Foliar fertilization is a quick and easy form of liquid fertilization and is a supplement to the nutrient supply to plants via the roots. You can easily mix our FARBIO® leaf fertilizers with water in a spray bottle and then spray onto the entire leaf surface. They provide the plants with targeted nutrients that they can immediately absorb and utilize through the leaves.
Benefits of foliar fertilizers
Nutrients absorbed through the leaves are immediately where they are needed and therefore have an effect much more quickly. Foliar fertilization is also more efficient because it eliminates the need for a detour via the soil and therefore no nutrients are lost through leaching.
Sometimes the absorption of nutrients via the roots can be disturbed, for example due to a poorly developed root system, an unfavorable pH value of the soil or due to root rot. In this case, foliar fertilization offers a way to continue feeding plants.
How do plants absorb nutrients through their leaves?
There are different ways the plant can absorb and use nutrients through the leaves. The stomata on the underside of the leaf, also called stomata, are important intake routes for leaf fertilizer. They open when there is light because they have an important function in the process of photosynthesis: they let air with carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapor through in both directions . The stomata are also responsible for transpiration of water, which is why they open when the plant has a lot of water available.
The cuticle is a waterproof layer that lies on the epidermis and encloses the top and bottom of the leaves. Although the cuticle has water-repellent properties due to the waxes it contains, it can absorb water at times. The state of permeability of the wax layer is also referred to as “swelling”. If the plant is sprayed with water and the foliar fertilizer it contains, the cuticle swells and the nutrients can temporarily be absorbed quickly. They penetrate the wall of the underlying epidermal cells, where they can then be used for metabolism.
Which route the plant ultimately uses to absorb the nutrients from leaf fertilizers depends primarily on the type of plant, the associated thickness of the wax layer, the lighting conditions and the humidity. For this reason, when applying a foliar fertilizer, it is important to spray generously over the entire leaf surface!
The FARBIO® organic microcomplex is a vegan foliar fertilizer in a class of its own. The innovative nanoparticle technology enables complex micronutrients to be absorbed quickly and strengthens your plants' self-protection mechanism.
The FARBIO® Nitrogen Bio-Boost supports your plants with nitrogen, which is essential for healthy growth.
Both products can also be added to the irrigation water if you want to water your plants.
