Why should you fortify your plants?
Robust plant defenses are vital to plant health. They are constantly threatened by various harmful organisms such as insects, fungi and bacteria: a strong defense system allows plants to better withstand these attacks. Only an all-round healthy plant that has an ideal location and is optimally supplied with nutrients can protect itself well against diseases and pests. We show you here how you can naturally strengthen and support your houseplants and thus achieve an increase in resistance to environmental stress!
The plant immune system and its activation
The immune system of plants is relatively simple: there are special receptor proteins on the surface of plant cells that can recognize and ward off the effects of pests and pathogens. This achieves a certain basic immunity. However, our houseplants do not have a specialized immune system like humans and animals, i.e. immune cells or antibodies.
Successful activation of the plant immune system can limit damage and stem the spread of infection. Boosting the immune system can therefore be a preventive alternative to chemical control with pesticides.
stress factors for plants
If a plant is in danger, defensive measures are activated, regardless of where the danger signals originally come from.
Factors that influence a plant from the outside are so-called environmental factors. There are two categories of environmental factors: Biotic environmental factors are anything living that affects the plant. Abiotic environmental factors are non-living influences acting on the plant. These factors either affect a plant positively by matching the factors to the needs of the plant or cause stress to a plant. They affect the normal functioning of the plant, limit its productivity or the plant dies.
Biotic environmental factors affecting a plant can be other plants, pathogens, insects, animals and humans. Biotic stress, i.e. a negative interaction, represents, for example, the competition between plants for nutrients. Furthermore, attacks by herbivores and parasites or parasitic plants are also biotic stressors. Allelopathy describes an interaction between several plants that can cause stress. Plants emit chemicals through leaves or roots that can affect another plant. For example, the growth of neighboring plants can be restricted.
Abiotic environmental factors affecting a plant are temperature, humidity, light, soil pH, nutrients and fire. But chemical factors such as herbicides, gases, salinity and heavy metals or mechanical factors such as wind are also included.
Abiotic stress occurs when environmental conditions are not conducive to growing and maintaining a healthy plant. This can be too high or low temperatures or humidity, but also too much water or drought.
Natural plant strengtheners
Support plant strengtheners by promoting health through synergetic effects with plant substances. Plant strengtheners often consist of natural secondary plant substances. They can be organic based, such as essential oils, or microbial based through fungi and supporting bacteria. There are also mineral plant strengtheners, for example with rock flour.
Plant manure and field horsetail as protection against fungi and pests
Effective remedies for your plant are easy to make yourself. Crushed plant parts from stinging nettles or field horsetail can be used to extract the secondary plant substance silicic acid. This helps to strengthen cell walls and cell structures and thus increases the resistance of plants.
For liquid manure, fill a bucket 3/4 with stinging nettles and the rest with rainwater; you can add rock dust or vegetable charcoal to counter the smell. You let this ferment - the nettle manure is ready when the nettles have grown for two weeks. You should never apply it undiluted!
Broth from field horsetail is also easy to make: the parts of the plant simply have to be diluted with boiling water and steeped in a container for at least 24 hours.
Prevent with fertilization - organic fertilizers for healthy indoor plants
Fertilization supplies plants with essential nutrients and is therefore indispensable for plant care. Like humans, plants also need certain substances to survive - they are the building blocks for the plant's body. They can be ingested from the earth, water and air.
Because plants need certain amounts of them, the presence of these substances affects the health of the plant. If one of the substances is missing, the plants cannot grow well and are not as resistant. Adding this missing substance allows the plants to grow better. This essential process is fertilization.
The basis of successful plant care is the supply of all main nutrients. These are nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Our FARBIO® liquid fertilizer for green plants supports you in caring for your indoor plants! Rapid growth is promoted and the formation of lush green leaves and magnificent flowers is supported.
Effective Microorganisms
Plants are colonized by a large number of microorganisms that play an important role in the health of the plants and thus also have a preventive effect against plant diseases such as powdery mildew and pest infestations. They control the absorption of water, the conversion of main nutrients and trace elements and contribute to the development of the soil structure.
Plants can be colonized by both good and bad organisms - so adding effective microorganisms can help to balance and create a conducive microbial environment. Microorganisms in the soil or even sprayed on the leaves help to strengthen your plant and make it less susceptible to infestation by invading pathogens.
Humus for plant strengthening
Humus is formed from the breakdown of organic matter in the soil. There are various organisms involved in the formation of humus, including bacteria, fungi, worms and other soil organisms. These convert organic matter into humic substances.
Humus can either be mixed directly with the soil in solid form, or you can give your houseplants humus in liquid form to strengthen your plants naturally.
Liquid hummus is a concentrated form of nutrients, microorganisms and other substances contained in hummus. Liquid humus is usually produced by soaking humus materials such as compost or worm castings in water. Liquid hummus can be used by mixing it with irrigation water or spraying it directly onto the leaves as a foliar fertiliser.
Natural pesticides: do they exist?
Neem oil, also known as neem oil, is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree and contains ingredients that have insecticidal and fungicidal effects. Neem oil is therefore used as a natural and environmentally friendly crop protection agent. It is non-toxic to humans, animals, and beneficial insects such as bees. Unlike chemical pesticides, which often have a targeted effect, neem oil can repel a wide range of pests.
Neem oil stimulates the production of phenols and other compounds that help the plant protect itself against environmental stress and disease - making the plant more resistant. In addition, neem oil can also affect certain plant hormones, such as auxin, which is important for plant growth and development.
Although neem oil can support the immune system of plants, it should not be considered a panacea. It's still important to create an ideal environment for your houseplants by paying attention to proper nutrient supply, watering, and aeration.
