🌞 Spring Nutrition Strategy: How to Identify and Fix Plant Nutrient Starvation

Fellow gardeners,

Spring has arrived, and plants are coming back to life. New shoots are appearing, fresh leaves are unfolding, and roots are beginning to grow actively again. As plants enter this important stage of the season, they need more than just water to support their growth. Proper nutrition is essential for strong development and healthy plants. SUNSHINE Boosters provide the balanced nutrition plants need to start the growing season strong.

A simple rule we follow in our nursery: new growth responds best to foliar feeding. When nutrients are sprayed directly on the leaves, plants can absorb them quickly and efficiently.

• Immediate action – nutrients are absorbed through the leaves and start working right away.
• No delay traveling through soil – plants do not need to wait for nutrients to move down to the roots.
• Avoids soil lockout – micronutrients can become unavailable in high pH soils, but foliar feeding bypasses this problem.
• Supports stressed plants – when roots are cold, damaged, or newly transplanted, foliar feeding helps plants recover faster.

However, sometimes plants begin to show visible nutrient deficiencies. Yellow leaves, slow growth, brown leaf edges, or distorted new leaves are often early signs that the plant is missing essential elements needed for healthy development.

These symptoms are especially common in container plants, where nutrients can be quickly depleted or become unavailable due to soil pH and watering conditions.

Use the quick reference table below to identify common nutrient-related symptoms and the recommended SUNSHINE solution to correct them.

🌿Foliar Feeding: How Much and How Often

For most plants, foliar feeding works best when applied lightly and regularly during active growth.

• Regular feeding (maintenance): Mix with tap water according to the ratio on the label. For SUNSHINE Robusta use 25 ml (5 tsp)per gallon of water and spray leaves every 5-7 days during active growth.
• Correction feeding ("medicine" dose): if plants show visible nutrient deficiencies, combine SUNSHINE Robusta with SUNSHINE Superfood and spray every 5–7 days until new growth appears healthy. All SUNSHINE Boosters products are compatible and can be mixed with water in the same sprayer.
• Best time to spray: early morning or evening when temperatures are cooler and leaves can absorb nutrients efficiently.
• Important: spray both the top and underside of leaves for maximum absorption.

🛒 Feed your plants

Skip the Egg Hunt - Start a Plant Hunt 🐰

Groundhog said long winter… and it sure felt like it. But now it is finally over, and balconies and patios are waking up again.

Easter is here, and with it comes that fresh start feeling - time to open the doors, bring plants back out, and start growing.

We made it through the cold. For northern gardeners, that is every year; for borderline zones, it is a reminder that freezes happen. That is exactly why growing in pots makes sense - you stay flexible.

Container growing is not just about pots - it is about choosing the right plants. The best options stay manageable, produce well, and handle being moved.

Let's look at what works. Start with plants that naturally stay compact and adapt well to containers. These are the ones that won’t outgrow your space and will reward you quickly. These are proven performers in containers - compact, productive, and easy to manage:

• Dwarf Condo Mango for your patio
• Jaboticaba - source of Brazilian wine "Vinho Tinto de Jabuticaba"
• Tropical cherries - fast-fruting Eugenias
• Blackberry Jam Fruit and Peanut Butter Fruit - fun for kids and adults
• Fig Trees - compact and hardy

Simple rule: if it stays compact and handles pruning, it works in a container.

Skip the egg hunt this year - go on a plant hunt instead. Start with one or two plants this Easter - not ten. Get them established, learn how they grow, and then expand.

Container basics (keep it simple):

• Pot size: start with 3–7 gallon, upgrade as plant grows
• Soil: fast-draining mix (never heavy garden soil)
• Water: soak well, then let top inch dry
• Feeding: consistent light feeding works better than heavy doses
• Sun: most tropicals want full sun (6+ hours)

🐣 Browse our Easter Container Collection