogen is often the dominant component of all possible components. At the same time, nitrogen is in them in toxic ammonia (NH4) form (although for most other plants, ammonia nitrogen may be more beneficial than nitrate). Nitrogen will pass into an easily digestible mineral form only after processing by microorganisms. The amount, speed and efficiency of processing depend on many factors: temperature, humidity, light level. Thus, it is quite easy to make a mistake with the dosage of organic fertilizers, which threatens to inhibit the growth of the roots, and then the entire plant (organic nitrogen - ammonia, initially accumulates in the roots).
The final symptoms of an overdose of organic nitrogen: decrease in plant immunity, increased risk of damage by pests, delayed flowering up to 1-3 years.
If we talk about the choice of the form of fertilizers, it is recommended to focus on liquid concentrates. Sticks and tablets dissolve poorly and unevenly in loose orchid substrate, which can lead to a lack or excess of nutrients.
ON THE PICTURE: Separate fertilizers for hydroponics are ideal for feeding orchids. During the period of active growth, you can increase the amount of nitrogen (Grow), during the budding period - phosphorus (Bloom). Trace elements must be added constantly in a small dosage (Micro)
The orchid needs a balanced diet. When choosing fertilizers, you should carefully read the label. As mentioned earlier, it indicates the ratio of the main elements: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The formula may look like NPK 7–3–6. This means that this mineral fertilizer contains 7% nitrogen, 3% and 6% phosphorus and potassium, respectively.
What is this information for? As we have said, nitrogen stimulates the growth of green mass. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied during the period of active growth. Potassium and phosphorus contribute to the development of the root system, strengthening the immunity of the plant. They are used in the formation of peduncles and buds.
Fertilization Rules
Exists two fundamentally different approach to feeding: constant (with every watering) and periodical (e.g. once a week). Both approaches are used successfully, but constant top dressing is more suitable for orchids in greenhouses and. For irrigation, only liquid fertilizers are used at a concentration 3–5 times less than indicated. Approximately once a month it is necessary to “spill” the orchids with clean water to wash off the accumulated salts.
Periodic watering - popular among numerous hobbyists, when once or twice a month a pot with a substrate and a plant is placed in water with dissolved fertilizers for 15–20 minutes. The rest of the time it is watered with clean water without fertilizers. This method is convenient in that it is not necessary to prepare a highly diluted solution each time. However, there is evidence that with this method of fertilization, the number of flowers and the frequency of flowering are 20–30% less than with a constant one.
The concentration of universal mineral fertilizers must be reduced by three to four times from the recommended one.
Root top dressing can be entered in different ways. Main methods:
- Regular watering + watering with fertilizer diluted in water;
- Dipping a pot of Orchid into a container with diluted mineral fertilizer.
Fertilizers are best applied after 20-30 minutes. after watering. This will protect the roots from possible burns.
foliar top dressing
necessary for weakened plants (for example, after an illness or transplant with significant pruning of the roots). It is applied by carefully spraying the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, without touching the buds and flowers. If you place the sprayed plant under the bag, the effectiveness of the fertilizer will increase many times over. 
ON THE PICTURE: ON THE PHOTO: Foliar feeding of Orchids
Water for root and foliar top dressing is highly desirable to use after filtration with a reverse osmosis filter. Distilled water is also suitable. Remember: the less salt in the water for irrigation, the less will be the total salinity of the solution with fertilizers. In addition, it will get rid of ugly white streaks on spots and leaves.
Boiled water is strictly unacceptable for irrigation, because. contains insoluble carbonates. In the absence of a choice, settled tap water should be used.
- During the dormant period;
- During illness, and also if the plants are affected by pests;
- After transplanting for one to two months (except for spraying on the leaf), it is also advisable to avoid the use of nitrogen fertilizers until the first new roots appear;
- After the purchase. Flowering plants do not feed until the end of flowering, non-flowering - until the end of the acclimatization period.
Features of feeding certain types of orchids
If we talk about specific types, then, most often, each of them requires an individual approach.
So, for example, they feed during periods of active growth, when a new leaf appears and grows. During the formation of the peduncle and directly flowering, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are used for top dressing. The concentration of universal fertilizers should be reduced by 4 times compared to the instructions.
Feed from the end of January or after the end of flowering. Fertilizers are applied at every second watering at a dosage of 25% of the recommended for Orchids. The best option would be to use complex mineral fertilizers with equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (for example, NPK 8–8–8). At the end of August, top dressing is completed, the plant goes into a dormant period.
The so-called and other hybrids are based on Odontoglossum and begin to be fed with small doses from about mid-February. Gradually increase the concentration so that by mid-March it reaches the norm recommended by the manufacturer (when using mineral fertilizers for Orchids). In the last month of feeding, September, the concentration is gradually reduced. The frequency of fertilization is about twice a month. 
ON THE PICTURE: Beautiful abundant flowering is the result of proper feeding of Dendrobium
The main rule: the lack of nutrients is not as destructive as their excess. It is absolutely impossible to overfeed any kind of Orchids - the plant may die!
