Q.
We have a fertilizer tank attached to our watering system. I’ve had it checked and it is working, as in
past years. However, this summer most of
the plants in my perennial flower garden, yellow bells, and bougainvillea are
green but few blooms. Lantanas and purple
rubella are blooming well.
We have a fertilizer tank attached to our watering system. I’ve had it checked and it is working, as in
past years. However, this summer most of
the plants in my perennial flower garden, yellow bells, and bougainvillea are
green but few blooms. Lantanas and purple
rubella are blooming well.
A.
Fertilizer tanks attached to an irrigation system can be a big plus for the
overall landscape quality. However there are some things you should realize
about using fertilizer tanks and fertilizer injectors.
First of all plants
receiving the most water, also received the most fertilizer. When we use
fertilizer injectors it is best to have them inject fertilizer several minutes
after the cycle begins and shut down several minutes before the cycle turns
off. This gives a better fertilizer distribution to all of the plants on that
circuit and cleans the irrigation lines out of any extra fertilizer.
Water
containing fertilizer sitting in irrigation lines will frequently contribute to
plugging because of algae and bacterial growth that occurs in lines that
contain water laden with fertilizer. If you don’t have this luxury of flushing
the lines with clean water, you can flush the lines yourself once a month with
freshwater by turning off the injector for a few irrigations. You might want to
consider not having the fertilizer tank on all of the time but using it
periodically, perhaps once or twice a month, instead.
.JPG) |
| Air release valve for drip irrigation using a ball to close the valve |
 |
| Air release valve for drip irrigation using a diaphragm to close the valve |
Typically,
plants at the beginning of an irrigation line receive more than those at the
end of an irrigation line. You can eliminate some of this problem by installing
an air release valve somewhere along the irrigation line. This allows trapped
air to exit the irrigation line and speeds the delivery of water and fertilizer
along the line to all of the plants. Otherwise air can be pushed ahead of the
water and slow the delivery of water and fertilizer along the length of the
irrigation line.
plants at the beginning of an irrigation line receive more than those at the
end of an irrigation line. You can eliminate some of this problem by installing
an air release valve somewhere along the irrigation line. This allows trapped
air to exit the irrigation line and speeds the delivery of water and fertilizer
along the line to all of the plants. Otherwise air can be pushed ahead of the
water and slow the delivery of water and fertilizer along the length of the
irrigation line.
The
type of fertilizer you are using may impact the plants as well. Try to use
general purpose fertilizers with the ratio of 3-1-2 or 4-1-2
(nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium). We usually want to apply very low levels of
phosphorus if we are feeding plants continually. Phosphorus can build up in the
soil and become a problem if too much is applied. If particular plants require
higher amounts of phosphorus than these plants can be sprayed on their foliage
with a high phosphorus fertilizer or the fertilizer can be applied at their
base and watered in.
type of fertilizer you are using may impact the plants as well. Try to use
general purpose fertilizers with the ratio of 3-1-2 or 4-1-2
(nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium). We usually want to apply very low levels of
phosphorus if we are feeding plants continually. Phosphorus can build up in the
soil and become a problem if too much is applied. If particular plants require
higher amounts of phosphorus than these plants can be sprayed on their foliage
with a high phosphorus fertilizer or the fertilizer can be applied at their
base and watered in.
From
the sound of your email, you may be applying too much nitrogen. I would tend to
use your injector once or twice a month if it is on continuously now. Let me
know how this works for you.
the sound of your email, you may be applying too much nitrogen. I would tend to
use your injector once or twice a month if it is on continuously now. Let me
know how this works for you.