How Nutrients work with Plumeria Seedlings

Posted on March 29, 2019November 18, 2020 by texn

Plumeria seedlings need nutrients as soon as possible to grow well, along with water and adequate sunlight.

When plumeria seedlings have roots they are looking for nutrients, when they have real leaves they are capable of processing nutrients into plant food via photosynthesis.

Fertilizers supplement essential nutrients in the soil needed by plumeria for healthy, vigorous growth. Contrary to popular belief, fertilizers are not plant food. Plants manufacture their own food from water and carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Fertilizers provide the nutrients plants need to convert into plant food and grow.

To grow healthy crops full of nutrients, growers need to ensure they have healthy soil. Plants use up nutrients as they grow and without fertilizers, nature struggles to replenish the nutrients in the soil. The soil and water pH is also a major factor in a plant’s ability to convert nutrients into plant food.

A soil test is the only accurate and definitive way to determine how much of any substance is present in your soil. You can send samples to your local county extension or to a testing lab, or you can use a test kit purchased from a nursery or garden center. If the test shows a high concentration of Nitrogen, Phosphorus or Potassium, it could mean that the fertilizer you are using contains too much of it.

What is plumeria fertilizers?

Fertilizers are frequently referred to as plant food, which is really not correct. Actually, it is the carbon dioxide in the air and the water in the soil, which in the presence of sunlight are converted into sugars and carbohydrates by a process called ‘Photosynthesis’, that do the actual feeding of the plant. Fertilizer is much more analogous to vitamins. The Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium and other trace elements contained in the fertilizers are necessary for cell division and enzyme processes that allow photosynthesis and growth to proceed. A fertilizer, often referred to as plant food, is a broad term for either a mixture of chemicals or naturally occurring matter that is used for enhancing the growth of plants.

How do fertilizers work?

Fertilizers work by providing essential nutrients needed to developing flowers, roots, branches, and vegetation. Many fertilizers also improve the way the soil works by helping it to retain water better and allowing air to flow freely, very good for roots.

The main ingredients in most popular fertilizers are N, P and K the basic elements required in plant growth, Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K).

The Nitrogen element works by increasing the plant’s capacity to produce new stems, flowers or fruit. It also increases the speed at which it will grow and improves the quality and appearance of the foliage.

Phosphorus helps the plumeria produce all of that nice organic stuff like oils and starch which is great for forming large, strong root systems. Phosphorus also helps the plant to develop Chlorophyll, which allows it to turn solar energy into chemical energy (photosynthesis). Combined with Potassium, Phosphorus helps produce healthy flowers and seeds.

Lastly, Potassium helps to build protein, fight off diseases and, just like Phosphorus, is essential in the process of photosynthesis.

All of the above are required to work together to produce a good healthy plumeria if just one of these valuable nutrients are missing or lacking your plant will struggle to produce fruits or flowers of the highest quality.

What else do plumeria love about fertilizers?

Nutrients normally occur naturally in well-maintained soils but if there’s a drainage issue or other problem, nutrients can soon disappear. Plumeria loves water but does not like to stand in water. The best soil for plumeria is soil mix that drains well and may require more watering than other soils and also causes the nutrients to wash out sooner. Adding fertilizer is a way of giving nature a helping hand.

Natural and man-made fertilizers can contain a variety of ingredients, but here are a few of the most important ones for plumeria in addition to the standard Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium as described above.

Zinc
Magnesium
Copper
Calcium
Sulfur
Manganese
Molybdenum
Iron
Boron

You can also get fertilizers that are fit for the purpose of a specific plant or species. These are important as different plants, Plumeria, requires a careful balance of certain nutrients. If a general purpose fertilizer is used it may not provide all the nutrients plumeria require.

Too Much Nitrogen

Excess Foliage Growth – One of the main actions of nitrogen is increasing chlorophyll production; this process is done by creating bigger leaf structures with larger surface areas for the photosynthesizing pigment. Excess nitrogen fuels fast foliage growth so that your garden has an appearance of a jungle gone wild, but another plant growth suffers as a consequence. Energy for flower growth is redirected to foliage proliferation, so plants may not even produce their necessary reproductive organs during the growing season.

Burning and Salt Concentration – If you use a high-nitrogen fertilizer mixture, you also increase the soil’s mineral salts; excessive elemental nitrogen takes water away from the plant while leaving the salts behind. As a result, the leaves take on a burnt look from dehydration. Leaf edges become yellow or brown and wilt. Flushing the area with water to remove the excess nitrogen is the best course of action to revive the plant. Although the nitrogen produces desired large foliage, you may find that the rapid growth becomes decimated with leaf burn if nitrogen stays at high levels.

Root Growth Stunting – Energy used for large leaf growth stifles the root system below with high nitrogen soil levels. Roots slow their naturally spreading habit since they do not have the necessary nutrients to use as energy as the elements are redirected upward. As a result, the plant may be destabilized in its soil position; if it is tall enough, it may blow over in heavy winds. Additionally, stressed roots invite disease through soil pathogens as well. In the end, both leaves and roots succumb to nitrogen-induced stresses that damage the plant throughout its length.

