Frequently Asked Questions & the Technicals

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Ammoniacal nitrate is considered superior to other forms of nitrates as a plant nutrient source due to its unique combination of ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-) ions. The presence of both ions allows for more efficient nutrient uptake by plants, ensuring optimal growth and development. According to a scholarly article by Cui et al. (2018), the dual nitrogen supply in ammoniacal nitrate facilitates a balanced uptake of ammonium and nitrate ions by plants, promoting improved nitrogen assimilation and minimizing nutrient imbalances. This study supports the superiority of ammoniacal nitrate as a fertilizer for enhancing plant productivity.

Reference: Cui, Z., Chen, X., Zhang, F., & Vitousek, P. (2018). Journey towards sustainable intensification. Nature Plants, 4(7), 430-436. 

The determination was also made to use ammonium phosphate in this formulation because the combination of ammonium and phosphate ions in ammonium phosphate provides readily available nitrogen and phosphorus, essential for plant growth and development. According to a scholarly article by Li et al. (2020), the ammonium form of nitrogen in ammonium phosphate enhances phosphorus uptake efficiency, leading to improved plant productivity and nutrient utilization. This study supports the advantage of using ammonium phosphate as a superior phosphate fertilizer for promoting optimal plant nutrition.

Also interestingly enough the pH Effects with Ammonium phosphate is neutral in terms of its impact on soil pH. It does not significantly alter the soil's acidity or alkalinity. In contrast, ammonium nitrate tends to lower soil pH when the ammonium ions are converted into ammonium (NH4+) form. This can be beneficial for alkaline or high-pH soils, helping to make nutrients more accessible to plants with less substrate volatility.

Reference: Li, X., Qiu, J., Liu, X., Zhang, L., & Fu, H. (2020). The effects of ammonium phosphate and urea on phosphorus use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) and phosphorus fractions in calcareous soil. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 51(16), 2119-2131. 

Ammonium sulfate is considered a favorable ingredient for plant nutrients due to its unique properties and benefits. As a nitrogen and sulfur fertilizer, ammonium sulfate provides essential nutrients that promote healthy plant growth. The nitrogen component aids in vegetative development and chlorophyll production, while sulfur is crucial for protein synthesis and enzyme activity. According to a scholarly article by Ruan et al. (2018), ammonium sulfate supplementation significantly improved nitrogen and sulfur uptake efficiency in rice plants, resulting in enhanced crop productivity and nutrient utilization. This study supports the advantages of using ammonium sulfate as an effective ingredient for plant nutrition.

Reference: Ruan, L., Lu, Z., Yang, J., Yang, X., Yang, J., Zhang, F., & Cui, Z. (2018). The effects of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization on nitrogen and sulfur uptake and nitrogen use efficiency in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Frontiers in Plant Science, 9, 71.

Magnesium sulfate, commonly known as Epsom salt, is considered a beneficial ingredient for plant nutrients due to its rich supply of magnesium and sulfur. Magnesium is a vital element for chlorophyll production, photosynthesis, and enzyme activation, while sulfur contributes to protein synthesis and overall plant vigor. 

A scholarly article by Marschner (2012) supports the significance of magnesium sulfate as a plant nutrient, highlighting the essential role of magnesium in various physiological processes, including nutrient uptake and carbon assimilation. This study emphasizes the importance of magnesium sulfate in promoting optimal plant growth and development.

Reference: Marschner, P. (2012). Marschner's Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants (3rd ed.). Academic Press.

Potassium nitrate is considered a superior ingredient for plant nutrients due to its dual supply of potassium (K) and nitrate (NO3-) ions. Potassium is essential for various plant functions, including osmoregulation, enzyme activation, and carbohydrate metabolism, while nitrate serves as a readily available nitrogen source for plants. A scholarly article by Li et al. (2021) supports the advantages of potassium nitrate as a fertilizer, highlighting its positive effects on crop yield, quality, and nutrient uptake.

