
Ashleigh Smith

Did you know that plants require 17 essential nutrients for growth?
These Nutrients Are:
Macronutrients
- Carbon (C) - Macronutrients provided by air
- Hydrogen (H) - Macronutrients provided by water/air
- Oxygen (O) - Macronutrients provided by water/air
Soil Derived Macronutrients
- Nitrogen (N) - Proteins
- Phosphorus (P) - ATP, ADP
- Potassium (K) - Water and energy relations, cold hardiness
- Sulfur (S) - Proteins
- Calcium (Ca) - Cell structure and division
- Magnesium (Mg) - Chlorophyll, enzymes
Micronutrients
- Boron (B) - Cell development, growth regulators
- Chlorine (Cl) - photosynthesis
- Copper (Cu) - enzyme activation
- Iron (Fe) - Chlorophyll synthesis, metabolism, enzyme activation
- Manganese (Mn) - Hill reaction-photosystem II, enzyme activation
- Molybdenum (Mo) - Nitrogen fixation and use
- Nickel (Ni) - Iron metabolism
- Zinc (Zn) - Protein breakdown, enzyme activation
With the exception of the first three nutrients listed, your plants receive these essential nutrients from the soil. The only problem is that soils range in their nutrient composition based on your local climate and ecological factors.
Some areas are dense in organic matter that is decomposed by worms and insects providing all of these nutrients, while others receive very little. To accommodate your local soil composition you will likely need to add fertilizer of some sort to your native soils. There are fertilizers available from both organic and synthetic sources.
The most common fertilizers will address deficiencies in your soil-derived macronutrients. These are the second set of nutrients listed. Of these nutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are needed in the greatest quantities.
Most fertilizers will be labeled with three numbers representing the amount of each of these three nutrients within the given fertilizer. To learn more about the many types of fertilizers and how to use them check out our “Fertilizing a Garden” page.
The last set of nutrients listed is Micronutrients. These are elements required in very small quantities for healthy plant life. The best way to determine a need for additional micronutrient fertilizer to be added is by a soil test report. You can receive a report detailing the nutrient needs of your soil from a local extension office soil test.
Most of the time you won’t need to add these micronutrients to your soil as the concentrations needed are so small. However, even though they are small they are still important. A deficiency in these nutrients can cause adverse plant health conditions. Only apply additional fertilizer as needed as too much of a micronutrient can induce toxicity issues.
About the Author

I'm Ashleigh Smith, a native to Northern Utah. I first gained a love of gardening with my grandmother as I helped her each summer. I decided to make a career of it and have recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University - Idaho. My studies have focused on plant production while I also have experience in Nursery & Garden Center Operations.
Our Recommended Picks
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
0 Comments
No Comments yet! Be the first to start a conversation
Further Reading
Grass to Garden: Transforming Your Outdoor Space With Raised Beds
Written By Lara Wadsworth Looking to turn your lawn into a productive, easy-to-manage garden? One of the best ways to convert grass, turf, or weeds into a flourishing garden space is by using raised garden beds. Whether you’re dreaming of fresh vegetab...
Ashleigh Smith
2025-06-246 min read1How to Protect Your Garden from Heat Stress: Summer Plant Care Tips
Written By Lara Wadsworth Summer is here, and the heat is turning up. As the sun becomes more intense and daytime temperatures routinely soar, some plants struggle to cope. Sunburn, sunscald, leaf scorch, and heat stress are common problems that plants...
Ashleigh Smith
2025-06-178 min read0Maximize Your Garden with the French Intensive Method
Written By Lara Wadsworth There are many ways that people online claim to maximize garden space, including everything from container gardening to square-foot gardening. There are books galore written about how to get the most out of each square foot of...
Ashleigh Smith
2025-06-118 min read0Top Nutrient-Dense Foods and Why You Should Eat Them
Written By Lara Wadsworth In today’s world of health trends, dieting, and fitness fads, one essential element is often overlooked: nutrients. Nutrients are the foundation of true wellness—fueling every organ, supporting immune function, and enabling bo...
Ashleigh Smith
2025-06-107 min read0