Plants take up inorganic minerals and water through leaves and roots to manufacture (via photosynthesis) organic compounds which become leaves, stems, roots, flowers and fruit. The manufacturing site is the chlorophyll molecule. Given all the right ingredients plants produce the food, flowers, oxygen and trees upon which we depend.
What is Plant Nutrition?
Plants use inorganic minerals for nutrition. Complex interactions involving decomposition of rocks, organic matter, animals and microbes take place to form inorganic nutrient ions in soil water. Roots absorb these mineral ions if they are readily available. They can be tied up by other elements or by alkaline or acidic soils. Soil microbes also assist in ion uptake.
Why Doesn't My Soil Have What it Takes?
Even in the most well kept garden or greenhouse these conditions for uptake of ions may not exist. Soils do not have all the minerals required for optimum plant growth year after year. Potting mixes contain few essential minerals for plants. They are sterilized and so may lack microbes to break down organic matter. Within months plants have used the available supply. Because of plant uptake, mineral nutrients must be replaced in the field or container.
The ABCs or NPKs of The Nutrition Solution®
Dyna-Gro is more than a fertilizer. Dyna-Gro is a complete nutrient solution - The Nutrition Solution®- the only formulas containing all the mineral elements required for optimum plant growth in one, easy to use, liquid concentrate. Ordinary fertilizers are incomplete. Many simply contain N-P-K! Some contain additional elements but are not complete. This requires the purchase of multiple incomplete products in an attempt to provide plants with complete nutrition. Only Dyna-Gro formulas contain all of the minerals essential for plant growth in one, easy to use, liquid concentrate.

The Elements of Complete Plant Nutrition
Complete nutrition results in superior plant growth. Why choose anything less for your plants? There are 20 elements necessary for optimum plant growth. Air and water supply carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Macronutrients are required by plants in large amounts. Micronutrients are required in smaller amounts. Eliminate any of these elements,and plants will display abnormal growth, deficiencies or may not reproduce. The following is a brief guide to the role played by each of these essential nutrient elements.
Macronutrients
(N)-Nitrogen: Component of proteins, hormones, chlorophyll, vitamins and enzymes. Promotes stem and leaf growth. The ammoniacal and nitrate forms are used directly by plants for stem and leaf growth. The urea form of nitrogen must be broken down by soil borne microorganisms or urease before it can be utilized by the plant. Urea can cause leaf tip and root burn. Deficiency (Def.): reduced yields, yellowing of leaves, stunted growth. Excess nitrogen can delay fruiting and flowering.

(P)-Phosphorus:Seed germination, photosynthesis, protein formation, overall growth and metabolism, flower and fruit formation. Def.: purple stems and leaves, retarded growth and maturity, poor flowering and fruiting. Large amounts without zinc cause zinc deficiency. Low pH (<4) ties up phosphates in organic soils.

(K)-Potassium: Formation of sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, cell division. Adjusts water balance; improves stem rigidity and cold hardiness; enhances flavor, color and oil content of fruits; important for leafy crops. Def.: spotted, curled or burned look to leaves; lower yields.

(Ca)-Calcium: Activates enzymes; structural part of cell walls; influences water movement, cell growth and division Required for uptake of nitrogen and other minerals. Leached from soil by watering. Immobile-requires a constant supply for growth. Def.: stunting of new growth in stems, flowers, roots; black spots on leaves and fruit; yellow leaf margins.

(Mg)-Magnesium: Critical component of chlorophyll; needed for functioning of enzymes for carbohydrates, sugars and fats; fruit and nut formation; germination of seeds. Def.: yellowing between veins of older leaves; chlorosis; leaf droop. Leached by watering. Foliar spray to correct deficiencies.

(S)-Sulfur: Component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins, enzymes. Essential for chlorophyll. Imparts flavor to many vegetables. Def.: light green leaves. Water supply may contain sulfur. Leached by watering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Micronutrients 

(B)-Boron: Affects at least 16 functions: flowering, pollen germination, fruiting, cell division, water relationships, movement of hormones, cell wall formation, membrane integrity, calcium uptake, movement of sugars. Immobile; easily leached. Def.: terminal bud die back causes rosette of thick, curled, brittle leaves or brown, discolored, cracked fruits, tubers and roots.

(Cl)-Chlorine: Involved in osmosis (movement of water or solutes in cells), ionic balance necessary to take up mineral elements and photosynthesis. Def.: wilting, stubby roots, yellowing, bronzing. Scents in some plants may be decreased. Leached by watering.

(Co)-Cobalt: Required by nitrogen fixing bacteria; formation of B12 vitamin; formation of DNA. Will extend life of cut flowers such as roses. Def.: may result in nitrogen deficiency.

(Cu)-Copper: Necessary for nitrogen metabolism; component of enzymes - may be part of enzyme systems that use carbohydrates and proteins. Bound tightly in organic matter. May be deficient in highly organic soils. Not readily lost from soil but may be unavailable. Def.: die back of shoot tips; terminal leaves develop brown spots. Excess is toxic.

(Fe)-Iron: Enzyme functions; catalyst for synthesis of chlorophyll; essential for new growth. Def.: pale leaves, yellowing of leaves and veins. Leached by water and held in lower parts of soil. High pH soils may have iron present but unavailable to plants.

(Mn)-Manganese: Enzyme activity for photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen metabolism. Def.: young leaves are pale with green veins similar to iron deficiency; advanced stages-leaves are white and drop; brown, black or gray spots may appear next to veins. Plants in neutral or alkaline soils often show def. Acid soils may increase uptake causing toxicity.

 

   (Mo)-Molybdenum: Structural part of enzymes that reduce nitrates to ammonia for amino acid development essential to protein formation; required by nitrogen fixing bacteria. Def.: pale leaves with rolled, cupped margins. Seeds may not form. Nitrogen deficiency may occur if plants are lacking Mo.

(Ni)-Nickel: Recently recognized as essential. Required for the urease enzyme to break down urea into usable nitrogen and for iron uptake. Seeds require nickel to germinate.

(Na)-Sodium: Improves nitrogen metabolism in many plants, involved in osmotic (water movement) and ionic balance in plants. Def.: yellowing of leaves and leaf tip burn; may inhibit flower formation.

(Si)-Silicon: Component of cell walls; enhances resistance to sucking insects and fungi.Foliar sprays reduce populations of aphids on some plants. Enhances leaf presentation; improves heat, drought and cold tolerance; improves photosynthesis; extends bloom life. Def.: wilting, poor fruit and flower set, increased susceptibility to insects and disease. Disease resistance is enhanced by regular foliar feeding.

(Zn)-Zinc: Functional part of enzymes including auxin (growth hormone) synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, protein synthesis, stem growth. Def.: mottled leaves, irregular yellow areas. Zinc deficiency leads to iron deficiency. Occurs in eroded soils; least available at pH of 5.5-7.0. Lower pH can cause availability to the point of toxicity.