I'll answer part of your question to give you a bump in the right direction.
NPK are the ratios you read on your fertilizer bags in big, bold numbers describing their ratios. N = Nitrogen, P is Phosphurous, and the K means Potassium. Those are Macro-nutrients.
Micro-nutrients (Google that word for more information) include Calcium, Magnesium, Boron, Chlorine, Copper, Iron, Molypdenum, and Zinc. Most of these have generic effects on plants, since they affect the same systems - hormonal or photosynthetic systems - but different plants will use them in different proportions.
Finally, certain forms of these nutrients can easily kill a plant. Copper Sulphide, for example, is an effective weeding agent, but added to an (otherwise plant-safe) bucket of paint which is then painted inside a pot, can kill the root tips, effectively pruning them and encouraging dense root growth. [ Multiballer's advice column | Ask Multiballer A Question ]
DangerNerd answered Sunday September 5 2010, 8:35 pm: Hi there,
You will have to tell us more about the situation.
Which plant are we talking about? Not all plants have exactly the same needs.
If you would like to ask again, providing more information, that would be great. If you are trying to get us to do your homework, that is not great. ;-) [ DangerNerd's advice column | Ask DangerNerd A Question ]
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