We have all seen the three numbers on plant fertilizers packages. Did you ever wonder what the numbers stand for? 20-20-20, 30-10-10, 10-30-20, 12-36-14, and 10-10-10. The numbers stand for the percentage by weight of the three largest amount of elements or chemical compounds found in the fertilizer. The first number stands for Nitrogen. Nitrogen is important for making chlorophyll. This is the green pigment that plants use to make sugars. The second number stand for Phosphate (P2O5). This is important for flower production. If the second number is high it should help the plant bloom. The third number stand for Potash or Potassium (K20). This helps in root production. Most fertilizer are balanced or the numbers are equal. If the numbers are not balanced then the product has a purpose that is different than a general fertilizer.

If you want a plant to grow foliage only then you would look for a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. If you are trying to encourage flower production then you find a fertilizer that is high in the middle number of Phosphate. Another example is a variegated African violet, that you want to grow faster. You would keep it on the warm side (above 75 degrees) and give it a high nitrogen fertilizer. After the plant is larger then you will let the variegation show and have a nice crop of flowers. It is important to remember that fertilizer follows the law of diminishing returns. A little fertilizer helps greatly. More fertilizer will help slightly more. Too much fertilizer can kill the plant or little positive effect. There are even plants that want little or no fertilizer. An example most of the bromeliads need little fertilizer.