Even gardeners with the greenest fingers sometimes need a little help. Calcium nitrate fertilizer is often a fertilizer choice for producing larger vegetables, stronger plants, and faster growth. This soil or foliar amendment can give your plants a boost and make them more productive while preventing some of the most common plant problems like blossom end rot and rust spot. In a way, calcium nitrate is a best-kept gardening secret.
If you have never used calcium nitrate fertilizer and want to learn more, this article will walk you through what calcium nitrate fertilizer is, if it's right for your plants, and how to use it.
What is Calcium Nitrate Fertilizer?
Calcium nitrate fertilizer is a water-soluble chemical solution that provides plants with extra calcium and nitrogen. These elements are the physiological building blocks for strong, disease-resistant plants.
Calcium nitrate does not occur naturally - it is made by mixing inorganic calcium and nitrogen. This is done by combining limestone and nitric acid, followed by ammonia. Calcium nitrate fertilizers are most commonly used by farmers for better crop production. However, this does not mean that the home gardener cannot or should not use calcium nitrate for their fruits, vegetables and house plants.
How do calcium and nitrogen affect plants?
calciumprovides structural strength to plant cell walls. This element also helps plants repair when they are injured or stressed. The plant's vascular system pushes calcium to the injured area to strengthen it and begin repairing the damage.
Nitrogen is a vital element for photosynthesis and amino acids in plants. Without nitrogen, plants cannot process sunlight into sugars for growth.
Why Use Calcium Nitrate Fertilizers?
As a gardener, you know that soil is your plant's livelihood. Plants extract their nutrients from the soil, but when that soil lacks certain nutrients, plants develop deficiencies. These deficiencies can have profoundly negative effects.
Calcium nitrate fertilizers act as a remedy for certain plant deficiencies and diseases. Here are some of the most common uses:
For plants with a calcium deficiency
Calcium nitrate fertilizers can be used to prevent calcium deficiency or to replenish a plant's calcium balance. The increase in calcium it provides helps improve the firmness of leaves, fruits, and roots.
A calcium deficiency in plants is fairly easy to spot. When a plant is calcium deficient, its new growth develops a curly appearance around the edges. This new growth also develops brown "chlorotic" spots and looks worn. Other plant tissues soon begin to turn brown, and these spots eventually enlarge and merge. Plants low in calcium also often have dark brown leaf veins. Once the leaves turn brown due to lack of calcium, they are lost. However, the plant can be saved.
In addition, a lack of calcium in a plant makes it difficult to produce fruit. Because calcium builds strong cell walls, it's an important ingredient for larger fruit that doesn't break apart.
For low-nitrogen plants
Calcium nitrate gives plants a dose of usable nitrogen to improve energy production.
A nitrogen deficiency, like a calcium deficiency, can be deadly for plants if not treated in time. Because of this, nitrogen is one of the most common and abundant ingredients in fertilizers.
Unlike calcium deficiency, nitrogen deficiency affects the oldest leaves on a plant. These leaves are usually found on the underside of a plant. When a plant does not have enough nitrogen, the leaves begin to yellow or fade at their edges. If the plant is still producing new leaves, they will likely be small or appear shriveled.
Without enough nitrogen, a plant's growth will slow or even stop. Plants need nitrogen to generate energy through photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants use nitrogen to convert sunlight into energy.
To prevent diseases
One of the main reasons many gardeners treat their crops with calcium nitrate fertilizer is to protect their plants and crops from disease. Blossom end rot, cork stains and bitter stone in apples can be prevented or treated by using calcium nitrate fertilizers.
Head rot is a common problem for tomato growers, which manifests itself as wet patches on the underside of the fruit. Blossom end rot makes a tomato look unattractive and inedible. As the fruit grows, it sinks and takes on a hard, leathery appearance. It is usually caused by a lack of calcium and can be successfully treated with a calcium nitrate foliar spray. You can also treat the soil with a calcium nitrate fertilizer to prevent blossom end rot from becoming a problem again in the next growing season.
Cork stains and bitter pips are problems that affect apples, and both can be caused by calcium deficiency. Cork spots usually appear on apples in June and get worse as the summer progresses. The problem appears as discolored indentations in the fruit and can vary in size. While they don't affect the apple's flavor, they do detract from its visual appeal. Bitter stone appears as pockmarks on the skin of apples and causes brown spots on the flesh.
