10/15/2021
TIP #7 - Benefit Of High POTASSIUM (K) Fertilizer In Winter
It is already mid October, folk!!
We are about to end the growing & fruiting season & begin to enter the dormant months. In Summer, we water DF plants more often, like 2-3 times a week. In Winter, watering should be much less, once per week or once per 10 days. Too frequent watering will lead to several issues like root rot, orange dots & fungal growth on stems, etc.
What about fertilizing in Winter?
In general, we also cut down fertilizing dosage in half, or even more so. Normally, a high Potassium (K) fertilizer would be used & very beneficial to DF plants during this time. I am using red granular 0-0-60 product.
Potassium is a naturally occurring mineral created during the evaporation of the ancient seabed. It is one of the 3 primary nutrients N-P-K required for plant growth. Potash is a water-soluble granular which contains 60% K2O. The product can be in red or white color.
This is the time when DF plants & other plants in general going into resting period. A low temperature & less day light condition weather cause the plant bio-clock to "think" this way. This is when K fertilizer comes in to give the root system a boost to help it sustain through the harsh Winter.
If we continue to feed more Nitrogen (N) in Fall or Winter, the plants will force itself to grow. With a lack of light & not fully complete photosynthesis process, the plant will grow weak. Unlike other plants, DF continues its photosynthesis process throughout the evening, but the stems may get softened, mushy, small & prone to diseases & fungal attacks. Brown or orange spots can easily be seen in some varieties, especially the hybridized ones due to its genetic mutation change within the plant DNA. Phosphorus (P) does not help much during this time either. It may only contribute a little micro nutrient supplement to the plants & that is all.
A few benefits that I found in high K fertilizer are:
1. Helps transferring water & sugar content inside the plant easily. This makes the fruits become sweeter & juicier. It also improves the life of flowers.
2. Helps strengthening the root system & plant cell walls during cold weather. It will produce a strong growth in stem cell wall within a short time & makes it less susceptible to diseases & rot.
3. Helps fighting back diseases prone to attack the plant during cold months. Thickening cell walls will make it difficult for fungal spores to germinate on new stem wall & cause diseases.
This short article only focuses on DF plants, but this concept can still be applied to other plants & vegetation in general. I start using this high K ratio (0-0-60) twice a month, or every 2 month, depend on dosage use. It is a recommended supplemental fertilizer to use around mid late September until late February, or until temperature reaches above 70 F.
Disclaimer: plants react differently due to plant maturity, different zones, humidity, dosage use, how often to apply, etc. Follow the instruction, observe & adjust accordingly.
Happy gardening!
DN-
[10.15.21]
