The Benefits Of Foliar Feeding

Foliar Feeding is the application of water/nutrients directly to the plant leaves through a spray bottle. It is not the most common way to feed your plants, but it has many benefits, and its popularity is on the rise. Foliar spraying should not solely be how you feed your plants as it has disadvantages. 

Certain crops, like kale for example, love being foliar fed. They can uptake the nutrients straight away due to the nature of their leaves. Cuttings are also big fans of foliar feeding – they don’t have a rootzone yet so this is the best way to ensure they are getting fed and will grow properly. Foliar feeding is also beneficial if you have unhealthy plants – especially if the issue is a rootzone one such as pH lock out. Foliar feeding gets the nutrients into the leaves rapidly, allowing the plant to correct itself quicker and help your grow recover. It is particularly helpful method if you have a cal-mag deficiency, helping you get back to peak growing in no time. Foliar feeding can produce a better flavour, and overall crop weight. The dosage rates are higher which means you will go through products quicker. This will work out more costly in the long run. 

There are some points to remember when foliar feeding:
• Foliar feeding is not root feeding. The same products can’t always be used for root and leaf feeding. The best way to check is to look at the application rates on the back of your selected bottle of nutrients. If there is an application rate for foliar, it can be used. If you are unsure about a products useability as a foliar spray, contact your local Hyalite store and the friendly staff will help you.
• The dosage for foliar feeding should be higher than root feeding. If you have a product where the foliar spray rate is lower than the soil/hydro rate, chances are it hasn’t been tested properly and could cause harm to your plants (or most likely have no effect as its too weak). 
• Make sure to evenly cover the leaves when foliar spraying. Uneven growth and other issues such as leaf burn can arise from clumpy spraying. 
• Foliar spraying must be done when the leaf stomata (the pores of the leaf) are open. The best time to do this shortly after your lights have turned off. This way the plant is still awake, and the stomata will still be open after their lights on(awake) period. 

If you are looking at giving Foliar Feeding a whirl, here are a couple of products we recommend:

• Nutrifield Veg Ignitor: Veg Ignitor contains a blend of kelp, amino acids, and nutrients to promote vigorous growth during the vegetative cycle. Foliar spraying veg ignitor helps the leaves to get the much needed hit of nitrogen. This is particularly useful on cuttings & transplants as it can help correct any nitrogen deficiencies that may have occurred. 
• Nutrifield Flavor Savior: Flavour Savior is a fish emulsion-based all-purpose fertiliser. It contains high levels of minerals, vitamins, proteins, and amino acids – it packs a punch! The fish emulsion enhances essential oil production and fruit flavours – giving you a juicer, tastier product. Flavor Savior works best as a foliar spray and can be used throughout the entire cycle.
• Grotek Insta-green: Insta-green is designed to give your plants a much-needed boost during the vegetative stage. If your plants are showing any sign of yellowing, Insta-Green is your answer. Grotek Insta-green works best as a foliar spray on sick leaves but can be used as a root-based feed if needed. Insta-Green is particularly useful on cuttings & transplants as it can help correct any nitrogen deficiencies that may have occurred.
• Aptus Bloomboost: Bloomboost is an additive used throughout the entirety of the fruiting and flowering period. Aptus Bloomboost contains a blend of plant available elements including potassium, sulphur, and boron. These work together to increase fruit size and quality; it also aids in flower setting and aroma production. Bloomboost can be used as a root and foliar feed.
   

Overall, foliar feeding certainly has its benefits, but we believe a mix of root and foliar feeding is the key to success.