One of the most important aspects of growing plants is to make sure that they are receiving enough nutrients. This can be done by using fertilizer, which will give them all the necessary materials for growth and development. One type of fertilizer that you might hear about is 3-12-12 fertilizer. The “3” refers to nitrogen, the “12” refers to phosphorus, and the “12” refers to potassium. These three elements are very important for plant growth because they are needed in large quantities by plants. What many people don’t know is how much 3-12-12 should be applied on a given area or when it should be applied during a plant’s life cycle! We’ll discuss both below so read on!
What is 3-12-12 Fertilizer Good for?
Since this type of fertilizer has nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in it, these are three very important nutrients for plant growth. When applied to the soil or when used as spray-on leaves, they provide plants with all the necessary materials required for them to grow healthy and strong!
When to use it?
For outdoor plants, you should begin using this fertilizer after they’ve grown six to eight inches! If your plant is still quite young and small, too much of the nutrient can damage it so be careful.
If you’re growing crops or other types of large-scale plants that will need lots of nutrients over time, then start applying this three months before harvesting season begins! Also, note that during wintertime when there are no leaves on the trees or shrubs where you use these fertilizers as spray-on coats – do not bother with them until spring arrives. Just wait for that first sign of green shoots coming up from the ground because only at this point in a plant’s life cycle does it truly benefit such a type of soil amendment.
And, if you’re growing fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes or corn that aren’t going to be harvested until summertime – do not bother with this fertilizer before then either. A good rule of thumb is just to apply these during the last three months of a plants’ life cycle instead of earlier on in its development process.
3-12-12 fertilizer benefits
It is important to note that there are benefits to using this type of fertilizer. That includes:
- Increase nutrient availability in soil or water.
- Increases phosphorus and calcium levels for plants, which improves photosynthesis and plant growth among other things such as general plant health.
- Increases the availability of certain key nutrients in order to improve soil or water conditions.
- Helps plants resist disease and drought while stimulating root growth at the same time.
What Is The Best Way To Apply It?
The most common way is by spraying it onto leaves during the early morning hours because they hold moisture from overnight. The leaves will take up the nutrients when they are in a state of transpiration, which is when water evaporates from their cells and travels through openings within them to reach pores on leaf surfaces. This process takes place during daytime hours!
Soil applications should be done every four months only because it provides plants with all necessary macro-and micronutrients that help grow strong roots systems for better uptake of other fertilizers applied later on. To do this: use two cups per plant or tree you have only if the soil has not been pre-applied by fertilizer before. You can also spread one cup around its drip line (edge where it touches the ground) too but never apply more than what I stated above.
How to apply liquid fertilizers? You can use a watering can or hose-end applicator. If using the latter, just follow the instructions on how much to pour and for how many plants you have. This fertilizer should be applied only once every four months too as it doesn’t give your plants any micronutrients so those must come from soil applications I mentioned earlier!
To apply dry fertilizer: spread five pounds per plant annually around its drip line but never beyond this because excessive amounts of nitrogen will burn roots systems. If done correctly, doing this before summer (April – May) and autumn (September – October) seasons are perfect times when temperatures tend to drop thus allowing better uptake of nutrients by the root system.
