So here is what that vicious cycle looks like broken down, to help new gardeners avoid it... Hopefully.
The cycle starts when plants don't appear to be performing well, which could be for a variety of reasons. The typical reaction is to add fertilizer and water, often in excess, which only slows plant growth further which in turn leads to even more extreme measures, like more potent fertilizers.
When growing plants in soil, it is imperative to remember you are not simply growing a plant. You also need to maintain the colonies of fungus and bacteria that the plant has symbiotic relationships with. Without these microbial colonies, plants can not process many of the nutrients they need, and have limited access to the nutrients they can process directly.
So, to get healthy plants, you need healthy soil that is full of microbial life. Chances are your soil has at least some of the microbes necessary, but they may be struggling to survive due to too much water and higher salt and nutrient concentrations.
As a result, the soil's PH level gets outside the range in which the microbes can breakdown the nutrients they need, and as a result of that, they are not breaking down nutrients into a form the plant can use directly.
Now, to get out of this vicious cycle.
• First step. STOP WATERING.
Let the soil dry out to the point where picking up a potted plant feels almost as light as an equal sized pot full of dry soil. Depending on the pot's size this could take 3 to 14 days. You can still mist your plants leaves and topsoil occasionally, just don't saturate the soil.
• Second step. REINFORCE THE MICROBIAL COLONY
As mentioned, you likely have at least some of the beneficial microbes your plant needs, but until recently it's just been too wet for them to work on feeding your plant. Now that the environment has dried out a bit, it's a good time to work on increasing the size of the microbial population. A good way to do that is with compost teas, possibly adding a microbial inoculation, to ensure you have the various types of fungus and bacteria your plant needs.
Here is a basic compost tea recipe I use once a month, or roughly every 3rd or 4th weekly watering. I came across a recipe that made 5 gallons a long time ago, and have forgotten the original source, but I prefer to not store it long term, and only need small amounts so I reduced the recipe to roughly 1/3 gallon. You can easily double the amounts as needed
Small batch compost tea recipe
- 0.3125 gals of water, rounded to 1/3 gallon which is 5 cups or 1.2 liters.
If you can get aquarium water, that may also introduce some beneficial microbes and it will provide an accessible nitrogen source.- 2 tablespoons of worm castings.
- 1/3 teaspoon liquid or powdered kelp
- 1/3 teaspoon un-sulphered molasses (black-strap preferred)
- Microbial inoculate (OPTIONAL, apply as directed)
Compost teas like the one above, contain nutrients plants can use directly and food for the microbial life your plantts rely on. The optional inoculate will help to increase their numbers and variety
Keep in mind this recipe initially yielded 5 gallons, and amounts needn't be exact. Using 1/2 teaspoon of kelp, or even a full teaspoon of molasses is not going to kill anything as these are all mild and somewhat slow to release nutrient sources.
Once these ingredients are combined, many people swear by using an aquarium fish pump to aireate the tea for a day or more to increase the oxygen levels in the water, and give the micobes a chance to esatblish a colony prior to applying the tea. Personally, I make mine in a 2 liter bottle, which fills it by about 2/3rds. I make it a day ahead and occasionally remove the cap for a moment, put it back on tightly and give it a good shaking for about a minute. Maybe do this 3 or 4 times, and a final extremely vigorous shaking session prior to pouring over your soil.
You can also tailor this basic recipe based on what stage of growth your plants are in, either vegetative or reproductive
Optional compost tea ingredients during vegetative growth
- More worm castings.
You can double or even triple the amount of worm castings since they are a natural nutrient source that is practically impossible to overdose. In fact you can grow most plants directly in pure worm castings if you add something to help with drainage.- Seabird, or insect eating bat guano.
Roughly 1/3 to possibly 1 full teaspoon for this recipe. Provides more macro-nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorous, along with some of the trace elements that are necessary for plant growth.
Optional compost tea ingredients during reproductive growth
- Seabird, or fruit eating bat guano.
- Trace element supplements.(apply as directed)
Again, roughly 1/3 to possibly 1 full teaspoon for this recipe. Bats that eat fruit produce guano that is higher in phosphorous, which is ideal for flowering and fruiting plants.
Besides the macro-nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium) plants also need the micro-nutrients, which is short for a lot of other elements, like iron, calcium, magnesium, copper. Even some of the more obscure elements like beryllium or cobalt play an important role. Your plants don't need much of these trace elements, but they do need some since they are vital in the chemical interactions the plants and microbes use to feed themselves.
In closing, I would just like to give all home gardeners pat on the back. Whatever your reasons are for gardening, you could certainly be doing worse things with your time.
