Zircon and its role in plant care. Can the drug be classified as a fertilizer?
An environmentally friendly, plant-based, broad-spectrum substance.
Available in liquid form in 1 ml ampoules. bottles of 50 ml and 100 ml. If you are meticulous about the classification of means for feeding plants, then Zircon cannot be classified as a fertilizer. At its core, it is not a nutrient, but regulates vital processes. In other words, under its influence, plants mobilize their hidden resources to overcome the negative influence.
The drug helps:
- endure stressful situations after transplantation,
- adapt to adverse weather conditions,
- stimulate seed germination and growth of weakened plants,
- absorb nutrients to plants.
Its action is aimed at increasing plant immunity, and therefore belongs to the category of immunomodulators, otherwise they are called growth regulators. The influence of Zircon in plant life can be compared to dietary supplements, which are beneficial, but certainly have nothing to do with nutrients.
Learn more about what the drug is and how it works.
How to use the drug
Zircon is low-toxic and belongs to hazard class 4. But this does not mean that application to the soil or dilution does not require a special approach, calculating the dosage for different types of plants.
Spraying is different from watering or preventive measures. Therefore, before starting use, you should definitely study the instructions, rules of use, and application.
Calculation of dosage for irrigation
It is worth diluting zircon as a top dressing according to a strictly defined scheme. The product is universal and ranks first in terms of use. The purpose of root feeding: biostimulation during the growing season, prevention of stressful situations.
Dilution: calculation is based on 10 liters of liquid = 1 ml of zircon (1 ampoule). Water strictly at the root so that the substance acts instantly.
A beneficial effect is observed when using a diluted substance on the same day. Otherwise, the necessary qualities are lost by 65% or more. It is not recommended to exceed the dosage. A lower concentration is better than an excess. Without fail, the water for dilution must be 20-25 degrees.
Pest treatment
The manufacturer indicates the specifics of using the substance in stressful situations. These include diseases and damage to the green or root parts of the plant. Zircon is not used in its pure form, but as an additive to the main product.
The solution should be prepared as standard: add 1 ampoule of zircon to a bucket of water with the product. Before use, check the compatibility of substances.
Signs of overdose
A plant growth stimulator can not only help/accelerate plant growth, but also cause harm. This warning applies when combined with other organic or chemical solutions for feeding in the spring, when destroying pests and pathogens.
Only the substance that is the main one will cause problems. Signs of overdose vary depending on the fertilizer used.
Zircon itself is not harmful to the plant. Although it can not only accelerate the growth of vegetables, the taste of which deteriorates, that is, they become tasteless.
Interesting fact! By adding 2-3 drops of zircon to a vase with a bouquet of flowers, you can keep the flowers alive and blooming for a long time, without falling leaves or petals.
Chemical composition and mechanism of action
Zircon is produced from plant raw materials – Echinacea purpurea.
Biostimulants appeared in gardening relatively recently, although they have long been known to traditional medicine. The idea behind plant stimulants is based on the characteristics of hydroxycinnamic acids. They have an irritating effect, causing cells to produce protective substances.
In particular, Zircon is synthesized based on the medicinal plant Echinacea purpurea. It contains natural esters based on hydroxycinnamic acids, which dissolve in alcohol. Thanks to its antioxidant properties, it has an antiviral, antifungal and disinfectant effect on pathogens.
Expert opinion of a specialist
It’s not for nothing that zircon is called a growth regulator. Its dosed use activates metabolic processes, as a result of which cell synthesis is accelerated, and therefore tissue rejuvenation. But if you increase the application rate, you can get the opposite effect. Severe irritation causes inhibition of metabolism. In this case, the drug acts as an inhibitor. Sometimes this is necessary, for example, in order to stop the flowering of fruit trees during spring return frosts.
If you exceed the dosage, you need to be especially careful; excessive amounts will lead to complete death of the plants.
S.K. Morozov – Art. n. employee of Volgograd State Agrarian University.
What is Zircon used for?
The uniqueness of Zircon is that it has a huge range of uses:
- processing of pre-sowing material, in other words, seeds for planting, due to which the seeds germinate faster;
- normalization of temperature levels in case of strong changes;
- mitigation of “negative” reactions after changes in soil composition (for example, as a result of fertilization);
- helps seedlings to quickly and easily take root in a new place, so to speak, to “take root”;
- Helps indoor plants as a preventative against fungi and bacteria.
This is interesting:
The use of the Zircon stimulant is not limited only to the area of horticulture. It is actively used in medicine because of its GCA (acids), which have an extremely beneficial effect on all organisms, except for fungal and bacterial spores.
