Nutritional Needs of Indoor House-Plants

Indoor plant life requires basic elements and the nutritional needs of indoor house-plants has to be fulfilled for their healthy growth and development. Plants can only survive and flourish if they get the necessary nutrients and elements that their bodies need to grow and thrive. Plants can either get these nutrients from their water or soil, but plants in pots do not have access to a natural water source like plants in the ground do. This means that they will need to obtain these nutrients from other sources. In this article, we’ll discuss a bit more about what plants need for optimal health.

1. Major Nutrient Groups

There are four major nutrient groups that plants need to survive and grow well. Plants have needs depending on what type of plant they are. A plant’s roots, stems, leaves and stems all need specific nutrients. Plants that belong to a group fall into one of four categories. Plants can only obtain the first three groups of nutrients from the soil, they’re growing in, while plants can obtain all four groups from the water they absorb.

2. Nutritional Needs of the Plants Belonging to C-4 Organic Group

Plants that belong to the C-4 organic group can absorb carbon dioxide from the air, much like animals do. They also get nitrogen from the air. In order for a plant to survive, it must have the appropriate ratio of these three nutrients: Nitrogen (the most important), Phosphorus (helps regulate photosynthesis), and Potassium (important in regulating root growth).

3. Nutritional Needs of the Plants Belonging to B-5 Grass Family

Plants that belong to the B-5 grass family cannot absorb salts because salts are toxic to plants. Plants in this group, however, do not have problems with drought because they are desert plants. Bacteria in the soil that live on plants’ roots extract nutrients from these root systems. The plant absorbs water from the soil and then sends its waste products back to the soil, where the microorganisms in the soil to remove the excess waste and use it as fertilizer. Plants need salts in order to grow and thrive.

4. Nutritional Needs of the Plants Belonging to C-5 Grass Family

Plants that belong to the C-5 grass family don’t need ions, either. Instead, these plants’ roots absorb sodium and potassium from the soil. They also produce their own food, so they won’t starve if you deprive them of some nutrients. However, if your plants’ roots are damaged or decayed, you may need to fertilize them with special salts. Fertilizing your plants is an essential part of your watering program, but you should do it carefully so as not to overdo it.

5. Vitamin D

Plants need “Vitamin D” in order to grow. This is why house-plants are in the house – to obtain Vitamin D from the sun. Unfortunately, since many people spend more time indoors than outdoors, they rarely eat foods rich in Vitamin D. This deficiency results in excessive calcium loss and bone diseases like osteoporosis. In order to keep your indoor plants healthy and strong, you should provide them with sufficient amount of Vitamin D.

6. Fiber

The fiber content of a plant matters a lot. If a plant is too dense, it will tend to weigh it down and it will be more difficult for the plant to grow. On the other hand, a plant with a low fiber content won’t have enough bulk to support its own weight. Thus, you should allow your plants to grow freely, especially if they are going to flower.

7. Importance of Nutrients

It’s important to provide your plants with enough food so that they can grow healthily. You can do this by providing them with the right amount of nutrients through your fertilizer. Also, there are certain kinds of plants that require specific nutrients more than others do. Make sure to buy only those plants that will suit your needs.

8. Conclusion

Nutrients are necessary to plants as food is for humans. Different varieties of plants require different nutrients to grow and flourish. The nutrients including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium are the major nutrients needed by most of the plants. These nutrients are essential for normal growth of plants and to keep them healthy.