Groundwater Pollution – Plants cannot absorb all the excess nitrogen in the soil. Those extra nitrogen levels slowly leach out of the soil through water runoff; the nitrogen is effectively in the form of nitrates due to microbial conversion when it leaches from the soil. As a result, groundwater and drinking water becomes contaminated from the nitrate levels. Between harming the plants and the surrounding water supplies, high nitrogen levels around plants need to be closely monitored and amended for natural harmony.

Too Much Phosphorus!

Iron Deficiencies in Plants – When there is too much phosphorus in the soil, the plant’s ability to take up necessary amounts of iron is compromised. Even where soil levels are tested and show appreciable amounts of iron, plants may have trouble utilizing it because the phosphorus disrupts their natural processes. Usually, the symptoms are most evident in young plant tissues and can be confused with the symptoms of zinc deficiency, making it hard to correct the problem.

Zinc Deficiencies in Plants – Exactly as in the case of iron deficiencies, an overabundance of phosphorus in the soil means it is hard for plants to get necessary levels of zinc from their growing medium, even when the zinc is there for the taking. A zinc deficiency manifests in a bleaching effect of the plant tissues, in rosetted terminal leaves and in yellowing of the leaves in between the veins. Because the symptoms are often the same as iron deficiency, the best way to correct the problem is to perform soil tests to figure out how much phosphorus already exists and to add only enough to keep plants healthy.

Phosphorus Buildup From Application of Nitrogen – Many gardeners and crop growers use animal manure to supply the soil with nitrogen, a necessary nutrient for plant growth. Most manures contain around the same amount of nitrogen and phosphorus, but plants use 2.4 to 4.5 times as much nitrogen as phosphorus, leaving much of the phosphorus untouched in the soil. This can also happen in the application of biosolids or commercial fertilizers. In the case of commercial fertilizers, however, you can buy a mix balanced fertilizer to meet your needs, which often means that the amounts of phosphorus are lower (for instance, 20-10-10, which is 20 parts nitrogen to 10 parts each phosphorus and potassium).

Water Pollution – Because phosphorus is water-soluble, it easily becomes waterborne. Whenever a buildup of the nutrient in the soil cannot be utilized by plants, it is free to run off during rains into the streams, rivers, and waterways in the surrounding areas as well as leach into the water table through the soil. This increases the fertility of watery areas, called eutrophication, causing algae blooms and the explosion of quickly growing fish populations at the expense of beneficial organisms. It also makes purifying water more difficult and can result in insect increases that feed on the algae.

Too Much Phosphate

Preventive Measures – Establishing the right balance between potassium and other soil components is more about controlling how much goes into the soil than trying to reduce it once it’s there. If a soil test indicates a high level of potassium, literally start from the ground up by not adding more to it in the form of a multipurpose fertilizer. Typical fertilizer blends are generally composed of the three most important substances — nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — which are indicated on the packaging by the letters N, P, and K. Selecting a blend that is low in potassium, or K, or contains none at all, is a first step in assuring that it doesn’t build up to unsuitable levels in the soil.

Plant Distress Signals – Too much potassium disrupts the uptake of other important nutrients, such as calcium, nitrogen, and magnesium, creating deficiencies that usually produce visible effects. A calcium deficiency produces irregularly shaped new leaves and blossom end rot on plants, such as tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum ), that produce fruit. As frost-tender plants, tomatoes can be grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 to 10 if set out into the garden once the soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. A nitrogen deficiency is suspected when older lower leaves on plants turn yellow while the rest remains a light green. Plants lacking magnesium will exhibit yellowing of the edges of older leaves that may also develop an arrowhead shape in their centers. While adding more of these substances to correct the imbalance may help, the excess potassium will most likely impact their long-term effectiveness.

A Healthy Balance – When present in the soil in proper amounts, potassium helps with photosynthesis, the process by which plants manufacture their own food using the sun’s energy; helps plants absorb other nutrients more efficiently; creates a favorable environment for micro bacterial action; and provides turgor, or the ability of plants to stay upright. Distribute excess potassium more evenly by thoroughly working dense soil until it is loose and friable. Dilute and flush out large amounts of potassium by watering the soil any time it appears dry to a depth of one inch. Schedule any fertilizing within several weeks before planting, so that the potassium doesn’t have time to accumulate during the off-season. To minimize long-term potassium buildup, consider using aged or composted animal manure as a substitute for commercial fertilizers, as its components break down more slowly to keep up with plant demand. If using manure, apply it at a rate of 40 pounds for every 100 feet, and work it into the soil to a depth of 6 to 9 inches.

How Nutrients work with Plumeria Seedlings

Why Use Hydrogen Peroxide

What is Hydrogen Peroxide?

