difference between overfertilzing and under fertilizing?

18 years ago

What is the difference in the look of our plants when a tree has been OVER fertilized as to UNDER fertilized?

Do the same syptoms appear throughout the plant? What are the sysmptoms? Yellowing leaves and so on. I think some of us may be either over or under fertilizing and can't tell the difference..:-0)

I think our plants cry to us like babies for food,when in fact they have to go to the bathroom, but then who understands babies needs while crying either, unless your a good mother who knows the difference and your child...Plants are like our babies.lol

Maybe when we think a plant looks sickly, we give more nutrition, when in fact, it already has too much, or needs to excrete the fertilizer from to much build up in the soil,but instead we add even more.

Input as always, very much appreciated if you know how to tell.

Thanks alot :-)

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Comments (5)

laidbackdood
18 years ago
Hi,i know if you over fert you will tend to get leaf tip burn and a build up of salts on the outside of your pot if you grow in terracotta.Sometimes citrus will grow happily without fert.I see plenty of trees in peoples gardens,which have obviously not been fed.They all have pale green leaves and small fruit.Nitrogen is very important for both of those. I saw a big tree the other day that the owner had mulched half way up it with lawn clippings.Not good right up against the trunk like that but if away from the trunk and fert underneath is very good(grass is high in nitrogen).Cheers
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
18 years ago
Over-fertilization can result, too, in accelerated and excessive vegetative growth. At that point, plants are in a state of stress, susceptible to heat, drought, and cold damage and attack by diseases and pests.
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meyermike_1micha
Original Author
18 years ago
Excuse me for being dumb, but I think I am missing the point..:-(
Are these the same symptoms as underfertilization, and if not, then how do I avoid this problem?
When my plants start to show these symptoms, I automatically think I have not fertilizede enough...Dumb ha. I want to be able to look at my plants and say for sure...Oh boy, I have overfertilized...or, Oh boy, I am not fertilizing enough. That is all. Is this possible?
So sorry if I am not getting it....
Thanks
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
18 years ago
Truthfully, Mike, plants should never get to the point where they show obvious symptoms of anything. In your fast-draining mix, you can apply low doses of a soluble fertilizer just about every time you water. Emphasis on the 'low'. I always let up on the fertilizer a bit when the days get shorter and the temperatures cooler, but you should never cease completely in the kind of potting medium that you are using (and me, too).

Under fertilized plants may exhibit stunting, poor growth, loss of luster and color, etc. Just don't let your plants get to that point! ;-)
meyermike_1micha
Original Author
18 years ago
Hi....
Thanks alot Rhizo!!
I did it, I took a smart pill this am and get what you are saying! Thankyou so much. You are right. I have got all my plants in Al's mix, and I think I am still in the old way of thinking about fertilizers, because I had no sucess with them in the old soils I use to use, especially with peatmoss. It has only been a couple of months in finally getting all my plants into this great soiless mix and I think what you described is going to work for me..Fianlly. no worries about overfertilizing.
Thanks so much for helpig me to relax about my fertilizer habits now, for with the soil I have, and Al's suggestions on great fertilizer at weak doses weekly, I may not even have a future potential problem I was afraid of.
Thanks laidbacklord too for your insight! What a great bunch of people here!!!!
Love you all
Mike