Amino acids for plants are among the products we recommend most during heat, salinity, transplanting and flowering, because they give the plant ready-made building blocks instead of spending energy making them. The result is a plant that handles stress better and recovers its growth faster.
This article explains what amino acids are, what they really do, when to use them, and how to tell the types apart.
What are amino acids?
- They are the building blocks of protein inside the plant.
- The plant makes them itself from nitrogen, but that costs energy.
- Supplying ready-made amino acids saves energy for growth, flowering and stress resistance.
- They are a biostimulant more than a fertiliser, so they do not replace basic feeding.
Benefits of amino acids for plants
- Stress resistance: heat, cold, salinity, drought, and after pesticide sprays.
- Better uptake: help absorb micronutrients and move them through the plant.
- Better flowering and fruit set: some are involved in pollen formation.
- Faster recovery: after transplanting, pruning or damage.
- Better fruit quality: colour, size and sugars.
Types of amino acids
| Type | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plant-based | Hydrolysed plant proteins such as soy | High quality and safe on leaves |
| Animal-based | Hydrolysed animal proteins | High concentration, lower price |
| Free (L-form) | Ready for direct uptake | Plants use the L-form |
| Mixed with nutrients | Amino acids + calcium, zinc or potassium | Treats a deficiency and reduces stress together |
Tip: check the label for free amino acid content, not just the total, because free amino acids act quickly.
When to use amino acids
- After transplanting to reduce shock and stimulate roots.
- Before and during heatwaves in summer.
- In saline soils or with high-salinity irrigation water.
- Before and after flowering to improve fruit set.
- After pesticide sprays if the plant shows stress.
- After cold or frost to help the plant resume growth.
How to use amino acids
Foliar spray
- Early morning or evening, wetting both sides of the leaves.
- At the label rate, repeated as needed roughly every 10 to 15 days.
With irrigation water
- Add through fertigation or around the root zone.
- Especially useful for seedlings and saline soils.
Mixing with fertilisers and pesticides
- They mix with most fertilisers and pesticides and reduce spray stress.
- Do a jar test first, and avoid mixing with copper products and strong alkaline products unless the label allows it.
Common mistakes
- Using them instead of basic fertiliser.
- Increasing the dose hoping for a stronger effect.
- Spraying in the heat of the day, which burns leaves.
- Relying on total amino acids and ignoring the free content.
Amino acids with humic acid
- Humic acid improves soil and roots, while amino acids stimulate the plant from within.
- Together they are very useful in saline soils and after transplanting. See Humic Acid.
Products from Orkida
- Delfan Plus V amino acids for stress resistance
- Codamin 150 amino acids and micronutrients
- Codafol Maximus amino acids and nutrients
- Amino Star plant-based amino acids
- Pixan Amino plant-based amino acids
- Amino Zinc
Amino acid FAQs
Are amino acids a fertiliser?
They are a biostimulant more than a fertiliser. They help the plant use fertiliser and handle stress, but do not replace nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium feeding.
How often should I spray amino acids?
Usually every 10 to 15 days during stress or key stages such as flowering, as per the label.
Are they useful for house plants?
Yes, especially after repotting or when the plant is exposed to heat or air conditioning, at the diluted label rate.
What is the difference between plant and animal amino acids?
Plant-based ones are purer and safer on sensitive leaves, while animal-based ones are cheaper and more concentrated. What matters most is the free amino acid content.