This is a colorless, sharp-smelling chemical which looks a bit like water. It is commonly used for household uses such as disinfectant and in cleaning products. It is rare to see pure hydrogen peroxide as it is most commonly used as a watered down solution.

It comes mixed with water which is typically 6% HP and the rest ordinary H20.

You may have heard of it as a hair bleach and peroxide is what is used by hairdressers to get a bright blonde hair color. It is used for medical problems like disinfecting small cuts or wounds and even treating boils or acne. It has a myriad of uses in household cleaning and it can even be used to kill mites and remove algae and scum from your home aquarium.

How Does It Work?

It is a very similar chemical composition to water and if it was in a sealed bottle you may even mistake it for water. And its effect on plants is actually quite positive.

But when it comes to gardening, this solution on plants does so much more than just simple water. Even though this is a chemical compound, it is actually found within rain naturally. Have you ever noticed how your plants seem to react better to rainwater rather than some from the tap? By soaking your plants in hydrogen peroxide solution, it actually replicates this natural substance found in raindrops and your plants drink it up, thinking that it’s ordinary rain!

How To Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Using hydrogen peroxide for gardening is pretty simple, but getting the mixture right is key. You want to soak your plants, around the roots, and get rid of fungus, spores and built up mold.

A general rule of thumb is to mix about one cup of HP solution with 32 cups of water and head out into the garden in the evening. Pour the solution into your pots or flower beds and leave it to soak overnight. Make sure you concentrate on the roots of your plant and avoid spraying the solution onto flowers or leaves.

You can also use a stronger solution to help seeds. One ounce of it as a solution in two cups of water will give you a great solution for seeds. This helps them stay healthy and grow faster.

1. Soil Aeration and Treatment of Root Rot

Good soil aeration is really important for any garden plants. Giving your soil enough space for air and nutrients to get through to the roots of your plants is the best way to see your plants flourish. If your soil is too compact, oxygen and nutrients won’t get through and your plants could die. A good way to see if your soil is too compact is to look at the roots of plants you have growing currently. If you pull out a plant and the roots look all squished together and tangled up then it means the soil doesn’t have enough aeration and your plant is struggling. You will also see more toxins and disease in your soil if it is poorly aerated.

Root rot is another problem that can crop up if your soil is too compact. Typically seen in plants which have been overwatered, it is the most common cause of decay around roots of plants and shrubs. Known as Phytophthora root rot, it doesn’t just affect plants in containers as bedding plants and bulbs can also suffer from this.

The difficult thing with root rot is that it can sit for years in your soil even if it hasn’t had any plants put in. It is difficult to treat because of this and is exacerbated when the ground is waterlogged or very compact. The most common time gardeners will see root rot is in potato and tomato gardens.
The signs you have root rot in a plant can be difficult to spot as it doesn’t appear above ground until it has well and truly taken over your plant. You will see yellow leaves and some branches dying off completely. If you dig around the roots of the plant you will see the roots are not formed well enough.

The good news is it can be treated with hydrogen peroxide. So, if you discover root rot or believe your soil is badly aerated, here is what you can do. It can and will kill off bacteria and fungus.

Use a weak solution (around 3%) and mix it roughly one part chemical to two parts water. Carefully pour it around the roots and the base of your plant to kill off the bacteria.

Hydrogen peroxide also helps aerate your soil which should help to prevent future cases of root rot. When it is absorbed into the soil, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down and releases oxygen. These high oxygen levels will make sure your roots are healthy and strong. A healthy root system should be long and untangled with fuzzy white growth on the main root which is used for soaking up water and nutrients.

2. Disinfect Growing Medium

There are hundreds of different types of growing media available. Put simply, a growing medium is a solid or liquid compound which is designed to help plants grow. This can be anything from a compost mix to a peat mix. Organic potting compost will have organic matter in it which can include bone meal, worm castings and even bat droppings! While this is great and packed full of nutrients for your garden and containers, you do run the risk of introducing bacteria and fungus into your garden through using this type of potting mix.

An easy way to stop disease infiltrating your garden this way is by disinfecting your chosen growing medium before you use it with a hydrogen peroxide solution.

Just put your chosen soil or potting mix into a clean, disinfected container and then sprinkle over some hydrogen peroxide mixture. The same sort of mix as you would use to pour over a plant suffering root rot. Allow this to settle in over a week or so, watering two or three times and then it should be ready for use in your garden or containers.

3. Sanitize Seeds

Everyone knows that seeds do best if they are soaked in water first, but did you know that using hydrogen peroxide in your water solution will help them germinate faster? Hydrogen peroxide will also kill off any bacteria that your seeds may have picked up. So if you’re buying them from another gardener you can make sure you get the plants you want without bringing in any unwanted diseases into your garden. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and pour it into a small, watertight container. Leave the seeds for around four hours and this will kill off bacteria without affecting the seeds.

You should then rinse the seeds thoroughly in clean, fresh water and then leave them to dry on a kitchen towel or a clean tea towel.