Like cork stains, bittern kernels make fruit taste unappetizing, but unlike cork stains, bittern kernels disrupt the taste. Bitter-pitted apples taste bitter, and while they're still perfectly safe to eat, you should probably avoid them. Both problems are linked to calcium deficiency and can be corrected by using calcium nitrate fertilizers (SF-Tor).
For tomatoes
Tomatoes are often cited as the most common victims of bud rot caused by calcium deficiency. Many home gardeners have checked their newly developed tomatoes to find small brown spots that quickly spread and ruin their crops. Making a calcium nitrate spray can prevent blossom end rot and help tomato plants recover from this disease.
Advantages and disadvantages of calcium nitrate fertilizers
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How to use calcium nitrate in the garden
When you're ready to take your tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and other vegetables to the next level with calcium nitrate fertilizer, pay close attention to how you mix and apply it. Here you can learn more about the manufacturing process of calcium nitrate fertilizer, plant application and fertilizer storage.
recommended application amount
To mix your own calcium nitrate fertilizer to treat diseased plants, add four tablespoons of calcium nitrate salts to a gallon of water and mix. To use calcium nitrate fertilizer as disease prevention or to balance nutrient levels in your plants, use one tablespoon of calcium nitrate per gallon of water.
If you buy granulated calcium nitrate fertilizer, you can mix it into the soil. Alternatively, you can mix granulated calcium nitrate with water to feed your plants via root uptake or a foliar spray.
Mixing a calcium nitrate spray.Your fertilizer package will likely come with instructions that take into account the concentration of your specific product. Follow these instructions carefully.
Even without instructions, the ratio and instructions for making a granular calcium nitrate spray are simple:
- Mix two to four tablespoons of calcium nitrate with a gallon of water
- Shake well until most of the grains of salt have dissolved.
- Label your gallon to avoid confusion.
- Pour enough to treat your plants into a spray bottle.
- After use, keep it at room temperature.
A green-fingered guideline is to apply a tablespoon of calcium nitrate to each medium-sized plant you wish to treat.
Calciumnitrat-Dressings.If you are applying your fertilizer as a side or top dressing, you should use 0.10 pounds per 10 feet of soil.
Application of calcium nitrate fertilizer
There are three ways gardeners apply calcium nitrate to their plants: topically as a foliar spray, as a top dressing, or as a top dressing.
- leaf spray🇧🇷 This method is best for getting rid of blossom end rot, bitterness and cork stains. First remove the affected fruit. Mist the leaves and stems of the plant lightly on a cloudy day or in the evening when temperatures aren't that hot.
- Top-Dressing🇧🇷 Mix calcium nitrate fertilizer with topsoil. Spread a thin layer of this mixture on the soil around your plant or where you plan to plant it. Do not apply directly to stem or trunk.
Follow up🇧🇷 This is most commonly used when your plants are grown in a row formation. To dress the plants, sprinkle an even layer about two to five inches from the stems of the plants.
frequently asked questions
Does calcium nitrate lower pH?
Overall, the risk of soil becoming too alkaline from typical use of calcium nitrate is low. While calcium nitrate makes soil less acidic (or more basic/alkaline), most forms of ammonia fertilizer are less likely to skew soil levels to the point where they are too alkaline.
By using the recommended amount of fertilizer or following the ratio stated on the product packaging, you avoid the risk of over-feeding. In addition to increasing the pH of the soil, calcium nitrate allows the plant to absorb more nutrients, which can balance the soil better over the long term.
When should I apply calcium nitrate to my plants?
The best time to spray calcium nitrate is after your plants have been watered thoroughly and avoid when the sun is highest in the sky.
As a preventive measure for fruits and vegetables, apply a calcium nitrate dressing before planting.
After your plants begin to grow but before they bear fruit, perform a second application. Cover your plants with a weaker concentration of fertilizer for this next application. You can apply calcium nitrate once or twice during the growing season depending on the needs of your plants.
Keep an eye on plants that are struggling and apply calcium nitrate foliar spray as needed.
How much calcium nitrate should I add per liter of water?
You should mix one tablespoon of calcium nitrate per gallon of water. Make sure the calcium nitrate is completely dissolved. If not, discard the part where the sediment remains visible.
