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HT213 Feeding Greenhouse Plants
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MAIN IDEA: How can I properly fertilize plants growing in a greenhouse?

Plants growing in a greenhouse need the same nutrients as those growing

in a garden, nursery or farm field. You can learn more about plant nutrients
from AgEdNet.com lesson HT123 Fertilizing Soil to Feed Garden Plants.
The greenhouse, however, is an unnatural environment. For that reason,
the greenhouse grower must make adjustments in the way plant nutrients
are supplied.

Plants growing outdoors have room to set deep roots. Because of this
ability to grow deep roots, they do not need to be watered as frequently as
plants in pots. The roots of greenhouse plants are restricted to a more
limited amount of growing medium when compared to plants grown
outdoors in nature. A growing medium is any substance in which plant
roots can grow and develop; it must provide oxygen, water, nutrients and support for plant roots. Greenhouse plants
require more frequent irrigation and more frequent feeding. These restrictions need to be considered when planning a
fertilizer program for greenhouse crops.

FEEDING GREENHOUSE PLANTS

Proper plant nutrition is critical to the production of any crop, whether in the field, nursery or greenhouse. Most
greenhouse operators supply plant nutrients in liquid form. Liquid fertilizers may also be supplemented with granular or
slow-release fertilizers added to the growing medium.

The timing and frequency of fertilizer applications are also important. In some cases, it is important to supply nutrients at
peak periods of vegetative or reproductive growth.

Most growers fertilize greenhouse crops more often than is normal for crops grown outside. The generally accepted way
to do this is to add a soluble fertilizer into the irrigation water every time the plants are watered. This is called a "constant
feed" program. A constant feed program may also be modified so that nutrients are applied at every other irrigation. This
may be necessary to control the level of soluble salts.

The most important factor in a greenhouse fertilization program is to apply enough water at each irrigation to leach pots
of excess salts and nutrients. Leaching is the action of a liquid draining through soil or a growing medium. As the liquid
passes through the soil or medium, it carries along soluble chemicals, minerals and salts. Outdoors, this happens as

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rain filters down through the soil. In the greenhouse, enough liquid must be added at every irrigation so that extra liquid
runs out the bottom of the pots. This leaching action prevents the accumulation of soluble salts from previous irrigations.

The amount of nutrients required should be balanced with the amount of water used for irrigation. Ideally, both nutrients
and water would be supplied as needed so neither would be wasted. The amounts of plant nutrients used need to be
carefully balanced in order to produce vigorous, efficient plants. Two problems can develop when nutrients are out of
balance with the needs of the plant. The two possible problems are:

Deficiency: A nutrient deficiency can result when the fertilizer applications do not include enough of one or more
elements needed to satisfy plant requirements.
Toxicity: A nutrient toxicity can develop when the fertilizer mix includes too much of one or more nutrients. Some
compounds used in fertilizers tend to be more toxic than others. Therefore, it is important to consider both the
source and amount of fertilizer used.

SOURCES OF PLANT MACRONUTRIENTS

The three main fertilizer elements required for the nutrition of plants are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These
three are called macronutrients because they are required in the largest amounts. Greenhouse crops are heavy feeders.
They require larger amounts of fertilizer than field or nursery crops. However, the ratio and sources of elements supplied
are as important as their amounts.

Nitrogen (N):

Nitrogen (N) is considered the most important element in a nutritional program for greenhouse plants. It stimulates
vegetative growth, so it is necessary for the plant to produce leaves and stems. Excess nitrogen is harmful because it
results in too much growth in leaves and stems at the expense of flowers and fruit. Nitrogen, however, is only one of
several elements that are essential to plant growth.

The most common sources of N used in liquid feed programs include ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate and potassium
nitrate. Research has shown that the balance between nitrate (NO3), nitrogen and ammonium (NH4) can affect plant
growth. Generally it is recommended that no more than 50% of the N supplied should be in the NH4 form. Increased
amounts of NH4 in the growing media may result in severe ammonium toxicity or foliage burn.

Phosphorus (P):

Phosphorus (P) is also required in relatively large quantities for plant growth. It is especially important for producing fruit
and seeds. It also encourages good root development, helps the plants move toward maturity and can help offset an
overabundance of nitrogen. However, too much phosphorus may cause other important nutrients to become insoluble
(cannot be dissolved) and unavailable for plants.

Many growers currently supply phosphorus (P) in the form of phosphoric acid (H3PO4). This is done both to supplement
P nutrition as well as to help acidify alkaline irrigation water.

Some growers also incorporate superphosphate into their growing media as a source of P. However, because
superphosphate is relatively insoluble, the amount of P released during the growing season is not sufficient for some
plants, especially potted poinsettias.

