Plant Growth and Nutrition
Chosen Plant: English lavender plants are classified as evergreen shrubs, since they produce woody stems above-ground. Reaching heights ranging from 2'-3', their spread can be equal to that or twice that, depending on cultivar. In general, English lavender plants bear flowers that are lilac-blue in colour and grow on spikes, with leaves that are narrow and greyish-green. But various cultivars exist, differing in characteristics. The Lavender’s flowers are harvested just as they open, hung out to dry in a dark room with plenty of ventilation. English lavender plants have also been used as a flavouring herb (e.g., in cordials) and as a medicinal herb (aromatherapy for sleep). English lavender plants like full sun and an alkaline, sandy, well-drained soil. They are also drought-tolerant, which is why they're such a good choice in rock gardens. Humans consider lavenders to be among the most fragrant of plants. Traditionally, it has been harvested, dried and placed in linen closets, making good use of its aroma.
Plant Nutrition: Plants use inorganic minerals for nutrition, whether grown in the field or in a container. Complex interactions involving weathering of rock minerals, decaying organic matter, animals, and microbes take place to form inorganic minerals in soil. Roots absorb mineral nutrients as ions in soil water. Plants consist of a complex arrangement of cell bodies working together, each in their own way to form a living organism. These cells are made up of, or contain many components such as proteins, polysaccharides, amino and organic acids, lignin's etc. These compounds are themselves comprised of principle elements which over 80% (as dry weight) consist of oxygen and carbon. Many factors influence nutrient uptake for plants. Ions can be readily available to roots or could be "tied up" by other elements or the soil itself. Soil too high in alkaline or in acidic makes minerals unavailable to plants. In the English...