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Advantages and disadvantages
The positive qualities of zircon are difficult to overestimate . It is used for different purposes at all stages of plant growth:
- To stimulate seed germination, after treatment with the drug, even seeds of a dubious appearance sprout, which are unlikely to hatch without intervention.
- With its help, the survival rate of plants is improved, due to the active influence of the tissue of the root system. As a result, hair-like roots are formed that absorb nutrients from the soil. The duration of rooting is reduced significantly, which is extremely important if planting takes place in difficult weather conditions.
- Zircon improves flowering and fruiting. With the use of the drug, yields increase by 40 - 50%.
- The fruits grown with its help are distinguished by their large size, good taste and high degree of preservation.
- Under the influence of plant preparations, they effectively resist diseases and pests due to the formation of strong turgor (elasticity) of tissues.
Like any care product, zircon requires a balanced approach. When using, you must strictly adhere to the recommended standards, since an excess dosage can lead to a negative result. The deficiency can be easily avoided if you follow the necessary requirements when caring for each type of crop.
How to properly make fertilizer for flowers based on Zircon
To make a suitable nutrient mixture for plants, you need to take 0.1 liter of water and only 1 - 2 drops of the drug. Next, apply the same amount of selected and compatible fertilizer. Stir thoroughly. There should be no sediment.
Attention:
You cannot combine Zircon with alkali fertilizers, because as a result the positive effects of the drug do not appear. They are blocked.
At the flowering stage, they are used independently, separately from other drugs, simply by spraying the plants.
Why do you need to water orchids with zircon? - video
Subtleties of preparing the drug for work
Zircon can be dissolved in ordinary water, but a greater effect is achieved if it is first acidified with citric acid, at the rate of 1 g per 5 liters of water.
Tip #1 . If you need to measure liquid from a bottle, you can use a medical syringe without a needle.
The solution is acidified if it needs to be stored for several days, but not more than three days. In this case, the liquid should be in a dark place where sunlight does not penetrate.
If it is not possible to use the working solution immediately, then citric acid can be added to the water before preparing it. Then the suitability will increase to three days.
If the product is prepared on the basis of plain water, then it must be used immediately. In any case, do not store for more than 24 hours.
In different situations, the required dosage is adhered to, which depends on the purpose and growing season of the plants.
Treatment of seeds and tubers before germination
Recommendations for soaking:
Name of culture | Amount of drug per 1 liter of water | Exposure time |
Cucumber | 5 drops | 6 – 7 hours |
Zucchini, Squash, Pumpkin | 10 – 15 drops | |
Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant | 10 drops | |
Potatoes (tubers) | 20 drops | Day |
Onion garlic | 40 drops | At 18 o'clock |
Flower seeds that are approximately the size of tomatoes. | 1 ml (ampoule) | 6 – 8 hours |
When soaking, the germination of seeds increases, even substandard grains germinate. The volume of the root system increases 3 times compared to untreated seed.
Standards for using the drug Zircon at the stage of pre-planting preparation
Name of culture | Number of drops, drops/liter | Soaking time, hour |
Cucumber seeds | 5 | 6-8 |
Potato tubers | 20 | without soaking |
Vegetable seeds | 30-40 | 6-8 |
Cuttings of fruit trees, roses | 40 | 12 |
Cuttings of other crops | 10-20 | 18-24 |
Gladioli corms | 20 | 24 |
Other bulbs | 40 | 18-24 |
Flower seeds | 30-40 | 6-8 |
You may be interested in: Feeding hydrangeas in the fall for beautiful flowering
Preventive protection of seedlings from fungal diseases
The soaking time depends on the size of the seeds; small ones are kept for 4 hours, large ones - 8 hours.
Of all the infections for seedlings, the most dangerous fungus is the one called “Blackleg”. The pathogens are found in the soil, and under favorable conditions they become active and infect the stems of seedlings. First, they turn black at ground level (hence the name “black leg”), then they rot and die. To prevent this from happening immediately after germination, the soil is watered with zircon solution according to the calculation.
- 4 drops per 1 liter of water;
- with a liquid of a weaker concentration - 1 drop per 1 liter of water - spray the above-ground part of the plants.
Zircon is one of the best plant growth stimulators
Improving the growth of many cultivated plants and flowers, regardless of whether they are grown in open beds or on the windowsill of an apartment, is a determining factor for obtaining increased yield and imparting advantageous properties.
