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Expert: Florence M Rollwagen - 1/22/2009


Question
When you put too much fertilizer in a house plant and it dies is that because the water couldn't evenly disburse because of the high solute so it dries out the roots?

Answer
Hi Tracy:  Thanks for your question.

Fertilizer burn, or overdose of fertilizer can have many effects, depending on just how much fertilizer is used.  If the overdose is small, say 2-3 times the recommended amount, it is the toxicity of the nutrients that is the problem.  If, however, 10 or more times fertilizer is used, then the phenomenon of "reverse osmosis" can be a cause.  As you know, water flows from an area of high concentration to low concentration (diffusion, osmosis).  If too much salt is present in the soil (as in fertilizer salts), then water will move OUT of the plant, causing it to die.

Here is a source:
http://www.improve-your-garden-soil.com/fertilizer-burn.html

Hope this helps!  Write back if you have more questions.

FM Rollwagen, PhD

Biology

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Volunteer

Florence M Rollwagen

Expertise

I can answer questions in biology, microbiology and immunology on the undergraduate or graduate level. I can also address medical and health concerns regarding alternative medicine, autoimmune diseases (lupus, MS) liver disease and intestinal problems.

Experience

I have over 20 years experience in research and teaching at the medical/graduate level, and 5 years teaching college biology and microbiology. My expertise is in microbiology and immunology, specifically the biology of cytokines and soluble immune response modifiers. I also carried out original research in blood substitutes and shock/trauma.

Organizations
American Association of Immunologists (AAI) American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Publications
Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Immunology, Cytokine, Shock, Experimental Hematology

Education/Credentials
BS biology 1966 MS biology 1968 PhD immunology 1979

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