Gardener972

Is it true that the fertilizer nurseries use is stronger than what the general public can buy? I was told this by a worker at one of the box stores. She also told me to use fertilizer at a stronger rate than what's on the packaging. What do you think of this?

buckeye5755

Sounds like the perfect question for Richard or Sandy to answer. So Richard and Sandy, what say you?

Abnshrek

All I can say is Miricle Grow compared to what some sell like Richard's "Banana Fuel" it's triple concentrated versus store bought. IE... For Miricle Grow you may mix a tblspoon per gallon versus a teaspoon w/ the banana fuel. (there's 3 teaspoons in a Tablespoon) :^)

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I'm a Nannerhead :^)

Richard

No. The general public can buy all the formulas available to nurseries.

That is a poor generalization. As an example, consider a fruiting banana variety such as Dwarf Namwa that is past the juvenile pup stage. If it is planted with sufficient root space (4' x 4' x 18" deep planter) it can utilize up to 1.5 net pounds of potash per year. If you are using a banana fuel formula that is 30% potash (such as 15-5-30, 15-10-30, 20-5-30), then you would apply up to 5 lbs per year to obtain net 1.5 pounds of potash. Some packing will state this, others will state a lower level. The same is true of fertilizer products for other plants. Before you increase the stated amount, it would be best to find out the actual capacity of a particular plant.

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Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

sandy0225

I wouldn't say that any of the fertilizer I use is any stronger than any you can buy "over the counter". I do think that some of the formulations are made to dissolve better or might be a little more complete than miracle grow, with possibly more of the various micronutrients added. If you pay extra for that. And that you can buy them in more complex formulations such as an iron feed for petunias, etc, that most people wouldn't need. And they come in bigger bags....
Now that being said I DO mix it up stronger than most people--but that is because I have a fertilizer injector. I mix it 100 times stronger than I want the finished product to be and the injector puts the right amount into the water as I water the plants.

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

Nicolas Naranja

I have never seen straight fertilizer at any of the big box stores. You can't go to home depot and get a bag of urea, or a bag of potassium chloride, and I believe they have to keep track of people buying ammonium nitrate nowadays. In that sense nurseries and other growers do typically buy much stronger concentrations than what is readily available to the homeowner. However, if you have a nursery supply store in your region, you could make a cash purchase of the same stuff that they are using. Consumer bags will usually tell you to fertilize at a rate that they are pretty sure wont cause burn.

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

bananadude

I use 46-0-0 and u can get it at any ACE Hardware Store !

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Brian...Zone 5-6...Gladwin, Michigan

Nicolas Naranja

I am shocked that you can still get it at ACE

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Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

bananadude

I live in a very small town and everybody knows when someone farts, so I don't think its a problem here....but in a bigger city then maybe it would be a problem getting it!

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Brian...Zone 5-6...Gladwin, Michigan