Foliar feeding

September 2, 2008

Foliar sprays are a good way of feeding plants that need an urgent application. Foliar feeding should be applied shortly after or just before the night cycle when gardening indoors, although can be applied in early morning as well. (Always remember to use a green light if entering a grow room outside of normal light cycle)

The major reasons for this time constraint is the biology of the plant leaf and the desire to not burn the plant by wetting it during peak sun exposure resulting in leaf burn.

A leaf will use its stomata to regulate the process of gas exchange, mainly CO2 and transpiration. Stomata holes are located mostly on the underside of the leaf and the location where the uptake of the feed is going to take place, also where some insects like spider mites suck their meal.

They open and close throughout the day however most transpiring will happen during peak light hours. Intake will be maximized just before night cycle, or when daylight breaks causing a new daily cycle of photosynthesis.

New products have come to market giving gardeners the ability to manipulate these stomata so that they remain open when the nutrient(s) are present. They are added to the foliar feed and they appear to work quite well. Adding a wetting agent, also called penetrating agent, with your regular foliar spray will increase yield and quality.

DO NOT ADD insecticides to these enhancers because you will be in effect feeding them poison, even if mentioned on the bottle. Neem oil, or your own organic recipe should be tested on a small section of the garden before applying to the whole crop.

Written by the garden shed · Filed Under Tips and Tricks