This study demonstrates that potassium nitrate application enhances nutrient absorption, promotes balanced plant growth, and improves overall crop performance.

Reference: Li, H., Wang, Z., Liu, C., Cheng, M., & Cui, Z. (2021). Effects of Different NPK Ratios and Their Split Applications on Yield, Quality, and Nutrient Uptake of Potatoes. Agronomy Journal, 113(5), 3420-3430.

Have you ever thought about why your plants aren't doing well, even though you're taking good care of them? The reason could be the mix of nutrients in your fertilizer, called NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Each plant has different needs, so it's crucial to pick a fertilizer that matches what your plants require. This means thinking about things like the type of soil, how you want your plants to grow, and what nutrients they need. Ultimately, in our years of large Ag experience, these ratios (in our opinion) were worked out to be the best for a vast majority of exotic and rare flora.

Exotic plant species are often faster-growing with a higher demand for N-P and K (e.g., MacKown et al. 2009), and consequently are able to deplete Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium more rapidly than native plant species that are slower-growing and adapted to different soils and conditions (Vallano et al.) 

 
Unfortunately, many commercially available fertilizers are too generic and not designed for the specific needs of exotic flora. In fact, using the wrong fertilizer can lead to nutrient lock-out and even plant death. That's why it's crucial to conduct soil tests and sap analysis to determine the optimal NPK ratio for your specific plant fertilization needs.

 
Fertilizer alone isn't the only factor in promoting plant health and productivity. Proper lighting conditions which we found to be a range of a low end of 85 - 400 PAR/PPFD (Photo-Adaptive Radiation and/or Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density), water management (frequency, volume and timing/routine), integrated pest management strategies / applications; and pruning techniques are also crucial for yielding the best results. So, take a comprehensive approach to plant care and watch your exotic plant species thrive like never before.

 
It was decided that after all of the data compiled and analyzed from the above aforementioned components these values fit with the macro-metabolic and stomatic respiration rates that most of the exotics have, while also taking into consideration their growth/expansion rates, soil conditions on average, frequency of watering events and duration/ quality of lighting sources and most domicile temperature/humidity values on average. All of this was considered when determining our nutritive values. 

This field experiment cited below, was performed to evaluate the efficiency of potassium (K) foliar spray against soil application on hybrid maize. Treatments were controlled, soil applied 75 kg K2O ha-1, foliar spray 1% K2O, foliar spray 2% K2O, foliar spray 3% K2O, fertigation 75 kg K2O ha-1, and split application in soil 75 kg K2O ha-1. Potassium foliar sprays increased yield and its components as well as quality attributes greater than that with soil application, splitting or fertigation. The highest biological and yield were 15.0 and 8.08 t ha-1, respectively under foliar treatment of 3% K2O, followed by 2% K2O foliar spray. Greater net benefit and benefit cost ratio were with foliar application. Foliar spray of potassium >3% concentration was more efficient for increasing growth and yield of maize crop as compared to soil application and fertilization of potassium fertilizer. 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292980808_Foliar_spray_surpasses_soil_application_of_potassium_for_maize_production_under_rainfed_conditions#:~:text=Foliar%20spray%20of%20potassium%203,and%20fertilization%20of%20potassium%20fertilizer. 

 
Which is why after many years of buying and using a plethora of commercially available fertilizers from big box stores I have learned and seen that a vast majority of them are not designed for exotic or special needs plants and are in fact more generic than specific, often too much of; or too little of the nutrients needed to help thrive and not burn alive or starve to death. 

 
In furtherance of the above explained rationale, soil/substrate tests were also conducted on several of the species I cultivate at home to determine what if/any nitrates, phosphorous or potassium elements were being left behind so we could make better use of what the plant is being given without leaving excessive nutrients behind causing nutrient lock-out and eventually plant disfigurement or death in some cases.

Which is how & why Exotic Plant Food was created. I believe that plants, like people, are what they eat and that providing your plants with a more specific and simpler menu they will thrive like never before. 

I hope this explanation helps.

Management~