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What Is a Plant Boost & How Do They Work
Plants need a whole range of nutrients for optimised growth, and this is where plant boosts come in. But what is a plant boost and how do they work? This blog provides an in-depth explanation of what a plant boost is, how they work, and how your plants absorb and utilise their nutritious ingredients.
What Is a Plant Boost?
Also known as a stimulator, plant boosters are suitable for use at all stages of growth. As the name suggests, boosters are an additive applied to feed cycles to boost plant growth. Plant boosters contain a mix of essential elements, micronutrients, hormones, amino acids, vitamins, and enzymes. From seedlings to mature plants, boosters help plants maintain a variety of natural processes within the plant. These include germination, healthy root formation, flowering, and building natural resilience to common plant pathogens. Due to the plants’ increased resilience, growers may also find they can reduce their reliance on fertiliser water and fungicide [1].
There are two types of plant boosters: Synthetic and organic. Both types of plant boosters contain variations of elements and micronutrients naturally absorbed by the plant’s root network from soil. However, synthetic boosters promote the same natural processes in the plants using synthetic hormones commonly known as plant growth regulators (PGRs) [2]. Synthetic plant stimulants are used throughout the world to produce seedless fruits and increase the sustainable production of high-quality food crops in unfavourable growing conditions, thereby reducing food shortages in struggling areas [2]. However, several studies have shown that the residues of synthetic plant boosters used on food crops pose substantial risk to human health [3, 4, 5, 6].
On the other hand, organic plant boosters are typically formulated from the organic matter of other plants, such as sea kelp. This organic matter contains beneficial extracts, known as biostimulants, which are concentrated to create the plant booster, usually through processes such as cold fermentation. Various substances such as enzymes, micronutrients, proteins, amino acids, phenols, humic and fulvic acid, salicylic acid, protein hydrolases, and other compounds are sources as biostimulants [7]. Organic plant boosters gained popularity in organic agricultural production but have since expanded into sustainable horticultural and agricultural practices due to their beneficial effects on the environment [8]. For this reason, organic plant boosters are favoured by many indoor growers as they enrich their chosen growing media with the natural ingredients that plants would feed on if grown outdoors in soil.
Plant boosters typically contain the three most important plant nutrients, in varying amounts depending on the product:
- nitrogen (N) – to produce chlorophyll (for photosynthesis),
- phosphorus (P) – for root development, and
- potassium (K) – for reproduction.
These are known as macronutrients, as plants need them in greater quantities. Micronutrients or trace elements such as iron (Fe) are only needed in smaller amounts.
How Do Plant Boosts Work?
In standard media-based growing systems, plant boosters infuse the substrate’s microbiome with their beneficial ingredients. In soil-based media, this microbiome contains microorganisms such as beneficial fungi and plant growth-promoting bacteria [9]. These microorganisms live in the rhizosphere (rootzone) and convert the booster’s ingredients into bioavailable components which the roots feed upon [10, 11].
Some coco-based media products also contain some of these beneficial microorganisms, but most of these media products are inert. Therefore, applying a booster helps to create a well-balanced environment for promoting plant growth. In inert coir, the root network feeds on the plant booster directly, rather than the byproducts produced by microorganisms [12].
How Do Plants Absorb Nutrients from a Plant Booster?
Growers may be surprised to learn that roots do not grow new cells in search of water and nutrients within the substrate. Instead, roots develop new root material only after encountering water and nutrients, essentially waiting for nutrition to come to them [13]. Each root has a large absorbent surface area due to thousands of tiny root hairs. These delicate root hairs are essential to the plant’s ability to take up nutrition from the substrate. If the root hairs become damaged, it significantly hampers the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients [14].
Plant boosters make all vital macro- and micronutrients readily available, making it easier for the roots to find and absorb. When used as part of a regular feeding schedule, plant boosters encourage the root network to continuously develop new cells. This therefore enhances the plant’s ability to develop new cells, absorb more nutrients, and rapidly increase growth repeatedly and consistently.
This blog is part of a wider series on plant boosters and how they benefit your indoor plants. To learn more about how Plant Magic Boost and other Plant Magic nutrient solutions will help your plants thrive, check out the next blog here.