FAQs
How do you apply calcium nitrate to plants? ›
- Injection: Apply 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet throughout the life of the plant. ...
- Foliar Spray: Mix 2-4 tablespoons per 1 gallon of water and spray leaves. ...
- Side Dress: Apply a tablespoon per plant, or 2 lbs per 100′ row.
What does calcium nitrate do? It helps with cell formation but it also neutralizes acids to detoxify the plant. The nitrogen component is also responsible for fueling protein production and essentially leafy growth. Heat and moisture stress can cause calcium deficiencies in certain crops, like tomatoes.
How do you apply fertilizer to trees? ›The easiest and most cost-effective way to fertilize large trees surrounded by mulch or bare soil is to broadcast granular fertilizer on the surface of the soil. Broadcast the fertilizer on the area under the tree, beginning near the trunk to the drip line (ends of the branches).
What does calcium do for trees? ›Calcium is an essential nutrient for plants, and it plays a role in many important processes. It helps with cell wall production and strengthens the plant, which can help it become resistant to disease and pests. It also helps the tree absorb other nutrients from the soil, including nitrogen and water.
What is the fastest way to add calcium to plants? ›Foliar spray: You can add calcium via a spray that contains calcium chloride, calcium acetate, or calcium nitrate. This method is quick-acting and useful on plants showing an obvious and pronounced deficiency of calcium. In the case of sprays, plant leaves absorb the calcium directly.
How much calcium nitrate should I use? ›Recommended application rate
To use calcium nitrate fertilizer as a disease preventative, or to balance out the nutrient levels in your plants, use one tablespoon of calcium nitrate to each gallon of water. If you purchase granular calcium nitrate fertilizer, you can mix it into the soil.
- Urea should not be mixed with ammonium calcium nitrate (CAN), KCl, SSP or TSP.
- Urea can be mixed with most other fertilizers but fertilizer mixtures containing urea should be applied immediately after mixing.
Plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants in particular will benefit from shell fertilizer, Savio said. The extra calcium will help prevent blossom-end rot. Broccoli, cauliflower, Swiss chard, spinach and amaranth are also calcium-packed and could use extra from eggshells.
Can you mix Epsom salt and calcium nitrate? ›The grower should avoid applying Epson salt together with complete fertilizers because magnesium from Epson salt forms an insoluble compund when it meets phosphate in the complete fertilizer. In both cases, calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate should be applied separately with the complete fertilizers.
Do you water trees after fertilizing? ›Since most of a tree's roots can be found in the top foot of soil, broadcast the fertilizer evenly with a rotary or drop-type spreader over the root zone area to fertilize the tree. Water after application to make the nutrients available to the roots.
Can you over fertilize a tree? ›
Other injuries to plants and trees are caused by over-fertilization: one is iron chlorosis. Plant roots exert force to extract water from the soil, and excessive fertilization causes roots to shrivel, making it difficult for them to absorb water. Root rot and roots being more susceptible to disease also occur.
What fertilizer makes trees grow faster? ›High-nitrogen fertilizers are known for causing huge growth in plants, which is why many types are rich in nitrogen or include it as the main component. Fertilizers high in nitrogen will also restore bright green hues to your foliage.
What happens if a plant gets too much calcium? ›When excessive Ca is present in the rhizosphere solution, plants may suffer Ca toxicity. This may prevent the germination of seeds and reduce plant growth rates (Fig. 2).
Can too much calcium hurt plants? ›Adding too much calcium to your soil could kill your plants because it raised the soil pH to levels that plants cannot stand.
Can plants get too much calcium? ›Calcium Toxicity
More often than not, calcium is not a nutrient that is considered to be toxic to plants. In and of itself it is not a harmful nutrient. However, excess levels of calcium in the soil can affect a plant's uptake of other nutrients. This can cause a deficiency in these vital elements.
Symptoms of calcium deficiency first appear on younger leaves and tissues, growth is inhibited, and plants have a bushy appearance. The youngest leaves are usually small and misshapen with brown chlorotic spots developing along the margins, which spread to eventually unite in the center of the leaves.
Can plants absorb calcium through leaves? ›Calcium, though not a macronutrient, is essential for proper plant development. Plants absorb calcium both through their roots from nutrient solutions and through leaves and shoots during foliar applications.