Potassium (K):

Potassium (K) or potash (K20) is used by plants in a number of ways. It helps to promote general plant vigor. In this way,
potassium increases the plant's resistance to diseases. Potassium also helps plants to produce sturdy roots. Some
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plants require more potassium than others. Poinsettias are especially heavy potassium feeders.

Potassium nitrate (KNO3) is the most common source of potassium in greenhouse liquid feed programs. This material,
which contains both K and NO3, is an excellent fertilizer for use on potted crops.

OTHER IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS

There are several additional elements plants need besides nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. While these nutrients
are important, the required amounts are small. For that reason they are called secondary nutrients and micronutrients.

Secondary nutrients:

Three secondary nutrients are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S). Some references include these three in the list
of macronutrients along with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Secondary nutrients are needed in lower quantities
than nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but in larger quantities than the micronutrients.

Micronutrients:

The nutrients needed in the smallest quantities are called micronutrients. They include iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu),
manganese (Mn), boron (B), molybdenum (Mo), and chloride (Cl).

Proper balance:

Many of these secondary nutrients and micronutrients may be present in growing media or in the water used for
irrigation. Others must be added to provide a proper balance. For example, calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are often
leached from the growing medium during continuous irrigation. As a result, these nutrients can run in short supply late in
the growing season.

Most fertility programs designed for greenhouse crop production supply Ca in the form of calcium nitrate. However,
growers using premixed fertilizers are generally advised to make some supplemental applications of calcium nitrate near
the end of the growing season.

Most custom-mixed fertilizer solutions do not contain magnesium (Mg) as a principal component. For this reason,
dolomitic lime is frequently used, not only to adjust pH, but also as a source of Mg. Dolomitic lime is a combination of
calcium carbonate (ground limestone) and magnesium carbonate. Continuous leaching during irrigation will often lower
Mg levels in the medium. Under these circumstances, supplemental Mg may be applied in the form of magnesium
sulfate (epsom salts).

Micronutrients may be included as a component of a liquid feed program. However, many growers preincorporate these
into the growing medium. Dolomitic lime is perhaps the most common source of Mg used in this manner. There are also
several commercial blends of micronutrients which can be incorporated into the growing medium.

SELECTING FERTILIZERS

A greenhouse operator has two choices. They can 1) purchase a complete fertilizer designed for greenhouse use or 2)
custom blend fertilizers to meet specific plant needs.

Complete fertilizers:

Several "complete" fertilizers are available from commercial sources for greenhouse crop production. These provide N,
P and K in the balance desired. The ratio of these elements is shown by a three-number N-P-K formula on fertilizer

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containers, such as 12-12-12, or 10-15-10. The numbers represent the percentage of N, Phosphate (P205, and potash
(K20) in the fertilizer mixture. These three nutrients are always shown in the same order on a fertilizer label.

Custom blend fertilizers:

However, many growers "custom blend" fertilizers from several different sources to achieve the best balance for plant
growth. A table from the Texas Greenhouse Handbook provides a quick guide to some of the most commonly used
fertilizer materials as well as the amounts required to make up desired concentrations. View table. You will use the
information from this table to complete exercises for this lesson.

SOURCE: Reference based upon the Texas Greenhouse Management Handbook, available from the Texas Nursery,
Floral & Landscape Network maintained by Texas A&M University Extension Service.

INTERNET RESOURCES:

** Cornell University - Fertilizer Calculations and Practice Questions

http://www.greenhouse.cornell.edu/crops/factsheets/FertilizerCalculations.pdf

** GrowerTalks - 10 Tips to Save on Fertilizer Costs

http://www.greenhouse.cornell.edu/crops/factsheets/GT_April%202009.pdf

** Ken's Horticulture Services - Leaching the Soil in Potted Plants

3:42-minute video explains leaching. Although this video discusses houseplants, the same principle is applied to
growing greenhouse plants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FGXrkkcKHk

** Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Managing Soluble Salts

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamental/greenhouse-management/managing-soluble-salts/

** University of Massachusetts Extension - Basic Fertilizer Programs for Containerized Greenhouse Crops
https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/basic-fertilizer-programs-for-containerized-greenhouse-crops

** University of Massachusetts Extension - Facts Sheets about Plant Nutrition

Links to a number of greenhouse plant nutrition resources
https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/plant-nutrition

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Lesson update reviewed by Candice Franks, M.S. in Natural Resources Management.
Copyright © 1999-2017 Stewart-Peterson Inc. All Rights Reserved. RFrevCF/nc,lh 715280
STEWART-PETERSON is a registered trademark.
Photo credit: Photo of fertilizer injector used with irrigation system provided by Candice Franks and used by
permission.

END STUDENT SECTION

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