Iron is a substance that not only people need, but also plants. It is required much less than other trace elements. However, it is essential for the normal growth and development of plants. Most importantly, iron should be available. Therefore, a universal drug was created - iron chelate. This substance can significantly improve the condition of plants. What is this drug?
Is it possible to do without it?
Iron chelate for plants is simply indispensable. After all, the trace element in it is contained in an accessible form. Many believe that you can do without this drug. However, this is not the case. Some housewives water their plants with rust and water. Finding it is not difficult, given that tap water contains a lot of iron. In this case, the trace element, once in the soil, will not dissolve and will not be absorbed by the plant. That is why it is worth using iron chelate.
The second option is a unique soil composition. Many believe that if a plant is planted in the soil, which contains dolomite or chalk, then additional fertilizers will not need to be applied. Unfortunately, these are mixtures that have a slightly alkaline reaction. Iron, once in such a soil, will turn into an insoluble salt. As a result, the plant will need enhanced nutrition. In addition, iron in an accessible form oxidizes upon contact with oxygen and passes into an inaccessible form. Iron chelate avoids this and provides the plant with good nutrition.
When to use the drug
When to use iron chelate? The use of this drug is allowed with the following phenomena:
- The plant slows down growth.
- Even young leaves become chlorotic.
- Young shoots are weak and stunted.
- The amount of harvest is reduced.
If the plant experiences a severe iron deficiency, then its leaves begin to turn white. Only along their edges remain green veins. It is worth noting that iron does not move from old leaves to young ones.
Will it be useful in the garden?
Iron chelate is necessary not only for indoor plants, but also for trees in the garden. Most often, apple, cherries and peaches suffer from a lack of trace elements. In addition, grapes that were grown on re-well-known or carbonate soil may also be deficient in iron. In this case, chlorosis is observed. Symptoms of this disease are reduced yields, slightly colored fruits, as well as poor flowering. In such situations, an iron chelate is essential for plants.
Drug properties
The cost of the drug is from 20 to 30 rubles per 10 grams. This is a fairly high price. For the same amount, you can purchase up to 400 grams of iron sulfate. However, it is worth considering that the consumption of these drugs is completely different. To achieve a positive result, iron sulfate is required more.
Iron chelate penetrates better into plant tissue. Therefore, it needs much less. This drug nourishes the plant completely. Most often, iron chelate is used to spray foliage, since its cost is quite high. In this case, the treatment is carried out once every 1-1.5 weeks. However, there are several recipes for making iron chelate. This is much cheaper than buying it.
First recipe
How to get iron chelate at home? This will require:
- Pure water, preferably boiled - 3.5 liters.
- Iron sulfate - 1 teaspoon.
- Ascorbic acid - 10 grams.
The process of making iron chelate is quite simple. The main thing is to follow all the rules.
Manufacturing process
First, prepare all the components. It is recommended to boil and cool the water. Ascorbic acid is available at the pharmacy. To make iron chelate, it is not recommended to buy the drug in dragees and with glucose.
In ½ liter of water, it is necessary to dissolve a teaspoon of iron sulfate. After this, ascorbic acid should be added to the solution and shaken thoroughly. The resulting mixture should be poured into a container with three liters of water and mix again. Such a solution is used not only for spraying the ground part of the plant, but also poured under the roots.
It is worth considering that the resulting preparation has a significant drawback: iron is gradually oxidized and precipitates. Of course, when the finished powder is diluted, the exact same process occurs. Therefore, the finished solution is recommended to be used immediately. It is not recommended to store the drug in diluted form.
Second recipe
How else is iron chelate prepared? The preparation of this drug takes a little time. This requires:
- 3 liters of boiled and chilled water.
- Citric acid - 1 tablespoon.
- Iron sulfate - 1 teaspoon with a slide.
To prepare the fertilizer, pour water into a deep container and add citric acid. When the component has completely dissolved, add iron sulfate and mix thoroughly. As a result of such manipulations, the solution should acquire a light orange hue. This indicates that iron has reacted with the remaining components, and an iron chelate has formed.
The finished product is not stored for long. Experts recommend using it within a few hours after preparation. It is worth noting that obtaining iron chelate is a simple process that even an amateur gardener can afford. At the same time, you can save a lot. After all, 1 sachet of vitriol is not enough for one year.