Can you stop blossom end rot once it starts? ›Treatment. If you notice some of your fruits developing blossom end rot, it is unfortunately non-reversible on the affected fruit. You will have to remove the affected fruit and fix your plant's calcium levels so the next round of fruit will grow healthy.
How do you use calcium nitrate fertilizer? ›This fertilizer can be applied in standing crops by using either the drip irrigation method, the leafy spray method, or direct application to the soil. In the standing crop, Calcium Nitrate can be used twice or thrice as per requirement at the rate of 25-50 KG/acre.
What happens when calcium nitrate is put into water? ›Adding calcium nitrate to water increases the water's nitrate content. Nitrate is a drinking water contaminant with health effects, and has been known to cause rapid heart rate, dizziness, weakness, and fatigue. Further steps may be required to remove nitrate from water to make it suitable for drinking.
What is the ratio of calcium nitrate fertilizer? ›
Calcium Nitrate contains 15.5 % Nitrogen and 18.5 % Calcium. It can be used as a basal application and as foliar spray also.
Does calcium nitrate raise soil pH? ›Calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and sodium nitrate can push the soil pH up because these sources persist in the soil.
Is calcium nitrate a straight fertilizer? ›Calcium Ammonium Nitrate is a straight nitrogen fertilizer. As regular Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer it contains two forms of nitrogen: readily-available nitric form and biologically transformable ammoniacal form.
Does calcium nitrate make soil acidic? ›Both calcium and potassium nitrate do not contain ammonium-N. As a result, they do not acidify the soil.
What does Epsom salts do for plants? ›Epsom salt – actually magnesium sulfate – helps seeds germinate, makes plants grow bushier, produces more flowers, increases chlorophyll production and deters pests, such as slugs and voles. It also provides vital nutrients to supplement your regular fertilizer.
What do banana peels do for plants? ›Banana peels contain: calcium, which promotes root growth helps add oxygen to your soil. magnesium, which assists with photosynthesis. sulphur, which helps plants develop strong roots and repel pests.
What happens if you put too much Epsom salt? ›Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling), feeling very hot, slow heart rate, extreme drowsiness, or fainting.
How do you mix Epsom salt for trees? ›Mix two table spoons in a gallon of water and spray your curled foliage with the solution until the leaves look perfect again. You can also spread Epsom Salt at the base of the trees / shrubs to boost the roots' ability to better absorb the nutrients in the soil.
What can you not mix with Epsom salt? ›What drugs and food should I avoid while taking Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt)? Magnesium sulfate taken orally can make it harder for your body to absorb other medications you take by mouth, especially antibiotics. Avoid taking other medicines within 2 hours before or after you take magnesium sulfate as a laxative.
When should you not fertilize a tree? ›Trees and shrubs that should not be fertilized include newly planted specimens and those with severe root damage from recent trenching or construction. The root systems of these plants need to re-establish before fertilizers are applied. Older, established trees do not need to be fertilized every year.
How many minutes should you water a tree? ›
Two inches of water per week is recommended during the summer months. Watering should take place every day for approximately 15-20 minutes, depending on the pressure in your system. Of course, if it rains that day, no watering is necessary. It is best to water in the evening or early morning when the sun isn't up.
How late can you fertilize trees? ›The common wisdom on fertilizing trees has been to feed them in early spring, before active growth begins. Although there's nothing essentially wrong with this, many experts are now suggesting that late fall, about a month after the first killing frost, is a better time.
What is the best fertilizer for trees? ›Turf fertilizers usually work well for trees because they contain the desired ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and some of the nitrogen is in a form that is slowly released to the roots.
What is the best fertilizer for trees and shrubs? ›Research in woody plant nutrition has shown however that nitrogen is the element that yields the greatest growth response in trees and shrubs. For this reason, high nitrogen fertilizers with N-P-K ratios of 4-1-1, 3-1-1 or 3-1-2 are generally recommended for feeding established woody plants.
What are the symptoms of over fertilizing trees? ›Symptoms and signs of over-fertilization
Yellowing and wilting of lower leaves. Browning leaf tips and margins. Browned or blackened limp roots. Defoliation.
Trees - like all other living things - need food, water, and nutrients to survive. Trees make their own food through photosynthesis, using energy from sunlight, water (from the roots), and carbon dioxide (from the air) to create sugar that is used to fuel the rest of the tree.
