Nitrogen is the most important of the plant foods. It has the following benefits:

• Stimulates leaf growth
• Increases the protein content of vegetables and fruit (especially leafy vegetables such as spinach, cabbage and lettuce.
• It increases the greening and growth of lawns which are constantly being mown.

South African soils tend to be low in nitrogen.

This nutrient is often missing in our soils. Phosphate has many physiological roles in the plant, but there are a couple that are very important.

• It is very important for root and stem development
• It is involved in the energy transfer process, important for growth, flowering and fruit development.

The difference lies in the process used to make the fertilizer. A chemical fertilizer is an artificial blend with a regulated quantity of nutrients. An organic fertilizer utilizes natural materials.

The Kynoch range of fertilizers are inorganic.

If fertilizer is left on a dry plant or too close to the stems, without being watered, the plant will most likely burn. It is always recommended to water after application.

Usually bulking agents, known commonly as fillers, are added to most chemical fertilizers to manage the concentration of the fertilizer product. Filler has no nutrient value. No filler is added to the Kynoch Garden Range products. Instead, the other 75% of the product is made up of trace elements.

A new innovative product available from Kynoch is called Kynoplus. Kynoplus is urea treated with Agrotain and forms the basis of Nitrogen in the Kynoch Garden Range.

There are two sources of nitrogen that are usually used in fertilizer blends, LAN and Urea. Both have certain advantages and disadvantages.

• By treating the Urea with Agrotain, the chance of volatilization, and of fertilizer burn is limited.
• The advantage that we see by using Kynoplus is that the plant looks greener and stays greener for longer.

Potassium has many functions in the plant but is mostly involved in the transport of the plant’s building blocks (sugars and amino acids) from the roots to the leaves and the leaves to the fruits. Potassium (Potash) improves the quality and quantity of flowers, and the flavour of fruit and vegetables. Potassium is especially necessary for root crops where it is stored as starch. As a critical component of plant reproduction, adequate potassium also increases the amount and quality of seeds formed by plants.

Potassium is vital in the process of photosynthesis, by which plants make food for growth. It is needed to produce strong stems. Healthy growth makes plants resistant to drought and extreme temperatures. It should be added to over-wintering plants in autumn, especially roses and deciduous fruit trees to make them more frost or cold resistant.

Different sources of potassium can be added to fertilizer. In the Kynoch Garden Range, no potassium chloride was used. Thus, the products classified as low chloride products.

There are several reasons why a plant may look sick:

• Over-watering or under-watering
• Too much light or not enough.
• Pests and disease.

Always try and analyze first why your plant is not doing well. Fertilizer may not always be the answer to the problem and could make it worse.

It is recommended to wait a week and then decide if you do not see results. Sandy soils may require a reapplication but usually there will be enough remaining nutrients in the soil to have effect. The same rule applies, err on the side of caution to prevent unnecessary expense and damage to plants.

With the innovation of Agrotain, TurboGrass is unlikely to burn your lawn. Apply in the cool of the day, in the morning or late afternoon and water well after applying.

It is not essential but is safer for the plant.

Use a fertiliser with high potassium content. For example Kynogarden 3.1.5 (25).

More generous amounts of fertilizer can be given to fast-growing shrubs such as hibiscus and hydrangeas. Slow growing shrubs, such as azaleas, camellias and gardenias prefer small regular applications.

Use a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. For example,10.1.5 TurboGrass will give lawns  a quick, effective boost.

To strengthen root development, you need to use a fertilizer that is rich in phosphate, such as KynoGarden 2.3.2 (25).  It is best to incorporate phosphates into the soil when planting, so use during preparation.

Yes, but be careful not to apply too much or too close to the plant stems. Water in after applying. The advantage to use indoors is that the product does not smell.

• Yellowing of leaves
• Stunted growth of all plants including vegetables
• General lack of vigour

Plants deficient in zinc will have reduced height, interveinal chlorosis, brown spots on the upper leaves and distorted leaves.

Oil crops, legumes, forages and some vegetable crops require sulphur in considerable amounts. Sulphur has various functions in the plant.

• It is involved in the formation of protein. Important in food production. Stored protein also provides building blocks for rapid growth after seed and pollen germination.
• It is important for flavour in crops like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, onions, and mustard.
• It is important in the formation of oils in oil-seed crops.
• Plays a direct role in the production of chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves and stems, and the factory of the plant.
• There is a balance between nitrogen and sulphur. Without enough sulphur, plants cannot efficiently use nitrogen. A deficiency can lead to yellowing of leaves although sufficient nitrogen was applied.

It has a wide range of key roles in many plant functions.

• One of the magnesium’s well-known roles is in the photosynthesis process, as it is a building block of the Chlorophyll, which makes leaves appear green.
• A deficiency leads to a decrease in the production of “plant factory” and thus growth.
• It activates most plant enzymes needed for growth while contributing to protein synthesis.

Iron is also involved in many internal plant processes. Iron is involved in the formation of chlorophyll, and it is essential for the maintenance of chloroplast structure and function. Thus, it is critical to maintain the “factory” of the plant.

Copper is involved in many internal plant processes. Deficiency in copper can thus alter essential functions in plant metabolism.

• Poor germination of seeds
• Slow growth
• Poorly formed roots
• Leaves may turn purple

Plants deficient in potassium will have the following symptoms evident on their leaves:

• Interveinal chlorosis
• Purple spots underneath
• Brown scorching
• Curling leaf tips

In addition, there may be poor root, seed and fruit development .

Calcium (Ca) plays an extremely important role in producing plant tissues and it enables plants to grow better.

• Calcium forms part of the cell walls and is responsible for holding them together.
• It promotes cell division and growth.
• It directly affects fruit quality, strong cell walls give a longer shelf life.

Zinc is involved in the synthesis of certain proteins and plant growth hormones.  Zinc is used in the formation of chlorophyll.  The presence in plant tissue helps the plant to withstand cold temperatures. In these products zinc is added by blending zinc into the product and by Zinc Impreg. Zinc Impreg refers to the process where zinc is spayed onto each gradual and is absorbed by the granules. This ensures a good distribution of zinc when applying the product.

Manganese plays an important role in photosynthesis. Manganese is also involved in pollen germination, pollen tube growth, root cell elongation and resistance to root pathogens.

Boron is needed for pollination. It’s also closely related to some functions that calcium performs.