How Does Fertilizer With Vitamin E Affect Plant Growth?

The Facts

• The only vitamin essential to plant growth in all environments is vitamin C. Vitamin E plays a part in nutrient transportation and is of particular use in cold climates. Vitamin E in fertilizer therefore effects plant growth only when the temperature is 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

Vitamin E and Cold Climates

• Vitamin E makes nutrient transport possible in plants and assists cells in storing callose, a form of carbohydrate, when the temperature is low. Callose inhibits the transportation of food from cells inside the plant and thus a buildup of callose maintains seed growth in plants at low temperatures, making reproduction easier.

The Effect of Fertilizers

• Fertilizers provide additional nutrients to the soil in which plants grow. Plants lacking in specific nutrients are able to take up the extra chemicals provided by the fertilizer, preventing disease and enabling further growth. In temperatures of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, fertilizers enhanced with vitamin E therefore allow plants to continue to transport nutrients and maintain seed growth.

Warning

• Vitamins in fertilizers can lead to over fertilization. In this situation an overdose of chemicals impedes basic plant functions or halts them altogether. Fertilizers with vitamins added should therefore be used with caution. Where fertilizers are used, careful monitoring of the plant's heath is recommended to detect any problems at an early stage.