What makes trees grow faster and bigger? ›By mulching trees and giving them supplemental water when needed, you will be giving them a big advantage, creating healthier trees that grow faster.
How do I get my trees to grow more? ›- Plant trees in your yard or property. ...
- Encourage your neighbors to plant trees. ...
- Volunteer with local organizations that plant trees and restore degraded ecosystems. ...
- Push your town or city to participate in the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA program. ...
- Donate to tree-planting efforts around the world.
Potassium and calcium are essential for tree metabolism and various physiological processes related to growth.
How do you get rid of calcium deficiency in plants? ›Add calcium sources.
Try a liquid foliar fertilizer with calcium nitrate and calcium chloride, or try adding organic matter, such as bone meal, dolomite lime, eggshells, or gypsum. The important thing is to deliver an adequate nutrient solution to your calcium-hungry plants, whether it's natural or synthetic.
Can overwatering cause calcium deficiency? ›
Calcium and boron are only taken up by the plant at the root tip. Root tip damage caused by salt burn, overwatering, fungus gnats or root pathogens such as Pythium can cause calcium or boron deficiency symptoms similar to those caused by environmental conditions.
Can plants grow without calcium? ›While plants don't need as much calcium as they do nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, they require more calcium than they do micronutrients. Without enough of this vital nutrient, you'll notice that plant growth is limited.
Do tomatoes like calcium? ›The small amounts of calcium found in fruit are essential for the production of good quality tomatoes.
What plants need calcium nitrate? ›Calcium Nitrate Fertilizer is a water-soluble formulation that provides fast-acting nitrogen along with calcium to increase fruit quality and prevent blossom end rot. Great for tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and more!
How do you add calcium to plant soil? ›How to Raise Calcium in Soil. Adding lime to the soil in autumn is the easiest answer to how to raise calcium in the soil. Eggshells in your compost will also add calcium to soil. Some gardeners plant eggshells along with their tomato seedlings to add calcium to soil and prevent blossom end rot.
How is plant calcium applied? ›Calcium is taken up by roots from the soil solution and delivered to the shoot via the xylem. It may traverse the root either through the cytoplasm of cells linked by plasmodesmata (the symplast) or through the spaces between cells (the apoplast).
Can you give plants to much calcium? ›Calcium Toxicity
More often than not, calcium is not a nutrient that is considered to be toxic to plants. In and of itself it is not a harmful nutrient. However, excess levels of calcium in the soil can affect a plant's uptake of other nutrients. This can cause a deficiency in these vital elements.
Calcium is an essential element needed for growth and development of plants under both non-stressed and stress conditions.
How do you fix calcium deficiency in plants? ›Try a liquid foliar fertilizer with calcium nitrate and calcium chloride, or try adding organic matter, such as bone meal, dolomite lime, eggshells, or gypsum. The important thing is to deliver an adequate nutrient solution to your calcium-hungry plants, whether it's natural or synthetic.
What is the shelf life of calcium nitrate? ›Stability and Reactivity
Avoid heat and ignition sources. Stability: Stable under normal conditions of use and storage. Incompatibility: Ammonia, hydrazine and other reducing agents. Shelf life: Indefinite shelf life, store in a cool, dry environment.
What happens if water has too much nitrate? ›
Nitrate can turn hemoglobin (the protein in blood that carries oxygen) into methemoglobin . High levels can turn skin to a bluish or gray color and cause more serious health effects like weakness, excess heart rate, fatigue, and dizziness.
How does calcium nitrate affect plant growth? ›Calcium nitrate has been shown to stimulate root growth in plants, leading to healthier, more vigorous plants. The roots are essential for water and nutrient uptake, and by increasing the size and length of roots, the plant is better equipped to absorb these essential nutrients.
Does Miracle Gro help blossom end rot? ›There are no “miracle fixes” for blossom end rot. The only time you should add calcium to your soil is if a soil test tells you there is a true deficiency.
What is the best fertilizer for blossom end rot? ›Use fertilizers low in nitrogen, but high in superphosphate, with numbers similar to 4-12-4 or 5-20-5; this will reduce the chances of blossom-end rot. Avoid deep cultivation around the plants as much as possible after fruit set, especially in dry weather.