Gardeners are trying various means for feeding vegetable crops when growing. Ready-made mixtures sold in stores and inexpensive folk remedies are used. Lost among such folk remedies is succinic acid - it is not a nutritional supplement, but a growth stimulant. It will not be able to replace the usual micro- and macroelements, but it is quite capable of helping seeds sprout and seedlings to grow. What properties does this product have and how to use it in vegetable growing, we will consider below.
Composition and properties of succinic acid
Succinic acid is a product of amber processing.
A white or colorless, odorless powder consisting of amber crystals has a sour taste, similar to the taste of citric acid. This element is also found in all plants and living microorganisms. The human body also produces succinic acid.
- Using the product as a growth stimulator will be easier if you purchase the powder. It dissolves easily in water, so getting a tasty drink for cucumbers is not difficult.
- When processed, the crystals are absorbed into the roots, seeds, soil and green mass, improving the quality and helping them grow faster.
- When treating seeds with an aqueous solution, germination increases significantly.
- When seedlings are sprayed with a solution, they become more resistant to cold spells and droughts and fight diseases more aggressively. With double processing, the fruits ripen faster. Increases the level of chlorophyll in green mass.
- When treating the roots, they form better and grow faster.
- When the solution is added to the soil, the acid normalizes the balance of microorganisms. Destroys toxic substances, eliminates accumulations of harmful nitrates in the soil.
When conducting experiments on plants, the most effective dosage of succinic acid for the growth of cucumbers was established. It is 25 milligrams of powder per liter of water.
Release forms
The drug is produced in tablets, powder and pills (capsules with granules). But they can also offer other products called “Succinic acid” - these are biologically active food additives. Such tablets also contain other components that are dangerous to plants. Therefore, you need to carefully choose a drug that contains only one active substance.
Preparation and storage of the solution
Since the drug is a potent growth stimulant, it should be used with caution. If a dose of concentrated solution gets on the skin or mucous membranes, the acid will cause a burn. Prepare the mixture for spraying or watering plants while wearing gloves. If the mixture does get on the body, you need to immediately treat the area with a solution of baking soda and rinse with water.
The solution is prepared depending on its purpose: when watering the root system, a more concentrated mixture is prepared; for spraying plants, the concentration is reduced. After preparation, you need to use the entire mixture. It cannot be stored. Therefore, you need to calculate the required amount before processing.
Use on plants
Since the substance is contained in all microorganisms, it can be used to improve the growth of all plants. But the concentration of crystals is different.
Seed preparation
To prepare seeds for planting, use a 0.2% solution with water. To prepare a solution for soaking seeds, you need to dilute 2 grams of the substance in 100 grams of water, then warm a liter of water to room temperature and add it to the mixture. You should get 1 liter of mixture for impregnating the seed material.
Pre-sowing preparation can also be carried out with potato tubers. The solution is sprayed onto the potatoes and left for several hours so that the acid is absorbed.
Preparing seedlings
To strengthen the seedlings before transplanting to a permanent place of growth, the granules are diluted as follows: 2.5 grams are diluted in 1 liter of water at room temperature. Before planting, water the seedlings with this solution; after an hour, the seedlings need to be planted in the ground in a permanent place of growth.Another way to help seedlings is to spray the mixture with a spray bottle.
Preparing the root system
To help small cucumbers take root in a new place and form a powerful root system, the plants are shed with a 0.2% amber solution to a depth of 15–30 centimeters. This depends on the age of the plants and planting depth. The procedure is carried out once a week.
Restoring cucumbers after hypothermia
If the green mass is sick and wilted after suffering from hypothermia or drought, it can be revived with the help of amber. To do this, spray all damaged parts of plants with a 0.2% solution; the procedure must be repeated once every two or three weeks until a positive result is obtained.
Application of succinic acid for other fruit plants
Succinic acid helps to develop not only cucumbers, but also other crops:
- Tomatoes are watered with the mixture during flowering. Then the harvest will grow faster and ripen. The bushes are watered with a solution at the rate of 2 grams of the drug per two buckets of warm water. Watering is carried out twice every week.
- Potato tubers are sprayed with the solution before planting. Then the potatoes take root faster and produce a larger harvest.
- Strawberries are watered with a solution of 0.75 grams of acid per bucket of water. This measure helps the development of the root system, creates resistance to temperature changes and increases the yield of berries.
- During flowering, peppers are sprayed with an amber solution to form ovaries. The procedure is carried out 3 times, the first - before flowering begins, the second and third - after.
There are several ways to use the solution:
- watering the soil;
- soaking the roots of seedlings;
- soaking seeds;
- spraying plants.
Spray greens in case of a disease that appears on the foliage, during flowering and fruit set. Treatment with succinic acid is not limited only to fruit and vegetable crops. These fertilizers are also used to stimulate the growth of indoor and outdoor flowers.
Other uses of succinic acid
It is used for the manufacture of medicines and dietary supplements. It helps people cope with diseases, rejuvenates the body, improves the functioning of the circulatory system, helps a person adapt to stressful situations and improves mood. But this drug should be used only as prescribed by a doctor; an incorrect dosage will lead to the opposite result.
When using preparations for plants, it is necessary to take into account the permissible dilution rates, otherwise the acid will harm the plants. Have a good harvest!
