Foliar Feeding
Cleaning leaves and enjoying that afterglow is a such rewarding plant care ritual! Spraying your plants and being rewarded with that radiant, healthy shine is a plant parent joy, a bit like putting on a fresh coat of paint.
When we offer plants nutrients via their leaves it’s called ‘foliar feeding’ and it’s where our botanical tonics shine! Foliar feeding helps treat nutrient deficiencies while boosting plant growth, plus it’s a fantastic way to clean leaves while preventing and treating pests!
photo credit Science Photo Library
But did you know our tonics offer your plants something more than just a healthy glow? Spraying Sacred Leaf or Sacred Soil Tonic on the stems and leaves showers your plant with beneficial nutrients and added pest protection too!
While the vast majority of nutrients (80-90%) our plants need to thrive and grow are taken up through the roots, foliar feeding is an effective method of treating nutrient deficiencies while boosting plant growth, especially during times of stress (pest infestations, disease, or moving).
How does it work?
Foliar feeding occurs throughout the leaf cuticle where the stomata (aka stoma and stomate) are located. Stomata are tiny openings (pores) composed of living cells on the epidermis of leaves, just like the pores on our own skin! These pores look like tiny mouths opening and closing to allow for gas exchange and micronutrients.
Generally located on the bottom side of the leaf and on some plants, stomata also appear along the stems of some plants. Being located on the underside of the leaves protects them from extreme heat (sun) or from extreme airflow (wind). These pores are surrounded by guard cells which contain chloroplasts that are responsible for photosynthesis, the life giving energy of the plant. A vital function! The guard cells are also responsible for opening and closing the stomata, an important role for regulating hydration and gas exchange.
photo credit Science Photo Library
To be clear, although foliar feeding does not replace fertilization through the soil by any means, but it can supplement nourishment to your plant. Stoma are able to absorb dissolved micronutrients and minerals that can be translocated throughout the plant where extra nutrition is most needed. Many farmers apply a dose of fertilizier by foliar feeding to boost crop yield and overall plant health, especially to heavy feeders like tomatoes and melons.
The leaf cuticle is the outermost layer of a leaf. This layer contains a pathway of micro pores. It's important to note that all plants are not receptive to foliar feeding the same way. Each species has a varying number of stoma on their leaf cuticle and a unique thickness to their leaf cuticle and therefore foliar feeding efficacy varies from plant to plant.
When showering your plants and cleaning their leaves and stems, you can apply either of our tonics. Sacred Soil Tonic (formulated for soil applications) can also act as foliar feed to all plants (including plants with epicuticular waxes like staghorn ferns and air plants). Sacred Leaf Tonic offers a boost of nutrition while naturally and effectively treating pests like thrips, aphids, scale, mealy bug, and spider mites.
*be sure to check out our blog posts covering pest care too!
Sending love and warm wishes for a healthy new year of growth.
Karina and Team SE