Plants need certain nutrients to grow and reproduce. There are 17 such nutrient elements necessary for plants to thrive, often grouped in several ways. Those that are required by plants in substantial quantities are called macronutrients. Those that are required by plants in very small amounts are called micronutrients.
|
Element
|
Periodic Symbol
|
Source
|
Classification
|
|
Carbon
|
C
|
Air & Water
|
Macronutrient
|
|
Hydrogen
|
H
|
Air & Water
|
Macronutrient
|
|
Oxygen
|
O
|
Air & Water
|
Macronutrient
|
|
Nitrogen
|
N
|
Soil
|
Macronutrient
|
|
Phosphorus
|
P
|
Soil
|
Macronutrient
|
|
Potassium
|
K
|
Soil
|
Macronutrient
|
|
Calcium
|
Ca
|
Soil
|
Macronutrient
|
|
Magnesium
|
Mg
|
Soil
|
Macronutrient
|
|
Sulfur
|
S
|
Soil
|
Macronutrient
|
|
Iron
|
Fe
|
Soil
|
Micronutrient
|
|
Copper
|
Cu
|
Soil
|
Micronutrient
|
|
Manganese
|
Mn
|
Soil
|
Micronutrient
|
|
Molybdenum
|
Mo
|
Soil
|
Micronutrient
|
|
Zinc
|
Zn
|
Soil
|
Micronutrient
|
|
Boron
|
B
|
Soil
|
Micronutrient
|
|
Chorine
|
Cl
|
Soil
|
Micronutrient
|
|
Nickel
|
Ni
|
Soil
|
Micronutrient
|
Elements Essential for Plant Growth and Reproduction
Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are available in abundance and obtained by plants from the air and water. They make up about 94% of a typical plant’s dry tissue. The other 14 elements make up the remaining portion (about 6% ) of a typical plant’s dry tissue.
Even though these remaining 14 elements might be needed in smaller quantities, they are still important to plant health. Deficiencies of these elements in the soil can limit growth of the plant, but can be compensated for through the application of fertilizers.
The 14 elements derived solely from the soil can be further divided into three groups: primary nutrient elements, secondary nutrient elements, and micronutrient elements.
Abby is an avid plant lover and the Director of Content at FastGrowingTrees.com. She grew up in Maine, graduated from Davidson College, and now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two dogs. Her previous roles include leading content teams at Red Ventures, a large digital media company, and launching the content and marketing functions at an ecommerce analytics start-up.
While her indoor plant collection is always growing, she also loves landscaping tips and learning more about plant care and maintenance. Her favorite plants are Japanese maples, roses of all kinds, and unique house plants.