4. Accelerate Germination

Soaking seeds in hydrogen peroxide can also accelerate germination and even just a minute or two in a weak solution can speed up how fast your seeds will sprout. Put the seeds in a sieve or if you can a mesh bag works best. Something that will allow water through while keeping the seeds in place. Unlike bleach, hydrogen peroxide takes off any bacteria without damaging the seed itself. It should be a solution of one teaspoon in about a cup of water for the seed soak. You can use a much lower concentration but the soaking process will take much longer. You should rinse your seeds with water and then begin the germinating process straight away. You can use a thin layer of wet kitchen towels or sprinkle some potting soil into a seedling tray.

These trays are often made of cardboard or other absorbent material which will keep the seeds moist until they need to sprout. Read your seed instructions carefully and keep them at the right temperature. Warm and moist is best and, generally, seeds thrive in a warmer climate so think about putting them in a seed propagator or greenhouse.

5. Boost Root Development

If your plants are looking a little limp and lifeless, then give them a boost with a dose of hydrogen peroxide. While you can definitely use it as a seed booster and deal with fungal growths, it is also great for helping plants at any stage of their life do better. The hydrogen peroxide solution can be sprayed or absorbed straight into the soil to help boost your plant’s roots.

Watering plants with hydrogen peroxide solution will introduce more oxygen into your soil. This boost of oxygen gives the roots more room to take in extra nutrients and water to feed and it will give it a kick start or help an ailing plant get back on track. Use about two teaspoons of 35% hydrogen peroxide to around one gallon of water and then use it on your garden every other time you go out to water your plants.

6. Fight Fungal Infestions

One of the best uses for hydrogen peroxide is to fight fungal growth or mold on plants. You might be concerned about using something that will kill mold and spores around your precious plants but you don’t need to worry. This chemical mixture is brilliant at killing off fungus while also being kind to your shrubs.

If you spot the tell-tale signs that a fungus has taken hold of your plants, then mix up some hydrogen peroxide solution and water your plant really heavily. And I mean really heavily. You want to almost flood your plant and keep watering until the liquid pours out of the pot or the flowerbed is waterlogged.

Don’t panic! This might sound like bad advice but using this much “clean” water will completely rid the area, and soil around your plant, of the bacteria-carrying dirt and flush it clean. Don’t let your plants sit in a tray of water, though. Water them in one place and then move the container to another. Leave the watering until the plant has very nearly completely dried out and you should see the fungus die off. So, remember; hydrogen peroxide for powdery mildew, residues, and mold is the most effective and safe.

Mixing charts for gardening with hydrogen peroxide

If you want to start gardening with hydrogen peroxide, you need to know how much peroxide to use. Here are charts to tell you how much!

To water or mist plants, to soak seeds, to add to water used to wash sprouts:

WATER	ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE	ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 35% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
1 cup	1 and 1/2 teaspoons	7 to 10 drops
1 quart	2 tablespoons	1/2 teaspoon
1 gallon	1/2 cup	2 teaspoons
5 gallons	2 and 1/2 cups	3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon
10 gallons	5 cups	6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons
20 gallons	10 cups	3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon

To spray on sick or plants with fungus:

WATER	ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 3% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE	–OR– ADD THIS AMOUNT OF 35% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
1 cup	1 tablespoon	1/4 teaspoon
1 pint	2 tablespoons	1/2 teaspoon
1 quart	1/4 cup	1 teaspoon
1 gallon	1 cup	1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon
5 gallons	5 cups	6 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons
10 gallons	10 cups	3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoons
20 gallons	20 cups	1 and 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons

Please be mindful to choose the correct column in the chart depending on whether you are using 3% hydrogen peroxide or 35% hydrogen peroxide!!

As you may notice, the amount of peroxide in the chart for sick and fungus infected plants is twice as much as in the first chart. I have heard of people using stronger solutions, but more is NOT always better. So be careful, and when in doubt, stay safe. You can always apply more another day. If you decide to use a bit more, please make it only a bit more, don’t get carried away. Gardening with hydrogen peroxide is great, but too much can harm your plants. 10% hydrogen peroxide is recommended as a weed killer — in other words it will kill your plants at that concentration.

Why Use ProMix with Mycorrhizae

I’ve been using Pro-Mix BX with Mycorrhizae for many years for my seedlings, the Mycorrhizae is very beneficial to new seedlings.

PRO-MIX BX MYCORRHIZAE

Pro-Mix with Mycorrhizae PRO-MIX BX is a solution for growers seeking to benefit from both the nutrient retention ability of vermiculite and a perlite content providing limited but proper drainage capacities. Combined with high-quality fibrous peat moss, this formulation is ideal for growers looking for a general purpose medium which creates a well-balanced growing environment.

SPHAGNUM PEAT MOSS (75-85%)

Canadian Sphagnum peat moss is a natural, organic matter that comes from a peat bog. This primary resource is carefully harvested by vacuum harvesters. Peat moss comes in various fibrosity and levels of decomposition. Once carefully graded, peat moss assures that qualities of each grade are optimized for based on grower and uses for a final product reaching high quality requirements.

