So What Makes Plants Grow Faster & Bigger?
Water, air, light, soil nutrients, and the correct temperature coupled with affection and care are the most basic factors to make a plant grow faster and bigger. Read along to know the 10 simple tips that will help your plants achieve faster and stronger growth.

1. Soil: 
Ready to get your hands dirty? Plants require nutrients from the soil. The golden rule is that an excellent soil must provide all nutrients, including organic matter, air, water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. So, to improve your soil quality from better to best, you should never forget to add these nutrients timely! 

Adding compost, for example, can be one way to rejuvenate the nutrients. However, individual needs may differ. Therefore, we must occasionally conduct a soil test to know what fertilizers are specifically needed for what type. As closely as we provide these adjustments, the results can be enchanting.

2. Fertilizers: 
To make a nutritious, organic substrate, we can choose between organic or chemical fertilizers. Manures, compost, and bone meal are examples of organic fertilizers obtained directly from plant or animal sources, while the inorganic fertilizers undergo a thorough manufacturing process. Fertilizers can also be of various forms – liquid, powdered, or even granular.

Are you wondering how to use them? To add fertilizers, scratch the soil using a cultivator. Apply the fertilizer by gently pouring or spreading it depending on the form. The last step? Simply water well. Because roots can go several feet beyond the drip line, make sure fertilizer is fanned out broad enough to reach all of them.

3. Light: 
Light is known as the essential elixir of energy. Interestingly, this is one of the primary needs of plants to make their food. However, insufficient light, whether natural or artificial, can inhibit development by limiting photosynthesis, the process of turning water and carbon dioxide into the sugars and carbohydrates required for growth.

Desert cactus can flourish in direct sunshine, and the interior snake plant can thrive in low light. Depending on direct or indirect sunlight requirements, we must always choose the optimal light balance for rapid development.

4. Temperature: 
We know plants are sensitive beings like us. They also respond to temperature fluctuations by showing various signs physically. As they get a more favourable temperature, new leaves, new stems, more fruit or flowers, and even depth in the colors and textures become evident. During cold weather, home gardeners often cover them with blankets to avoid frost or relocate them altogether from the outdoors during intense heat.

If you haven’t already started keeping them in suitable temperatures, do it now and gradually see the magic blooming yourself. 

5. Water:
Water, just like sunlight, is another primary need to prepare food through photosynthesis. Deep down in the soil, water delivers nutrients up via the root system. It carries nutrients from roots to the top, much like what blood does in the human body. However, gardeners often water their plants either excessively or just too little, disrupting the supply of nutrients and damaging them.

Water requirement depends on the type and the weather conditions the plant is exposed to. A simple moisture check in the soil can tell you a lot about the water requirements at the moment. By putting your finger into the soil, you can determine how much water is needed. There is appropriate hydration if it feels wet but not too sticky. If the soil feels dry or does not feel wet enough, it is time to feed. It is definitely thirsty. However, ensure proper drainage holes in the indoor and outdoor pots to avoid root rotting or damp feet from happening due to water stagnation.

Nature has assets in bounty for its flora that we can use to encourage development. Let us talk about some other extraordinary ways that can essentially assist our plants in growing faster:

Manure
Adding manure to the soil is an excellent method of providing nutrition. It maintains the soil permeability, enhances its water retention capacity, and protects against nutritional shortages often caused by chemical fertilizer overuse. For organic gardeners, it is always preferable to use chemical-free manure as it has a long-term positive impact on the soil. There is no risk of overfeeding with organic manure since the plant absorbs only what it needs. It provides both macronutrients and micronutrients, aerates the soil, and reduces leaching.

As all types of plants can benefit from organic manure, you don’t have to be choosy while adding manure to them.

Banana Peels
Gardeners can literally ‘go bananas’ when it comes to using kitchen-based natural fertilizers. Sounds crazy? It is not! Banana peels contain up to 42 percent potassium (K) which is one of the three principal components of any fertilizer, together with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). These banana peels are therefore ideal for gardens when it comes to organic fertilizers. 

Potassium promotes the movement of nutrients and water between cells, strengthens the stems, and protects plants from many diseases. Surprisingly, it is also crucial for making flowers and improving the flavor of fruits. With an abundant supply of potassium, they also become more drought-tolerant.

Enough said about the advantages, how would we really utilize them? It is less complex than you might think. Simply bury banana peels in the soil, and as they decompose, they will release their nutrients. Banana peel tea may also be made by placing banana peels in a container and covering them with water. After a week or two of steeping, you’ll have a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer. Unlike powdered or solid fertilizers, this liquid fertilizer reaches the roots directly and quickly. If you are looking for an easier solution, you could also choose to go for a readymade natural banana fertilizer powder. 

Compost Tea
Do you know about the liquid gold or black gold of the gardening world? It is compost tea! Compost tea is praised as a magical elixir that allows plants to grow stronger and quicker. The entire premise of compost tea is to enhance the amount of biological life in the soil. This soil life aids the plant in its gradual development and makes it resistant to diseases. It also introduces healthy bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, etc., in the soil, increasing this soil web life and, therefore, soil quality. The application of compost tea is an easy task. Simply dilute the tea in water in the ratio of 1:4 and spray it directly to the soil using a sprayer or water can.

Onion peels and garlic skin
Without spending any money, these are terrific methods to add nutrients. Don’t throw away the peels; instead, use them to make organic potassium-rich fertilizer by soaking them in water for 2-3 days and adding them directly into the soil. As Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, and Copper are plentifully present in this fertilizer, the plants become more disease resistant, develop faster, and produce more flowers and fruits. Well, now you have the know-how to put them to use!

Carbonated water
Carbonated water is produced by infusing Carbon Dioxide into the water, resulting in a bubble effect. You can hear the fizz already, right? Carbon Dioxide is a fundamental element of the photosynthesis cycle, without which the plants can’t make their own sugar. Carbonated water includes macronutrients that are needed for their development. 

Potassium, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, Sulphur, and salt are some of the major nutrients found in it. Now, because the nutrients have already been dissolved, the plant can more easily absorb them before they drain out of the soil. However, carbonated water should be slowly dripped into the soil. This gives the plants proper time to absorb CO2 and other nutrients.