• Young plantyoung plant image by Tom Richardson from Fotolia.com
  
  Plants need to be fed proper nutrition to grow healthy just like people do. This is why it is important to give them the right kind of minerals to help them grow. The right minerals give plants that extra boost so they grow taller and have bigger blooms. It helps them survive, fight disease and ward off insects that would otherwise kill an unhealthy plant.
  
  

Nitrogen

• Nitrogen (N) helps the plant's leaves and stems to grow rapidly. It utilizes their use of carbohydrates so they can gain energy for this process. It increases the amount of seed and fruit the plants produce. It also helps them to make protein, keeping them healthy. Signs that your plants are lacking in nitrogen are when the older leaves turn yellowish-green, their growth is stunted and the stems are spindly.
  
  

Phosphorous

• Phosphorous (P) is important in the way the plant functions and grows. The roots need this mineral to develop, grow and become strong. Phosphorus can help during the process of photosynthesis. It also helps the way plants breath and helps them to grow at a faster rate. It increases the formation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and seeds. Signs that your plants lack phosphorous are weak, thin stems, stunted growth and old leaves that turn dark in color.
  
  

• Potassium (K) is needed to help plants during the photosynthesis so they can metabolize their food into energy to grow. It controls how much water the plants' pores absorb. Potassium supports all phases of the plants' growth process and helps the plants to fight off pests and diseases. Signs that plants are lacking in potassium are older plant leaves that appear burned around the edges, small, underdeveloped roots and a weakened state that makes them easily susceptible to disease and insects.