To achieve a positive result and ensure the unhindered development of crops, special preparations are used, which are called growth stimulants. One such remedy is Zircon. According to numerous reviews, after using this drug, plants acquire vitality, their quality properties improve, and growth and development are enhanced. If the plant is weakened, becomes lethargic and underdeveloped, it will need Zircon. The characteristics of this drug say that in a short period it is able to ensure normal development of weakened cultures. Suitable for a wide range of plants. Zircon is especially often used for tomatoes, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, cabbage, and zucchini. Even if you add it, according to the recommendations, to an ordinary vase with a bouquet of flowers, they seem to come to life again. Many people ask whether Zircon is suitable for roses, petunias, orchids? When growing these and many other types of flowers, the drug significantly improves the development of shoots during the germination of cuttings, which further ensures the richness of the tones of the buds, fills them with health and helps to extend the flowering period.
Zircon is suitable for feeding seedlings of many garden crops. It can be used both in the early stages during the period of first shoots, and in later stages of the growing season.
By purchasing the drug Zircon, a summer resident gets the opportunity to:
- Improve or normalize plant homeostasis (metabolic processes).
- Provide protection from potential viral and fungal diseases, as well as from the influence of harmful substances.
- Maintain a healthy balance of internal microflora of any cultivated plant.
- Economical use, since Zircon solution can act effectively even at minimal concentrations.
- Prevent stressful situations when transplanting seedlings into the soil and deteriorating growing conditions.
Rooting during vegetative propagation
Green and woody cuttings are immersed in a previously prepared solution. The shoots are placed in the liquid, observing the direction of their growth, with the lower edge in the vessel, like a bouquet in a vase. They deepen the part that they plan to plant in the ground. In this case, zircon acts as a stimulator for the regrowth of hair-like roots.
Plant name | Amount of drug per 1 liter of water | Infusion time |
Fruit trees | 1 ml (1 ampoule) | 10 – 12 hours |
Berry bushes | 20 drops | |
Roses | 30 drops | 6 – 8 hours |
Juniper, thuja, spruce | 10 – 20 drops | 18 – 24 hours |
After soaking, the cuttings are guaranteed to take root.
Repeated spraying is carried out after picking the seedlings.
In addition to pre-sowing treatment, zircon is used as an effective aid when planting crops in open ground.
Analogues of the product
Zircon is good to use at any time of the year:
winter, spring, summer, autumn.
The growth stimulating agent is definitely beneficial for plants. However, it is not always found on sale. That is why it is worth knowing what analogues of the drug Zircon are available. Can be used in pairs.
Here is their list:
- Ecosil and Epin;
- Sprout and Amulet;
- Narcissus and Krezacin;
- Kornevin and Immunotocyte.
However, experienced gardeners have discovered in practice the most effective and powerful combination
:
Baikal EM-1 + Athlete.
The products listed above contain useful elements. They are classified as purely growth.
BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT FOR THE GARDEN!
Trichodermin
For adaptation of seedlings and root crops
After planting (sowing) in the beds, the first treatment is carried out when the seedlings are completely rooted. Each crop has its own survival time, which depends on the general condition of the plants, weather conditions and soil fertility.
The following concentration of solution for foliar spraying is recommended:
Culture | Dosage | Processing time |
Cucumber Zucchini | 4 drops per 1 liter of water | After the growth of three new leaves that appeared in the open ground. |
Tomato, | 4 drops per 1 liter of water | When a new hand grows |
Eggplant, Pepper | 4 drops per 1 liter of water | Immediately after planting the seedlings in the garden |
Potatoes and other root vegetables | 10 drops per 10 liters of water | After the formation of one or two pairs of true leaves. |
White and red cabbage | 15 drops per 10 liters of water | At the beginning of head formation. |
The solution is sprayed in dry weather without rain in the evening. There is no point in spraying plants early in the morning. The dew on the leaves will flow to the ground along with the zircon and the effect will be zero.
Instructions for using Zircon for different types of plants
Each drug has its own characteristics, so you should carefully study the instructions on the package. If used incorrectly, plants may suffer, which will negatively affect their development and, as a result, fruiting.
How to cook
Experts recommend starting to prepare the solution immediately before treatment. The finished substance can be stored for no more than three days in a dark room. In bright light, it loses its properties within a day. To dilute the drug, you will need a plastic, glass or enamel container, a Zircon ampoule and soft, room temperature water.
A third of the total volume of water is poured into the selected container and a product is added to it, which is first thoroughly shaken. This must be done regardless of the volume in which it is presented (ampoule, bottle or canister). Then add the remaining water to the existing solution and gently mix the solution with a wooden stick. All that remains is to pour the mixture into a spray bottle (bottles) and start processing the plants.
Water or spray
When working with Zircon, you don’t have to worry about your health, since it is recognized as safe for humans, as well as for animals, bees and other insects. The
prepared solution is excellent for processing various crops, as well as applying directly to the ground. It can be used to water plants at the root, water entire beds in garden plots, or spray not only decorative but also fruit crops. All these procedures help plants actively develop, throw out buds and form ovaries.
