Vitamins for Mondell Pine Trees

The Mondell pine tree is also known as the Afghan pine. It is a relatively small pine that only grows to 30 or 40 feet. The pine grows well in a variety of soils, is drought tolerant and is suited to low elevations with plenty of sun. Vitamins come from plants and animals and minerals come from the ground and other inert objects. Plant needs are referred to as nutrients. Mondell pines receive their nutrients from photosynthesis, which turns sunlight into plant sugars, and the ground, which is rich in minerals. It is just as important to situate your Mondell pine tree in an appropriate location as it is to provide it with proper nutrition.

The Mondell Pine Tree

The Mondell or Afghan pine is primarily grown in Arizona. The tree is used in boulevards, as a wind break and in home landscape use. It is native to Russia and Afghanistan and is one of the best desert pine trees. Mondell pines need no pruning and are visited by few pests or disease. The tree keeps a neat pyramid shape and will grow quickly when it is young. The bark is orange-red with green needles in clusters of five. Mondell pine trees are only suitable for USDA Zones 10 to 13.

Vitamin Use on Mondell Pine Trees

Home gardeners may believe that the nutrients that humans need must also be necessary for plants. There are some growers that believe incorporating some vitamin A or C or even a multivitamin into the soil will make their plants grow better. This is not the case. Likely the vitamins will not hurt the plant, but trees create their own food in the photosynthesis process. The Mondell pine tree needs non-mineral nutrients and mineral nutrients. The non-mineral nutrients are hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. Our multivitamins contain more minerals than vitamins. For example, calcium, zinc and potassium. The single name tag may confuse some people into thinking that a multivitamin is comprised of only vitamins.

Nutrition for the Mondell Pine

The Mondell pine is not native to North America. It thrives in desert conditions where soils are arid and nutrient-poor. The primary macronutrients for any plant are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and can be added to soil with fertilizers. The secondary macronutrients are usually found in soil. These include calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Trees also need micronutrients. Micronutrients are not needed in the same quantities that macronutrients are required. The micronutrients for Mondell pines are boron, copper, iron, chloride, manganese, molybdenum and zinc.

Effects

Macronutrients for Mondell pine trees have a big impact on the plant's growth. Nitrogen is responsible for leaf and green growth, phosphorus helps turn solar energy into food and encourages the growth of cones, while potassium assists in the health of the plant. Magnesium is present in plants as chlorophyll. Calcium is responsible for cell growth and sulfur improves roots and seeds. The micronutrients have roles in all areas from metabolism to reproduction.

Application

A layer of manure around the plant in winter will gradually seep high levels of nitrogen into the soil. Mulches are effective to reduce weeds and other competitors but they also compost into the ground, providing a mixture of the micronutrients. The basic fertilizers or all purpose ones can adequately contribute nutrients. A fertilizer suited for acid-loving plants is a good idea, since Mondell pines grow in soil with high acid levels. Before you chose a method of fertilizing, perform a soil test. The test can tell you the basic levels of nutrients and the pH of the soil. If you fertilize before a soil test, you can actually cause a surplus of the minerals which adversely affect the tree.