Be careful with nitrate fertilizers as a source of nitrogen, because they reduce beneficial soil microorganisms needed for mineralization of fertilizer nutrients and may delay or even prevent flowering. Since about 30% of the energy from photosynthesis is used to assimilate nitrates, energy will be taken away from the flowering process with nitrates. Not only that, nitrates are are not reduced further by microbes, are extremely leachable & move to the ground water, and stay as nitrate contamination of ground water “forever”. If you need to use calcium/magnesium supplements during flowering, limit the use of nitrates. Use sulfates instead.
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