Foliar Feeding

Foliar feeding is a technique of feeding plants by applying liquid fertilizer directly to their leaves.

The foliar feed can consist of a combination of elements or just one element which the plants may be deficient in (e.g. Calcium)

In Hydroponics the balanced nutrient solution fed to the plants through the root zone is usually the only nutrition that is required.

Foliar feeding can be used to supplement an existing nutrient solution feed program in the following situations.

  • The crop may be showing signs of deficiencies due to the growers nutrient formula needing fine tuning. A foliar feed containing specific elements to target the deficiency can then be applied. This provides a more immediate reversal of the deficiencies while the nutrient solution formula is adjusted.
  • The crop may be suffering from a root disease problem which may be preventing the full balance of nutrients being taken up. A foliar feed containing specific elements to target the deficiency can then be applied. This provides a more immediate reversal of the deficiencies while the grower works to bring the root disease under control (e.g. By using a shock dose of Oxine followed by treatment with Phos 400).
  • The climate may be very dry (Rapid transpiration) or very humid (Low Transpiration) resulting in a poor uptake of the calcium molecule. Poor calcium transportation within a plant leads to tip burn on lettuces and blossom end rot on tomatoes. A Calcium Foliar Spray such as Brexil Ca is therefore required.
  • Seaweed based additives contain a wide range of trace elements which act as a growth promotant. Hydroponic growers may wish to supplement their existing nutrition program with a foliar feed of seaweed extracts to enhance the quality of their crop via an organic certified source.
It is recommended that foliar feeding be done in morning or evening.

Please see the following pages for information on our selected foliar feed products.