PERLITE

Perlite is an alumino-silicate ore of volcanic origin. The raw ore is crushed, graded and screened in various particle sizes. Perlite has a high total-porosity and improves drainage and air porosity.

VERMICULITE

Vermiculite is an expanded aluminum-iron, magnesium silicate mineral ore that is mined throughout the world. Vermiculite has a high total-porosity and has good nutrient-holding ability.

LIMESTONE

Used to adjust pH to optimum range. Also a source of Calcium and Magnesium.

WETTING AGENT

A wetting agent is a substance that reduces the surface tension of water, allowing water to penetrate and uniformly wet growing media.

MYCORRHIZAE – GHA297 TECHNOLOGY

Mycorrhizae – GHA297 Technology is a Biological Growth Enhancer that increases the yield of flower, fruit and vegetable plants by extending the root system to acquire the most of available nutrients in the soil. Mycorrhizae also improve resistance to root diseases and stresses.

Improves fertilizer uptake; reduces fertilizer costs
Increases the resistance of plant to stresses; reduces maintenance costs
Optimizes results without changing growing practices
Increased root mass, flower production, plant size, yield, shelf life
Improved water uptake and increased drought resistance

For more details checkout…A Guide to Growing Plumeria Seeds

Manufacturer Website for Pro-Mix BX

Why Use Excalibur Fertilizer

After trying every fertilizer you can think of and searching for Fertilizers specifically formulated for Plumeria and not finding anything worth using, we decided we had to have a professional company custom mix a fertilizer. We knew from years of experience that Plumeria do best when you feed them a balanced fertilizer that provides nutrients as Plumeria need them. We believe that healthier plants will result in better growing habits and more blooms.

So to create the best possible fertilizer for Plumeria, we needed to have one formulated to our specifications just for Plumeria. The fertilizer had to have a balance of needed nutrients, but also had to have a dependable slow release rate for the entire growing season. We wanted to market nationwide so we choose Harrell’s Fertilizers, one of the largest fertilizer companies in the US. After many years of experimenting and research we came up with a slow released 11-11-13 poly cote with micronutrients that lasts 9-12 months. The release rate was formulated to release the nutrients as Plumeria needs them over the growing season. The formula is activated by moisture and heat, but mostly by moisture. Releasing more when you water more, minimizes the release rate during dry months and dormancy.

Excalibur IX and Excalibur VI is a Florida Colors Nursery exclusive custom mixed fertilizer that’s been formulated specifically for Plumeria. The ingredients are formulated to provide your plumeria with the nutrients it needs to thrive. The poly cote has been formulated to release the nutrients when plumeria need it most.

A slow release fertilizer designed to be used once and last 6 for Excalibur VI or 9 months for Excalibur XI. We produced two different fertilizers to match the different growing seasons. For example Texas and Florida would use 9 month and areas with shorter growing seasons would us 6 month.

Sold online in 64oz and 128oz containers. It is also available in larger containers for local pickup only.

Excalibur 11-11-13 is approved for sell in the Continental US.

Typical Usage Rates:

4-4 1/2″ pot = 3/4 tablespoon.
6″ – 1 gal pot = 2 tablespoons.
3 gal pot = 3 tablespoons.
5 gal pot – 4 tablespoons.
In the ground 1 tablespoon per 1” trunk dia.

How to use Excalibur IX and Excalibur VI
Excalibur is a slow release water soluble granular fertilizer, it is applied dry and must be watered in. It help to improve efficiency by covering the granules with 1/2″-1″ of soil. Granular fertilizers are easier to control because you can actually see how much fertilizer you’re using and where it’s being dispersed. Advantages of slow release fertilizers are that the nutrients are available gradually over time. This means that the gardener can fertilize less often, and the nutrients are provided slowly and steadily.

Fertilizers are a mix of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The ratio will be indicated by three numbers (the first is nitrogen, the middle number is phosphorous, and the third is potassium). We recommend using a balance fertilizer with micronutrients for plumeria.

Micronutrients – The Hidden Story…And, Often Only Delivered by Slow Release Fertilizers!

There are several nutrients essential to plant growth and health that are only needed in very small quantities. These are manganese, copper, iron, chlorine, and molybdenum and zinc.

Chlorine is necessary for osmosis and ionic balance; it also plays a role in photosynthesis.

Copper is a component of some enzymes and of vitamin A. Symptoms of copper deficiency include browning of leaf tips and chlorosis.

Iron is essential for chlorophyll synthesis, which is why an iron deficiency results in chlorosis.

Manganese activates some important enzymes involved in chlorophyll formation. Manganese deficient plants will develop chlorosis between the veins of its leaves. The availability of manganese is partially dependent on soil PH.

Molybdenum is essential to plant health. Molybdenum is used by plants to reduce nitrates into usable forms. Some plants use it for nitrogen fixation, thus it may need to be added to some soils before seeding legumes.

