How to Fertilize for Strong Plant Stems

Plants bring color and beauty to home gardens, and may bloom and even bear fruit and vegetables. They always require specific growing conditions to do so, though, including bright sun, water and nutrition. Careful soil amendment and preparation provides vitamins and minerals for strong, healthy growth, but is not the only consideration. If your plants have weak stems, consider several different growing needs and amend any problems.

Hand fork
Organic compost
Fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Put plants in appropriate locations for healthiest growth. Plants that require full, bright sun grow weak, yellow and spindly in shade, while shade-loving plants burn and fade in full sunshine. If your plants are in the wrong sites, move them to the right locations for the rest of the season.
- 2
  Amend the soil at planting or transplant, and again halfway through the season, for better drainage and nutrition. Plants cannot produce strong or healthy growth without the right building blocks. Turn five inches of organic compost into the top six inches of soil at planting, and give plants another three inches of compost at mid-season.
- 3
  Add fertilizer applications at planting and through the season. Use starter fertilizer like 6-24-24, 8-32-16 or 5-10-10 at planting to enhance rooting and quick growth. Move to balanced 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 fertilizer during the season to enhance foliage growth and strength. Nitrogen encourages foliage growth, and makes plants larger and stronger.

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