Foliar feeding isn’t shenanigans?

I’ve been growing weed successfully, and at times not so successfully for 20 years. I know I can google this, but I’d like to know what YOU think; how does Foliar feeding work? As I understand it foliage is the conduit by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water; monocot, dicot… whatever cot - leaves don’t have roots to carry anything of the rhizodeposition to the rhizosphere with the obvious exception of light, co2 and other gasses. Also, leaving that many sugars, carbs, aminos, salts… sitting on your plant seems to be an invitation for a host of photosynthetic deficiencies/abnormalities and parasitic colonization.
Seems like foliar feeding is akin to waxing your car with premium gasoline because you like how it combusts in your engine.
What am I missing? Seriously. No click bait. What am I missing?
Thanks

I agree, it's a quick solution for some minor deficiencies in slower reacting mediums at best but I would never use it as a constant feeding method. A buildup on the leaf follows by almost anything added to the spray. I think spraying just water does the needed effect for the canopy in all humidity and heat related issues. Finer water vapour is a plus, a good nozzle means everyhing.

So far my logic(?) intuition stands

Nobody is feeding their plant only by foliar feeding.

But your argument seems to be it isn't absorbed.
Well try doing magnesium sulphate foliar spay when you've got a genuine mag def .. it works.

coreywebster said:

Nobody is feeding their plant only by foliar feeding.

But your argument seems to be it isn't absorbed.
Well try doing magnesium sulphate foliar spay when you've got a genuine mag def .. it works.

Click to expand...

Thank you. TBH, I am currently running a new RO filter (DWC). I forgot what an elemental sponge it can be and I just noticed a little bit of yellowing between the veins. Unmistakably mag deficiency despite my usual, predictable regimen.
So, the MgSo4 applied foliar will speed up the healing process? That would be kick ass. Also won’t affect pH, TDS, ec by adding it foliar because it’s not dissolved in liquid swimming around the roots. It totally makes sense now. I just didn’t believe that the leaves’ tissue was porous enough to accommodate passage of something as heavy as magnesium. To the spray bottle I go. Thanks again

I dont foliar feed any excess nitrogen plants can't process as there not great at processing it that way get stored as nitrosamines and there cause cancer why would you unless its needed and the only time id say it can be useful is for cuttings otherwise its not really necessary each to there own i suppose

I never spray nutrients on my plants.
Only when I repot the seedlings I would spray them once or twice with Hesi Root Complex until they developed proper roots.
But the RC doesn't have any NPK in it, so...

edit: btw I forgot to mention: even tho root complex is specifially recommended for foliar usage, if you do it too much you'll get white spots.
Gave me some flashbacks to my mildew days :T

I've always used a foliar feeding of kelp in veg. The growth hormones in kelp help node spacing and help speed up the growth of young plants. It is a good idea to wash the residue off a couple days after application.
The leaves are definitely able to absorb a good bit of it.

The nutrients are absorbed through the cuticle and stomata. There are many different views on the subject, if it is beneficial or not. Research needed..