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What is fertilizer? |
by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author
You probably already know a little about how plants take in water with their roots and make their own food using sunlight, air, water, and nutrients from the Earth. This allows them to live, grow, and thrive!
Fertilizer refers to products added to a plant’s soil (or sometimes sprayed onto its leaves) which are supposed to help ensure the plant gets all of the nutrients it needs to grow big and strong!
Fertilizers are often referred to as “organic” or “inorganic.” Organic fertilizers are usually made from natural things like compost, which is made up of naturally decaying food scraps and other natural wastes. Inorganic fertilizer is usually made from chemical processes that put some of a plant’s favorite nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus into the fertilizer product.
Many people debate the use of fertilizer. Some people believe that inorganic fertilizers are unnatural, and they prefer the use of organic products. Other people prefer to use inorganic fertilizers since they believe it gives them greater control over how their plants will grow, and more assurance that they’ll become the size and quantity they desire!
Fertilize your plants!
To see the effect of fertilizers for yourself, try out an experiment!
Plant seeds into each of three different pots. Grow one with organic fertilizer, one with inorganic fertilizer, and one with no fertilizer at all!
Note the differences in their growth, color, size, and more! If you’ve planted the seeds of an edible plant, think about which of your plants you’d feel the most comfortable eating, and why!