Zinc participates in chlorophyll formation, and also activates many enzymes. Symptoms of zinc deficiency include chlorosis and stunted growth.

Also see Bioblast, Vitazyme, Root Activator for a complete feeding program….More A Guide to Growing Plumeria from Seed

Excalibur can be found at Florida Colors Plumeria

Why Use FCN FlexiPlugs

I’ve researched and tried almost every type of growing media I could find and decided to have plugs make for Florida Colors Nursery. They are excel when transplanting without injuring the roots of young plants. With this product, I’ve noticed fewer injuries, less transplant shock, and time savings in the overall process.

Stabilized Peat Plugs for the Plumeria Seed Grower Grower

FCN FlexiPlugs are created by blending the highest quality peat, micronutrients with other organics, and a foam binder. The result is a stabilized propagation medium that promotes faster germination for plumeria seeds while providing the consistent moisture needed for germination. FCN FlexiPlugs are pH balanced plugs, contains micronutrients and active biologicals specifically for seed germination and it has all the elements needed to promote healthy root growth for young plumeria.

Benefits for Plumeria

Improved aeration
pH balanced
Higher water holding capacity and even dry down
Customized with micronutrients and biologicals

Benefits for Plumeria Growers

Greater control over production processes
Faster germination
Less mess on the bench
Earlier & easier transplanting
Greater initial root densities

Why Carl Pool Root Activator

Carl Pool Root Activator is a 100% natural product which safely promotes regeneration of roots through increased elongation rates. Root Activator stimulates fast root growth, reduces transplant shock, and hastens plant establishment. Use on all newly planted or transplanted plants and soil, and any time additional root growth is desired to reach the potential of underperforming plants.

Carl Pool’s Root Activator contains 7.5% glycosides. It prevents transplant shock and stimulates fast root growth.

Concentrated Formula
Prevents Transplant Shock
Stimulates Fast Root Growth
Increases Plants Root Mass
Quart or Gallon Concentrate

Description: Natural glycosides derived from pecan shells and water. Glycosides are compounds which comprise a wide array of substances that make up a significant proportion of cellular and tissue contents of plants and as critical influence on plants in root, stem, and leaf development. Beneficial flavonoids often occur as glycosides; some important as coloring agents for flowers to attract insects and birds while others promote disease resistance. This product adheres to the soil and prevents transplanting shock and stimulates fast root growth and forking of root system.

Ingredients:
Active: Glycosides 7.5%
Gibberellin 0.03%
3-Indolaecetic Acid 0.02%
Kinetin 0.02%
Inert: 92.43%

Application Recommendations:
Directions:

Mix 1 pint to 5 gallons of water or 8 Tbsp. to 1 gallon of water. Saturate entire root area of plant. Repeat every 30 days until desired results are achieved.
Plumeria plant in containers: Use from 1 to 5 gallons of diluted solution around each plant depending on size of pot and root area.
Plumeria Trees in Ground: Saturate entire area within the drip line. Use from 3 – 10 gallons of diluted solution around each tree depending on size of trunk diameter.

Carl Pool’s Root Activator and other product used can be found at Florida Colors Nursery. Florida Colors Nursery not only sells these products but also uses the products listed in my 2018 projects in there Plumeria Care Regimen.

Why Use Bioblast

Bioblast is more than a fertilizer 7-7-7 NPK, it’s a Plant Food & Biostimulant. Bioblast is innovation for your plumeria or other plants and is the ultimate plant food and growth activator for all your growing needs.

Introducing BioBlast an all natural organic Bio Activator with Rooting Agents Growth Activators and Vitamins B-1, B-2, and B-3. It makes your plants healthy. You can apply as a drench or as foliare.
The future of plant growth is here. Bioblast is innovation for your plants and is the ultimate plant food and growth activator for all your growing needs.

WHY BIOBLAST?

Bioblast works with every part of your plant. Soil organisms are invigorated with Vitazyme biostimulants providing quicker, more vigorous growth. Rooting is encouraged with our Root Activator. A balanced 7-7-7 NPK provides the essentials of plant growth and structure. B-Vitamins and Zinc encourage a robust immune system, while Iron promotes chlorophyll production in the leaves. Bioblast is a great foliar feed for growing plumeria seedlings.

• PLANT FOOD
• B-VITAMINS
• ROOTING AGENT
• BIO-ACTIVATORS

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Total Nitrogen (N)…. 7.00%
- 2.20% Ammoniacal Nitrogen
- 4.80% Urea Nitrogen
Available Phosphate (P2O5)… 7.00%
Soluble Potash (K2O)… 7.00%
Sulfur (S)… 0.10%
Iron (Fe) 0.40%
Zinc (Zn) 0.03%

Application

Mix 1 Tbsp per gallon of water – or 2 capfuls if you don’t have a measure. Apply once per week or as needed. Reduce by 50% during extreme heat or for indoor plants. Safe when used as directed. Will not harm roots or leaves even in hot, dry weather.

Great for use on all types of plants, for soil improvement, or as a compost starter.

