All citrus plants are hungry plants during the summer. Because their roots are locked in the pot, nutrients need to get to them. It must therefore be fertilized! But not every fertilizer is welcome. Before feeding them, there are a few decisions to make.

Citrus plants can be spoiled with both long-term and short-term fertilizers

Fertilize organically or minerally?

Optimum care of a citrus plant - regardless of which type of citrus it comes from - not only includes the process of fertilization itself. The choice of fertilizer also contributes significantly to their vitality and beauty.

Organic fertilizers such as compost, horn shavings (€32.93) or horse manure only have a long-term effect and can be decomposed much more slowly in the pot. The necessary incorporation into the soil is also difficult to carry out without damaging the roots.

Nutrients from suitable mineral fertilizers, on the other hand, reach the roots of the citrus plant directly via the irrigation water and are immediately available.

tips

Organic fertilizer is not entirely out of the question. When repotting a citrus plant, you can mix the fresh soil with some compost. Coffee grounds can also be given occasionally as a fertilizer supplement.

Use immediate or long-term fertilizer?

Both are possible. If you have little time to take care of your citrus plants intensively, then use a slow-release fertilizer. Otherwise, direct fertilizer is recommended. This allows you to adjust the dosage quickly and precisely to your needs.

The ideal nutrient composition

The elements that a citrus plant should get are:

  • Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) roughly balanced
  • Phosphate (P), on the other hand, in smaller quantities
  • for example NPK combination 20-5-15
  • Trace elements such as boron, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese and zinc

tips

Citrus plants can be watered with hard water because they not only tolerate but also need the element calcium.

Buy fertilizer or mix it yourself?

All kinds of fertilizers are available on the market, including some that are ideal for citrus plants. You can also make your own citrus fertilizer by purchasing the required elements separately and mixing them together at home. That saves money! The effort is only worthwhile if you have to take care of several citrus plants at the same time.

timing and dosage

Citrus plants are only fertilized during their main growing season from April to August. If the weather is still warm, you can fertilize sparingly in September and October. During the hibernation, on the other hand, there is no need for nutrients.

There is still the question of whether to fertilize weekly or monthly and how high the dosage must be. If you act according to the manufacturer's instructions, then you are on the safe side. Mineral fertilizers are administered with irrigation water. Water the plant so that the entire root ball is soaked. In this way, the nutrients do not remain in the top layer of soil, but reach all the roots.

Category:

Vegetable garden