In addition, spraying prevents the development of various fungal infections, accelerates the ripening of fruits in pome tree crops and extends their storage period by 10-20%.
Soak
This biostimulant can be used at all stages of plant development.
Seeds and seedlings can be treated in a biostimulant solution before planting to increase their germination and strengthen the root system. An hour before planting in open ground or sowing seedlings, the material is soaked in a Zircon solution, after which it is washed under running water, the remaining moisture is carefully removed and planted. All plants kept in a biostimulant better resist diseases and the negative effects of external factors, and also produce a rich harvest.
Best time to process
The manufacturer recommends using the drug exclusively in the evening. When exposed to sunlight, the solution quickly loses its properties, and the plant does not have time to obtain the necessary components.
It is better to carry out the procedure on a calm day, otherwise the drug may not get where it should.
Security measures
And although it is difficult for Zircon to harm the plant, it is better to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
When working with Zircon, you do not have to fear for your health, since it is recognized as safe for humans, as well as for animals, bees and other insects. The drug is not capable of causing harm to plants and does not pollute the environment (reservoirs and soil). However, as with any similar product, it is better to adhere to standard safety precautions.
Processing plants should be carried out wearing a mask, hat and glasses to protect the mucous membrane of the eyes, respiratory tract and skin.
When gardening work is completed, you need to thoroughly wash your hands and face with soap, take a shower and rinse your mouth. If the solution gets on your skin, rinse the area with plenty of water. If the mixture is spilled, the area should be sprinkled with sand or clay. When the working solution is absorbed, they should be thrown into the trash and the area should be thoroughly washed with water. It is better to store the package with the drug in a dark place inaccessible to children and animals.
Spring treatment of fruit trees and berry crops for disease prevention
Applying zircon to the crown of tree crops increases resistance to fungal, viral and bacterial infections. Thanks to the stimulating effect, protective substances are produced in cells that increase immunity to pathogenic interference. Spraying is carried out in early spring before buds open, using the following solutions:
- For young pome trees - apple, pear, quince - 4 drops per 1 liter of water;
- For the same species, but in the fruiting stage - 8 drops per 1 liter of water;
- Stone fruits - plum, apricot, cherry plum, cherry, sweet cherry - 10 drops per 1 liter of water;
- Currants, raspberries, gooseberries - 5 drops per 1 liter of water.
Repeated treatment is carried out after 2 weeks during the period of swelling of the buds, according to the pink bud.
Compatibility with other drugs
Compatible with most mineral and organic fertilizers, with the exception of calcium-containing salts. Since zircon is an acidic substance, when interacting with alkalis, undesirable chemical compounds are formed that are not available to plants.
List of fertilizers that cannot be applied simultaneously with the use of zircon:
- Chalk,
- Dolomite flour (find out → the use of dolomite flour),
- Slaked lime (find out → how to use it to deoxidize the soil),
- Wood ash (find out → how to use wood ash as fertilizer),
- Bird egg shells (find out → feeding plants with eggshells).
Of course, there are other substances that are incompatible with the drug. It is impossible to mention everything in the instructions for the product. Moreover, plants are often sprayed with tank mixtures in which different protective agents are combined. To avoid mistakes, prepare separate test solutions from each substance. To do this, take a little of each drug, place the samples in separate containers and fill them with water. After complete dissolution, pour one by one into a common container. If the liquid remains homogeneous, then the substances are compatible. The formation of a precipitate or change in color indicates incompatibility of the drugs.
Category: “Questions and answers”
Question No. 1. Is zircon harmful to humans?
Answer. The drug of biological origin belongs to the fourth hazard class. That is, the likelihood of negative attention is small. However, you need to remember that zircon is an acid, albeit a weak one. May cause irritation upon contact with skin and mucous membranes. When working, you need to use protective equipment and make sure that there are no strangers nearby, especially children.
The container that contained the solution cannot be used for cooking.
Question number 2 . How long can zircon be stored?
Answer. From the production date indicated on the packaging, the ampoule or hermetically sealed bottle is stored for no more than three years. It is better not to store the working solution. Usually it is prepared in such an amount that it is used at a time.
Gardener review
Veronica Maksimovna (Kaluga)
A few years ago I bought a Weymouth pine - an incredibly beautiful coniferous tree.
Despite the fact that it was lumpy and planted according to all the rules, after a while the needles began to turn yellow and crumble. I mentally said goodbye to him. But the hand did not rise to throw it away. I started looking for information on how to save a pine tree. I found the zircon stimulator. After the first treatment, the first modest shoots appeared, and over time the tree recovered completely. The neighbor didn’t believe it and said that I bought another pine tree. Rate the quality of the article. We want to be better for you: