Fertiliser

Fertiliser Products

NPK Fertiliser Meaning

The abbreviation NPK simply means the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in a fertiliser. For example, a fertiliser with a NPK of 12:10:7 will have 12% of the contents as nitrogen, 10% as phosphorous, and 7% as potassium. These percentages total to 29. That means that the rest of bag of fertiliser contains 71% of other materials that are not N, P, or K. Such materials are referred to as fillers and are generally fine rock that is included to make spreading of the fertiliser easier.

See The Plant Company's range of fertilisers for a great selection for different situations and plants.

NPK fertiliser NZ

There are many different fertiliser products available in NZ. The Plant Company makes it easy to chose the right fertiliser as we have done all the hard work to find the ones that truly work. We specialise in growing plants and have perfected the blends for different plants through a lot of trials. Be sure to check out our range of fertilisers.

What Is The Best Fertiliser?

The Plant Company recommends the use of controlled release fertiliser in all gardening situations with the exception of lawns. Controlled release fertiliser can be used with plants grown in soil and this is by far the most environmentally friendly use of fertiliser. The nutrients are released each time water is applied which means they are in the same water the plants will be taking up. Moreover, the release of nutrients is also dependent on temperature such that more is released when condition are warm. This means they have less risk of leaching than quick release fertiliser, and will keep feeding plants for a lot longer when they need it.

What Is The Cheapest Fertiliser?

Quick release fertiliser will always be the cheapest source of nutrients. These fertilisers release nutrients as soon as water is applied. The Plant Company recommends that these are used in spring and autumn to coincide with growth and the needs of the plant. Please see our article, what is the most environmentally friendly fertilier before making purchase decisions.

What Is The Most Environmentally Friendly Fertiliser?

The Plant Company recommends the use of controlled release fertiliser in all gardening situations with the exception of lawns. Controlled release fertiliser can be used with plants grown in soil and this is by far the most environmentally friendly use of fertiliser. The nutrients are released each time water is applied which means they are in the same water the plants will be taking up. Moreover, the release of nutrients is also dependent on temperature such that more is released when condition are warm. This means they have less risk of leaching than quick release fertiliser, and will keep feeding plants for a lot longer when they need it.

The Plant Company is a strong advocate for organic fertiliser and supplements such as compost and sheep pellets. These products can be used liberally and will enhance soil biology. Having more micro-organisms working in the soil means a steady release of nutrients and generally means they are held in the soil rather than being leached away.

How To Use Fertiliser

How To Fertilise A Plant

The answer to this question depends on whether the plant is grown in a pot or it is grown in soil in the garden. For plants growing in a container or pot, only controlled release fertiliser products such as fertiliser tablets or container plant fertiliser should be used. Each of these give sustained nutrition to keep the plant growing for the next 12-months. They also release nutrients slowly to the plants without causing any burning to the plant roots which can occur with quick release fertilisers (discussed soon). Use 1-2 fertiliser tablets per plant and place on the surface of the growing media or poke it into the growing media. Alternatively, add 1-2 teaspoons of container plant fertiliser to the surface of the growing media. Each time you water the plant, you will be feeding it at the same time with those products.

For plants grown in soil, any type of fertiliser can be used a general rule. The Plant Company recommends using products such as shrub fertiliser, fertiliser for acid loving plants, or The Plant Company’s organic fertiliser depending on your situation. These are regarded as quick release products, meaning the nutrients dissolve into the soil soon with watering. They should be spread on the soil surface and watered in.

Controlled release fertiliser can be used with plants grown in soil and this is by far the most environmentally use of fertiliser. The nutrients are released each time water is applied which means they are in the same water the plants will be taking up. Moreover, the release of nutrients is also dependent on temperature such that more is released when condition are warm. This means they have less risk of leaching than quick release fertiliser, and will keep feeding plants for a lot longer when they need it. The Plant Company recommends using controlled release fertiliser ahead of quick release fertiliser for almost all gardening activities.

Should I Put Fertliser In The Hole At Planting

Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole! This is an old wives tale that can cause damage to your plant and restrict its growth. Fertiliser is a salt, so when you put fertiliser in the hole, you are effectively putting salt on the roots. The fertiliser will draw water away from the roots and direct contact with the fertiliser will cause root burning. Think about it a different way. The plant has been growing in a pot and has to cope with stresses of roots being disturbed and a new growing environment, so the last thing we want to do is give it a drink of salt!

The best solution is to spread fertiliser on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring. The fertiliser should be watered in and not be in contact with the stem of the plant.

When Is The Best Time To Fertilise A Plant?

Spring and autumn are the best times to fertilise plants. This is when they are actively growing or heading towards dormancy and there is plenty of moisture in the soil. Soil moisture is important as it acts as a buffer for the fertiliser. Let me explain. Consider fertiliser as salt. Therefore, the less water there is, the more concentrated it is for the plants, just as it would be for you and I drinking a glass of salty water. The Plant Company therefore urges caution with fertiliser applied during summer unless there is plenty of water to wash it in.

Spring and autumn are also the times when the plants will get maximum benefit from the fertiliser for growth. It may seem odd to fertilise plants in autumn, but this is when plants are producing flower buds and getting prepared to endure winter. Therefore, the stronger the plants are heading into the winter, the better they will cope and shoot away again come spring.

The Plant Company does not recommend applying fertiliser in winter. Plants at this time are growing slowly and rain will tend to wash the nutrients through the soil profile. This can be wasteful and is not good for the environment.

If your plant is showing signs of nutrient deficiency, add fertiliser immediately.