Root or Foliar Feeding

[patrick]

The small amount of reading I've done on it suggest that foliar feeding is much more efficient than feeding via the roots. Anyone have any experience with foliar vs root feeding?

Thanks.

 

[wordwiz]

Seedlings tend to do far better when watered from the bottom.

Mike

 

[imaguitargod]

I sometimes do foliar feeding and yes, it's the fastest way to introduce stuff into the plants.

I generally do root feeding, occasionally foliar. If I spot a deficancy, then I always will try to correct it with a foliar feeding.

 

[POTAWIE]

Foliar feeding will give you instant result when done right but I use it for more of a once in a while kind of thing or use when I suspect difficiencies or nutient lockout within the roots

 

[rainbowberry]

I feed like I do my watering, I mix it all about every so often.

 

[trinicoolieboy]

for me personally i use foliage fertilizers for newly transplanted seedlings..........i see the best results there (combined with lots of sunlight)

then i transplant into a potting mix already fertilized, i keep 1/2" layer of cow manure / soil mix at the top of the pot........so whenever i water.......it comes like the plant gets a shock of nutrients.........

also when they are flowering......... i throw bearing salts (yield does go up)........

not too sure what exactly is the name of the salt.........but its blue..........so i'm guessing copper cation.....

 

[patrick]

Thanks everyone.

I believe I'm going to use both ways and make the foliar feeding more like a small snack in between regular feedings.

 

[Pepper-Guru]

Well with peppers I foilar feed heavy after every wave of picking. This way the plant can directly utilize the fert through the stomata on the leaves. This helps make those flower sites goes nuts And before you know it, you're picking again. But shhh don't tell anyone...

 

[rainbowberry]

Thanks everyone.

I believe I'm going to use both ways and make the foliar feeding more like a small snack in between regular feedings.

LOL, don't go by anything I might do though, I'm more of a liability than anything.

 

[QuadShotz]

LOL, don't go by anything I might do though, I'm more of a liability than anything.

Never!

 

[chillilover]

Do the tops of the leaves absorb the same amout as the bottom?

 

[rds040800]

Here is a link I found concerning uptake of nutrients through foliar vs root feeding.

http://foliarfeed.net/default.aspx

 

[bigt]

Here is a link I found concerning uptake of nutrients through foliar vs root feeding.

http://foliarfeed.net/default.aspx

Wow, that was seriously informative. Great link.

 

[caroltlw]

Plants can absorb nutrients 8 to 10 times more efficiently through their leaf surfaces than through their roots.

I never would have guessed there was that much difference.

 

[patrick]

I was wondering why this old post was resurrected. Glad it was, great find rds, thanks.

 

[LGHT]

Based on the article posted this pretty much sums it all up.

When applying nutrients to the leaves in soluble forms, as much as 95 percent of what is applied may be used by the plant. If a similar amount is applied to the soil about 10 percent of it is available.

 

[RichardK]

There are nutrients that roots need that cannot be supplied from Foliar feeding.

I'd say both

 

[patrick]

There are nutrients that roots need that cannot be supplied from Foliar feeding.

I'd say both

Which ones?

 

[RichardK]

Which ones?

Boron and Phosphorus for example.

 

[rds040800]

True there are some things only achieved through root feeding, but Foliar feeding seems to be the best option with most, and more of what you are providing will be delivered to the plant, as opposed to going out the bottom of a pot or just in to the dirt. A mixture of both is honestly the best result, now just have to figure out the balance