Bioblast and other product used can be found at Florida Colors Nursery. Florida Colors Nursery not only sells these products but also uses the products listed in my 2018 projects in there Plumeria Care Regimen.

Why Use Vitazyme

Agricultural biostimulants include diverse formulations of compounds, substances, and micro-organisms that are applied to plants or soils to improve crop vigor, yields, quality and tolerance of abiotic stresses.

Biostimulants foster plant growth and development throughout the crop life cycle from seed germination to plant maturity in a number of demonstrated ways, including but not limited to:

Improving the efficiency of the plant’s metabolism to induce yield increases and enhanced crop quality;
Increasing plant tolerance to and recovery from abiotic stresses;
Facilitating nutrient assimilation, translocation, and use;
Enhancing quality attributes of products, including sugar content, color, fruit seeding, etc;
Rendering water use more efficient;
Enhancing soil fertility, particularly by fostering the development of complementary soil micro-organisms.

What distinguishes biostimulants from traditional crop inputs?

Biostimulants operate through different mechanisms than fertilizers, regardless of the presence of nutrients in the products.
Biostimulants differ from crop protection products because they act only on the plant’s vigor and do not have any direct actions against pests or disease.
Crop biostimulation is thus complementary to crop nutrition and crop protection.

Vitazyme represents a breakthrough to larger, more profitable crop yields, and healthier plants while promoting a more sustainable approach to agriculture. Standard chemical approaches have helped spur the 20th-century farming revolution, but have created potential toxicity problems for farmers, consumers, and the environment. In addition, these inputs are expensive and have driven many farmers to reconsider their approach. Vitazyme helps alleviate these difficult environmental and production challenges while increasing profits.

What is Vitazyme?

Vitazyme is an all-natural liquid biostimulant, consisting of particular biological activators that are created through a proprietary fermentation process. These active agents include vitamins, enzymes, triacontanol, and other powerful but gentle growth stimulators.

Agriculture in the future must emphasize the use of biological systems, and not rely solely upon chemical approaches, to achieve long term soil productivity. Vitazyme promotes soil life by working with the natural ecosystem to invigorate rhizospheric activity.

Vitazyme is one of the most profitable inputs you can use in your agricultural operation. You always get a return on your investment, whether it comes from better quality parameters that command a higher market price or sheer yield increase or both. Starting any crop with Vitazyme can greatly enhance the plant’s ability to uptake nutrients giving them the boost they need to launch them into growth. One to three more treatments throughout the crop cycle can greatly enhance the plant’s ability to reach its genetic potential.

Vitazyme is certified by both BCS and OMRI
OMRI
BCS
Washington Organics Certification
California Organics Certification

• INCREASE CROP YIELDS AND PROFITS
• IMPROVE SOIL AND CROP QUALITY
• REDUCE FERTILIZER NITROGEN INPUTS
• HASTEN GERMINATION AND MATURITY
• IMPROVE SOIL STRUCTURE AND INFILTRATION

Whether it is uniformity of size, content, saleable coloration, firmness, or sheer yield, Vitazyme will enhance your crops value, all while improving your soil structure and environment.

Vitazyme is safe and sustainable, making it a product that can be used indefinitely without any environmental concerns. Vitazyme is an all-natural liquid biostimulant, consisting of particular biological activators that are created through a proprietary fermentation process. These active agents include b vitamins, enzymes, triacontanol, brassinosteroids, kinetin (a form of cytokinin), gibberellic acid, glycosides, and other powerful but gentle growth stimulators.

Vitazyme is a liquid concentrate microbially synthesized from plant materials and then stabilized for long life. Powerful but natural biostimulants contained in the material greatly benefit plant growth and soil conditions to boost growth and profits for the grower.

Vitazyme is non-toxic. It is organic, safe and sustainable and has an array of active agents, including:

Known Ingredients in Vitazyme (all derived from natural materials):

Brassinosteroids	0.022mg/ml
1-triacontanol	0.33 ug/ml
Vitamin B1 (thiamin)	0.35 mg/100g
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin	0.25 mg/100g
Vitamin B6	0.15 mg/100g

Vitazyme is an all-natural liquid “biostimulant” for soil organisms and plants that contain certain biological activators, which are by-products of a proprietary fermentation process. These active agents include vitamins, enzymes, and other powerful but gentle growth stimulators such as B-vitamins, triacontanol, glycosides, and porphyrins.

Vitazyme, used within the context of a common-sense management system, will help the farmer overcome many of his production problems. While not a “magic bullet,” it helps the entire system work better.

Vitazyme – Organic Biostimulant Concentrate is for home use 1/2 tsp./gallon of water for watering-in and 1 oz/gallon of water for garden foliar applications. Can be tank mixed with anything using any type of spray equipment and can be used through irrigation as well. 100% water-soluble and non-toxic.

Agriculture of today must emphasize the use of biological systems — not strictly chemical approaches — to achieve long-term soil productivity.

The product promotes soil life by conforming with natural laws, by encouraging natural predators to control insect and nematode pests, by promoting more intensive biological nitrogen fixation, and by stimulating natural rhizosphere organisms to produce needed plant growth factors.

Investigations Are Continuing On Other Components:

Likely phytoactive components which will be discovered include the following:

Various porphyrins (chlorophyll derivatives)
Various glycosides (glucose derivatives)
Salicylic acid or salicylates
Amino acids such as methionine and others
Nucleic acid remnants or precursors
Nucleotides, especially adenine but possibly others
Gallic acid
Glucuronic acid
Various enzymes

Benefits to Soils

Soil structure, so critical for air and water movement through the soil to facilitate root growth and nutrient uptake, is improved by Vitazyme in at least four ways:

Increased root growth (more root channels).
More polysaccharides to glue particles together; only 0.2% more polysaccharide can markedly improve structure.
Improved mycorrhizae activity (creating sac-like structures)
Greater earthworm activity, their burrows create channels for air and water. Water infiltration is increased, and runoff and erosion are consequently decreased. Compaction is reduced so roots can freely explore the soil for nutrients and water, increasing yields.

How Vitazyme Benefits Plumeria

Vitazyme will increase chlorophyll first, allowing the plumeria to harness more energy from the sun. The plumeria will develop a larger and more efficient root system and working in conjunction with the microbial population in the rhizosphere will convert more nutrients from a non-uptake able form to forms that can be taken up by the plumeria. In this way, the soil system becomes more efficient and is the main reason why we say you can lower your nutrient inputs using Vitazyme. This, in part, explains the typical results of greater yield and quality measures for any crop.

Greater root and leaf growth
More and bigger blossoms
Improved soil conditions
Inexpensive, very cost-effective
Easy to use
Safe and non-toxic
Can be seed-applied
Can be tank-mixed with any liquid fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides
Can run through irrigation lines without clogging

Vitazyme applied through the irrigation system–drip, sprinkler, or sprayed–will accelerate growth and maturity of plumeria, in containers or in the ground. Trunk caliper will increase faster as photosynthesis and leaf area is accelerated. Vitazyme will improve the root, leaf, and flower growth.

Treated seeds will emerge faster, and seedling growth will be more vigorous. Improved chlorophyll development will give faster nutrition, deeper green colors, and more lustrous and attractive leaves. Vitazyme will also aid in the early development of flowers.

Expect better tilth and permeability in your soil with Vitazyme use.

Vitazyme Science

Vitazyme intensifies the activity of the plant-soil system. Photosynthesis is increased, so more carbon from the air is fixed into plant tissue. Energy-rich compounds produced in the leaves by this vigorous metabolism move into the root system and out into the soil, or media where billions of bacteria, algae, fungi, protozoa, and other organisms feed on this energy. The organisms, in turn, release minerals and growth stimulants for plant uptake…a beautiful symbiosis. Plant stress is reduced, removing growth and yield limitations.

Vitazyme Stimulates Rhizosphere Symbiosis

Vitazyme contains “metabolic triggers” that stimulate the plant to photosynthesize better, fixing more sunlight energy in the form of carbon compounds to increase the transfer of carbohydrates, proteins, and other growth substances into the root zone. These active agents may enter the plant through either the leaves or the roots. Root growth and exudation are both enhanced. This enhancement activates the metabolism of the teeming population of rhizosphere organisms to a higher level, triggering a greater synthesis of growth-benefitting compounds and a faster release of mineral for plant uptake. The plant microbial symbiosis is stimulated.

The Enzyme Cascade Effect

Very small amounts of these metabolic triggers in Vitazyme are needed to greatly improve plant and rhizosphere microbe response. This is because of the enzyme cascade effect. Successive tiers of enzymes are activated in plant and microbial tissues to yield a large physiological response from very little applied activator.

In short, Vitazyme enables the plant to better express its genetic potential by reducing the stresses that repress that expression.

Improved Symbiosis: The Secret of Vitazyme’s Action

All plants that grow in soils develop an intimate relationship between the roots and the organisms that populate the root zone. The teeming billions of bacteria, fungi, algae, cyanobacteria, protozoa, and other organisms that grow along the root surfaces—the rhizosphere—are much more plentiful than in the bulk of the soil. This is because roots feed the organisms with dead root epidermal cells as well as compounds exuded from the roots themselves. The plant may inject up to 25% or more of its energy, fixed in the leaves as carbohydrates, amino acids, and other compounds, into the root zone to feed these organisms… for a very good purpose.

The microorganisms which feed on these exuded carbon compounds along the root surfaces benefit the plant in many ways… a beautiful symbiotic relationship.

The plant feeds the bacteria, fungi, algae, and other microbial species in the rhizosphere, which in turn secrete enzymes, organic acids, antibiotics, growth regulators, hormones, and other substrates which are absorbed by the roots and transported to the leaves. The acids help dissolve essential minerals, and reduced iron releases anionic elements.